The Boundaries of Belief: Questioning the Creation and the Creator

Introduction

For centuries, believers have clung to the conviction that everything—birth, death, accidents, joys, and sorrows—unfolds by God’s will. This belief asserts that God created us, along with our hearts, minds, and senses, enabling us to think, see, and feel. Yet, a fundamental question arises: If we, as creations, require a creator, then who created the Creator?

The Fear of Questioning and the Limits of Intelligence

Whenever this question is raised, it is often met with hostility rather than contemplation. Instead of engaging in rational discourse, the questioner is hastily labeled a Kafir, atheist, or communist—terms often wielded without true understanding. This reaction is not rooted in divine decree but in a conditioned fear—a blind fear that stifles intelligence and prevents belief from being tested against reason. If intelligence and reasoning are divine gifts, why then should their application be restricted when questioning the very foundation of faith?

A Small God or a Small Mind?

A paradox emerges: believers proclaim that God is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet they impose strict limitations on inquiries about His nature. They eagerly debate the nature of creation, but when the same logical scrutiny is applied to God, the discussion is shut down. Why? Is God threatened by questions? Or have religious authorities deliberately discouraged intellectual exploration to maintain ideological control?

The Infinite Cosmos and the Infinite Creator

Science and philosophy suggest that the cosmos may be infinite, challenging traditional religious perspectives. If God’s existence is deemed infinite and uncreated, why is it inconceivable that the universe itself might also be infinite and uncreated? Why is one proposition blindly accepted while the other is dismissed without examination?

Religious Contradictions: The Problem of Hell and Free Will

Religious doctrine asserts that God created everything and predetermined who will enter heaven and who will suffer in hell. If this is true, does it not imply that the failure of some to attain salvation is also God’s responsibility? If God knowingly creates beings destined for eternal punishment, does this not raise profound ethical questions about divine justice? Why should the creation bear the burden of an existence it never chose?

The Government Analogy: Control Through Contradiction

A compelling parallel exists between religious contradictions and government hypocrisy. Governments legalize and profit from the alcohol industry while simultaneously broadcasting public service messages against its consumption. Likewise, religious institutions instill fear and impose restrictions on questioning faith while asserting that true belief should be unshakable. If faith is indeed the ultimate truth, should it not withstand the scrutiny of rational inquiry?

A Call for Scholarly Inquiry and Open Debate

Throughout history, great Islamic thinkers like Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Al-Farabi, and Avicenna (Ibn Sina) engaged in profound theological and philosophical debates, challenging dogma without fear. Yet today, mainstream religious discourse discourages such discussions, branding them dangerous. Why? Instead of silencing critical thinkers, why not revive a scholarly approach to faith? Should we not continue the legacy of intellectual bravery that once defined Islamic thought?

Conclusion: The Search for Truth

True faith should not be dictated by fear but nurtured through understanding. If questioning leads to deeper wisdom, why suppress it? If God is truly all-powerful and all-knowing, then genuine inquiry should not be seen as blasphemy but as a path to greater enlightenment. Truth does not fear scrutiny—it thrives in it. To question is not to reject, but to seek, to explore, and to expand the very essence of belief. Let us challenge not just what we believe but why we believe it—not out of defiance but in the relentless pursuit of truth, for only through fearless inquiry can faith transcend blind acceptance and become truly unshakable. This is not about denying faith but about deepening it. If God has given us reason, is it not a duty to use it?