I used AI to translate the topic, do not forget asking god to make me enter the high paradise
"Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.
Pardon me, Professor 'Mujarrad Insan', for the delay in replying...
Why I left religion in the beginning... I will not hide from you that I was a Muslim by birth, like all Muslims. However, God created me with a mind that is highly inquisitive and prone to deep thinking. This tendency intensified when I reached the age of thirteen.
In the beginning, my questions were only about the differences between religions; at that time, I never doubted the existence of a Creator. But gradually, I began to drift away from Islam due to excessive thinking and questioning.
When I entered high school and studied philosophy, unfortunately, it made matters worse. Because of my mindset since childhood—which rejects imitation or memorization without understanding—I studied philosophy from a rational perspective, not just as a standard school subject. Added to that were my independent readings of Latin literature icons such as Gabriel García Márquez, Hemingway, and Albert Camus. Despite the beauty and brilliance of their work, their literature increases one's confusion because it establishes the existentialist and absurdist thought that these authors embraced.
Philosophy and independent reading (without proper guidance)... I do not blame myself for this as much as I blame my father, especially for the lack of guidance toward what is correct, rather than leaving me without direction—especially since I was young then and my passion for reading was, and still is, immense; it is my first and last hobby. Therefore, poor guidance made the situation worse, and partial doubt turned into total doubt.
Not for a single day did I doubt my own existence; I hadn't reached that level (thank God). But I doubted the existence of God, especially since evolutionary thought had invaded all fields of biology and geology. I studied Darwin's theory and read 'The Origin of Species,' and at that point, I was 99% close to atheism. I had no hope that any human on Earth could prove the existence of God to me.
I used to think that all believers were merely following tradition by inheritance. Especially since, during my previous period of doubting religions, I studied Christianity and Judaism from a neutral perspective and found that they were not acceptable to the mind. Yet, seeing Jewish and Christian scholars and thinkers believing in these 'intellectual superstitions' led me to a final judgment about believers in general: that they are essentially atheists who simply inherited their religions. I thought there was no true believer on Earth, that everyone believed by inheritance, and that there was no God or anything else. To this day, I do not know the reason for that feeling that overcame me then, but that is what happened.
I will not hide from you that I used to cry a lot out of confusion and a sense of resentment. I would sit by myself for long periods, isolated from people, lost in thought, driven by a desperate desire to end the confusion that had turned my life into a hell. Due to excessive thinking, my worries grew day by day, to the point where my friends began to think I was upset with them. Often, while we were sitting together, they would speak to me, but because of my distraction and deep thinking, I wouldn't notice them at all. Consequently, they thought ill of me, assuming I was arrogant and didn't want to talk to them. This added to my pain and sadness because I couldn't tell my friends what I was going through; I didn't want them to experience the bitter moments I was living. If I had known that talking to them would help me, I would have told them; on the contrary, I was afraid for them, not wanting to plant doubt in their hearts.
This wasn't because I was a Muslim then, but because I loved them and didn't want them to feel the pain and confusion I was experiencing. Even though I wasn't convinced at the time of God's existence or the truth of Islam, I used to say: 'Even if what they believe in is an illusion or a fantasy, they are happy with this illusion, unlike me.' I treated my family in the same way.
But unfortunately, my irritability increased, especially in the last eight months, and my behavior toward my parents became poor. I became quick to anger and very tense. This wasn't because of anything they or my siblings did; rather, I was dying inside from confusion and pain, and from the despair of ever reaching certainty. What made it worse was that I couldn't disclose what was inside me to my parents! This increased the pressure and tension, which manifested as irritable and nervous responses toward friends and family. God knows I didn't mean it then, but that was my psychological state due to this doubt—this disease that I wished they could take everything from me, everything, just to give me the peace of mind of an ordinary employee or the worker who washes my car.
I used to look at the housemaid with envy! I would say, 'If only I could reach certainty, even if everything I own was taken and I became as poor as this woman, I would be the happiest of people!' Due to the intensity of the doubt, I was close to declaring to myself clearly that there is no God and leaving everything behind with conviction. However, fear would grip me, and I felt a sense of purpose in life—a feeling that made me reject and abandon atheism. This feeling made my mind mock the idea of a purposeless, absurdist universe. It wasn't for any logical or scientific reason, but a strange internal feeling I couldn't explain, yet it pushed me to look at atheism and absurdity as something ridiculous.
At the same time, it would wake me from sleep, terrified and afraid... that there might be another life where I would be held accountable for this atheism and disbelief! I was afraid I might have denied my God who created me while He actually exists! What would my position be then? Especially since I viewed life as having no ultimate value, because in the end, a human cannot live forever and must inevitably die. Then, the feeling of the absurdity of atheism would increase, and my crying and confusion would intensify. I would talk to God, saying things like: 'If You exist, why don't You help me?' 'Why do You leave me like this in my confusion if You exist?' These were the imaginary dialogues I directed toward the sky, resentful and angry at what I was going through.
I bite my fingertips now in regret for what I did regarding God. But God knows that I wasn't doing it out of arrogance; I did it out of extreme confusion and the feeling that the path was blocked before me. It reached a point where I wished that if He existed, He would guide me, even if He took my soul afterward and I died!
About nine months ago, I decided to settle the matter: either atheism or faith; either there is a God or there isn't. Honestly, I decided this with no turning back because I was exhausted from the doubt. I said to myself, if I find atheism to be the truth, I will follow it and never look back, because I will not remain in this confusion for the rest of my life. I set a limit to end this turmoil.
Then, I decided to push my mind to its limits during that period, increasing my reading and secluding myself to read books in search of certainty—whether atheism or faith. It became my primary preoccupation and sole concern. I set a methodical plan to research the issue, nominating valuable books for myself and then beginning careful and deliberate study.
I selected books such as 'Struggle with Atheists to the Bone,' 'Exposing Deceptions,' 'I Saw God' by Abdel Wadoud Shalabi, and many, many other books addressing the issue. My hope at the beginning of every book was that by the end of it, I would reach certainty and find the solution! For example, in 'Exposing Deceptions' (750 pages), I would read every day with the hope that by the time I reached the end, I would attain faith. But unfortunately, after finishing a period of concentrated reading that lasted nearly two weeks, I reached nothing. This increased my tension, and the tension turned into anger. I would break things on my desk out of rage and confusion. I was like a walking dead man. The world felt so narrow, as if I were looking through the eye of a needle. This was the case with every book, until my read library reached nearly a hundred large volumes by famous authors and respected scholars.
But the deciding factor in the case came after losing hope in everything and trying everything!
The deciding factor in the case was....... (To be continued tomorrow, God willing, after I return from college).
I am sorry for the delay in my response, but my esteemed Professor, my health condition was poor. The anesthesia kept me from focusing, in addition to the many painkillers and antibiotics that doctors do not hesitate to prescribe in abundance!! Whether before or after the surgery.
"Cursed is man; how ungrateful is he! From what substance did He create him? From a sperm-drop He created him and destined him." (Abasa: 17-19)
When a person walks the path of recklessness and ignorance and refuses to return... that is the very definition of arrogance. When Mustafa Mahmoud walked the path of atheism, mocking religion and writing insults against Islam, he was a pure atheist. We all remember his quote in the book God and Man: "God, in my view, is modern science—and God, in my grandmother's view, is the doctor who treats her leg!!"
But when a person contemplates, thinks, and sheds the aura of vanity and pride, looking with a humble and meditative eye, he inevitably admits his own ignorance. He looks at his size in this vast universe and looks at himself—the wonders of his own soul and the marvels within his body that could only be the work of an All-Knowing, All-Wise Creator, not the result of coincidental or random laws. Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud reflected and abandoned atheism, fighting against it with all his might!
His case applies to many others, both past and present: (Zaki Najib Mahmoud, Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad, Anis Mansour, Abdel Rahman Badawi, Najib al-Zamil, Antony Flew—the fiercest atheist of the 20th century—Ismail Mazhar, Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri after his opposition to the Quran and his atheism, and Jeffrey Lang). The list is very, very long!!!!!!
In this honorable forum, you can find a man who was once among the most ferocious non-believers, known as "Darwin" (Al-Jahiz). Look at how, when he found himself in error, he abandoned atheism and irreligion!
I have always preferred to respond to anyone with logic! Have you seen how many atheists have left atheism?!!!! I think the answer is clear to everyone. We now know who should remain silent and watch this thread without uttering a word, lest they embarrass themselves further after already being proven wrong so many times!! Especially after mentioning just a few of the atheists who came to believe in the existence of God.
I once debated a Scottish atheist on a forum; by God, even Western atheists are far more knowledgeable and significantly more rational than "imitative" Arab atheists. I have never seen such a massive amount of ignorance as that displayed by Arab atheists, no pride intended! Secondly, they lack the refined manners and high ethics found in Western atheists (except for a very few, to be fair)!!! If only Arab atheists imitated the West in their high ethics just as they imitate them in everything else!!
In any case, I will continue my topic, God willing. I hesitated a lot before posting this, but after speaking with some brothers who suffer from doubts regarding the existence of God Almighty, I decided that sharing my experience might be useful to some and save them from this grueling journey. It is also to expose atheism for those who were deceived by it and turned to it just to be called "thinkers"!!!
I ask God to make our work purely for His sake... and to keep us away from the ignorant and their interference in what does not concern them!! Amen.
May God bless you, my brothers. (You made me laugh, Professor Hassan Al-Morsi!)
Part 12
Man has become accustomed to looking at things with dullness and arrogance, without contemplation, passing by things as if he were their creator and innovator!! He eats as if he were the one who subordinated the food for himself; he never thinks while eating about "Who prepared this beautiful food for him?"
When he gets a small cut on his hand and the body repairs it and heals the wound automatically, he says: "Thank you, Nature!!!" He has eyes full of wonder and brilliance, created by God for a clear purpose, yet someone might say to you: "A man's nipple is useless!!!" What does that have to do with anything? Man is arrogant because of the little science he has reached. Yet, within the human soul are signs that, if one were to count them, he wouldn't finish until he died!!
One day, I was eating in my room and I asked myself: How does this digestion process happen?!! How is it that I do nothing but chew? I don't exert any effort or even supervise this complex process!! Who knew all my needs and placed the specialized organs for them?!
The question began with something small that people hardly notice: the teeth!! How are the teeth arranged in a way that makes chewing and cutting easy for humans?! In the beginning, the canines to cut large pieces, then the incisors to cut food into small parts. How beautiful are the physical laws that "knew" I needed teeth with this organization and created them for me!!!
Then, at the same time and during the chewing process, the salivary gland secretes saliva which breaks down substances and converts starches into sugar to facilitate digestion! Thank you, Nature!!!
The tongue—this muscular organ. I said: How does this small organ distinguish between bitter and sweet? How is it that without it, we wouldn't be able to taste anything? Everything would be the same! Then there would be no meaning to eating or drinking!! Oh, my dear Nature!!
All this, and I am only chewing the food!! All these preparations in the mouth alone!! And still, "dear Nature" created tonsils for me to prevent airborne bacteria and viruses from entering the body. Thank you, Nature!! Nature created an immune system from the tonsils and lymph nodes to defend me. This is just in the mouth!!
When I said to myself: What happens next? Is this the end of the food's journey? You find that "dear Nature" provided the mouth with the esophagus, the epiglottis, and a digestive tract. I asked myself about the epiglottis: What is the function of this small organ? This piece of cartilage, what is its importance? How does it fold over the larynx when swallowing food to close the airway so that food and drink do not enter the lungs? Amazing! This "Nature" knows all my needs and desires!! And it even protects me!!!
Note: Nature was mentioned only to mock my naive way of thinking at that time! Glory be to the Changer of states!... May God protect you from all evil.
Praise be to God.
To be continued, God willing.
Original post by maybe: "Dear Sir, With all due respect, I believe this topic is directed more towards non-Muslims, as it is a personal experience similar to what many who have struggled—or are currently struggling—with doubt and confusion go through.
So, why do you want to deprive them of discussing this experience with our esteemed colleague?
Personally, I have been following the colleague's thread, eagerly waiting for 'the deciding factor' that brought him back to religion. I also wanted to ask him some questions, especially since I believe that discussing things with someone who has had a similar experience—even if the outcomes differ—gives me a sense of psychological comfort. I feel that he, in my opinion, would understand me better than those who reject the very idea of my existence or view me as nothing more than a 'hateful Christian' or a 'conspiring Jew.'
In the end, the decision is yours."
Response: "My dear friend, do not be hasty in passing judgment on something without reading it carefully; haste is never beneficial! If you wish to ask questions, it is only polite to wait until the speaker has finished what they have to say—only then will the questions have meaning.
Why am I telling you this? It is not to suppress your opinion, God forbid. But perhaps, as I recount my experience, you will find answers to the questions haunting you, or it may at least lessen the amount of doubt you have. That way, the benefit for everyone will be greater, and the questions will be fresh and useful for both of us! Moreover, this prevents the thread from becoming scattered—which is the desire of many atheists who abandon hundreds of topics where they have no answers, only to interfere in others!!
I hope you understand my point, my dear friend.
ABSENT (Due to studies)"
"After I finished chewing the food and it became palatable and easy to swallow, I asked myself: What comes next? The esophagus—this muscular tube that delivers food to the digestive tract and then to the stomach, where the food settles and other, more complex processes begin! Is all of this merely a coincidence and a stroke of luck without any prior arrangement?!
Then what? We move to the digestive tract and then to the stomach (that muscular sac inside the human abdomen). And what happens there?
Once the food settles in the stomach, various digestive juices are secreted, which help in a strange and organized manner!! to digest the food. The strange and wondrous thing!! is that 'dear Nature' assigned a specific secretory gland for each juice, coordinated for its release. Even stranger is that these glands measure the proportion of secretions and substances in the blood! Based on that, they control the amount of secretions they produce!
You find the liver secreting bile, which breaks down fats into less complex substances to nourish the blood... and that is not all the liver does. The liver is like a laboratory for analyzing harmful toxins that might afflict a person. It regulates blood sugar levels and stores what is in excess of the body's needs. When blood passes through it, the liver purifies it, analyzes it, and expels toxins better than any laboratory on the face of the earth!!!
And 'dear Nature'!! organized the secretion of juices in the liver so that you don't find bile being secreted when you aren't eating or when there is no food in the stomach!! My 'dear Nature' created an organ for me to store bile (the gallbladder) so that it flows when food enters and is stored when there is no food!! If I had spoken to myself only about the functions of the liver back then, I would have dozed off and fallen asleep, and the meal I was eating would have gone to waste!!
Then comes the maestro, the pancreas (and the Islets of Langerhans)!! with the terrible complexity of its structure!! But I assumed that 'dear Chance' was the one that put it in its place!! However, I looked at its function!! and silence took over my soul as I began to think: How does it work?!!
How it secretes digestive enzymes that help digest substances inside the stomach, and what's more!! Look at what 'dear Nature' did for me!! It made these pancreatic secretions maintain the balance of acid levels in the stomach!!! How sweet!! How beautiful are the laws of physics that possess all this wisdom and intellect!!!
The Islets of Langerhans—those complex glands that secrete insulin into the blood—act like a maestro, constantly regulating the blood sugar level!!! Whether you fed on a whole sheep or consumed a lot of sweets!! the sugar level in the blood remains constant!! (Oh, my 'dear Nature'!!)
How does the pancreas regulate sugar with such precision?! If it were to deviate by even a negligible fraction, the blood sugar level would be disrupted!! What a beautiful coincidence!!
To be continued, God willing."
Summary of the Author's Style
Sarcasm: The author repeatedly uses phrases like "Nature" and "Chance" followed by "dear" or "beloved" to mock his former atheistic worldview.
Teleology: He points out the "purpose" and "design" in organs like the gallbladder and pancreas to argue that they couldn't have appeared randomly.
Scientific Imagery: He uses metaphors like "Maestro" and "Laboratory" to describe biological functions.
"I made an unintentional mix-up in a piece of information mentioned in the first post.
It concerns the book 'How Do You See God?!' by Dr. Abdel Wadoud Shalabi, and not the book 'I Saw God' by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud.
The book I intended to mention in the context of narrating my experience was indeed 'How Do You See God?!'; it is a valuable and beautiful book by Dr. Abdel Wadoud Shalabi.
As for the other book, 'I Saw God' by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud... unfortunately, with the exception of the first ten pages, the rest of it discusses Sufi myths and superstitions, and what they call 'Imam al-Niffari'—the author of nebulous and imaginary 'ecstatic utterances' (shatahat).
Therefore, it is not a good book, given that it offers nothing but superstitious Sufi ideas, by some of which the Doctor (may God have mercy on him) was unfortunately influenced. I did not intend to mention it at all!!
I was afraid of being seen as someone promoting innovations (bid'ah) and superstitions, but this was an unintentional error. I ask for your pardon.
.......
ABSENT (Due to studies)"
Key Terms in the Translation:
Sufi myths/superstitions (خرافات الصوفية): The author is using "superstitions" to express his disapproval of specific mystical practices.
Ecstatic utterances (شطحات): This is the technical translation for shatahat, referring to unconventional or "nebulous" statements made by some mystics.
Innovations (بدع): A specific Islamic term (bid'ah) referring to newly invented matters in religion that lack scriptural basis.
"Every human being possesses a soul (Nafs) that constantly requires taming. Within every person, there is a perpetual internal struggle between submitting to one's self and desires, and curbing or disciplining them. The soul is inherently inclined toward denial, ingratitude, and rejection; none can control it except those upon whom my Lord has had mercy. Therefore, I found it necessary to put this ungrateful, skeptical soul in the prisoner's dock and deliver blow after blow—punches of radiant proof and evidence—until it yielded and surrendered to the Truth and the Light. Once I sensed even a tiny glimmer of light, even if it were at the end of a long road, I knew I had to clear away the accumulations of doubt covering my soul. Despite all these clear proofs, all this perfection, and all this intellect and wisdom, my soul had not yet found peace!!
So, I insisted on continuing my meditation and research until the soul was tamed and calmed, accepting the authority of Truth and following it without resentment or doubt.
I continued my journey following the path of food inside the body. After I finished reflecting on the complex and incredibly organized process within the digestive system, I asked myself: What next? What happens to the waste and harmful substances in my body? How does the body get rid of them? And how does it distinguish between the harmful and the beneficial?!!
I found myself before another system, even more complex!! 'Dear Nature' (by a stroke of 'lucky coincidence') did not leave me stranded; rather, it provided me with an excretory system of the highest caliber!! I do not know how physical or evolutionary terms could have helped me then to explain the creativity and order I was witnessing!
Alongside the liver, which filters the blood from toxins and harmful substances, you find that 'Dear Nature'!! placed two kidneys for me to rid the blood of waste and to stabilize the correct levels of water and mineral salts in the blood and body! (What a beautiful coincidence!!). Not only that, but the way the kidney functions is the pinnacle of precision! 'Blind Nature'!! equipped the kidneys with a renal artery and a renal vein! They were placed in the kidneys by chance? Fine, let’s let it slide as a 'coincidence' this time!!
The point is, I found that the renal artery carries blood loaded with waste and harmful materials!! I don't know why!! Perhaps by chance, or perhaps 'Blind Nature' is knowledgeable and aware of my needs! It made the blood pass through this artery into the kidneys (Oh, my 'Dear Nature'!!). After that, the blood enters through the renal artery to be filtered and purified of all these harmful substances. The blood is pushed into tiny parts that resemble filters used to purify water—the kind made by an intelligent human being!!
They are called the glomeruli (What a beautiful coincidence!). The kidneys are equipped with filters to purify the blood of harmful substances. These tiny filters (glomeruli) rid the blood of harmful materials—how did they distinguish what is harmful from what is beneficial for my body?!! Perhaps they took private lessons from 'Nature'!! The minute capillaries inside each 'glomerulus' transport the waste materials and fluid to a tube called the 'nephron.' Now, there is a problem!! How will we get these harmful materials out of the kidney?!! Look at these happy coincidences!!
'Dear Nature'!! created for me what is called the ureter! This ureter, present in both kidneys, transports urine to the bladder—which collects the urine to eventually expel it outside the body!!
I asked myself, as a denier of God’s existence back then: How can I explain all of this through coincidence, randomness, and physical laws?!! Is it right, after all this organization, splendor, creativity, and design, to attribute it all to randomness and a series of coincidences?
All of this happens in my body while I am oblivious to it (living in total ignorance)!! And all of this is just for one small meal I ate!! The calamity is that all these processes operate without any intervention, monitoring, or supervision from me!!
(What a beautiful coincidence)!!
My soul sought refuge in silence!! But I did not let it settle into ingratitude; instead, I pursued it with something even more astonishing than everything that preceded!
To be continued, God willing...
ABSENT (Due to studies)"
Translator's Notes:
The Soul (Nafs): In this context, the author uses the Arabic term Nafs to refer to the "ego" or the "self" that struggles with spiritual submission.
Satire: The author continues to use phrases like "Dear Nature" and "Blind Nature" ironically to highlight the absurdity (from his perspective) of attributing biological complexity to unguided forces.
Scientific Terms: Terms like Glomeruli and Nephron are translated directly as they are the standard medical terms used in the Arabic text.
"May God bless all the brothers. My brother 'Al-Amazighi,' may God bless you; may He grant us and you steadfastness in His religion until death.
My brother, the evidences and proofs of perfection, wisdom, and teleology (purposefulness) are among the most clear, manifest, and powerful proofs.
However, the problem, my brother, does not actually lie in the weakness of the evidence. The real problem lies in the mindset of Modern Man—the human being raised on Western materialist theories and philosophies. These philosophies have framed everything in the universe according to the Hegelian Dialectic—evolving from the lower to the higher without planning, wisdom, or anything else! Merely the idea of the 'struggle of opposites' that elevates things toward the better (without wisdom, intellect, or design!!).
Allow me to share these expressive words by the late Alija Izetbegović, which I always include in my signature:
'The narrow-mindedness of modern man is most evident in his belief that he sees no mystery before him. It is as if his wisdom is the sum of his knowledge and ignorance combined. It is ignorance, yet man is unaware of it, to the point that he accepts it as knowledge!! In the face of a mystery, he behaves with arrogance and vanity, such that he does not even see the problem. In this, the true scale of human ignorance and fanaticism is revealed.'
Indeed, these proofs no longer satisfy modern man. This is not due to their weakness, but due to the intense tyranny of modern man, his immersion in materialism, and the penetration of atheistic thought into all sciences. This has placed a veil over the eyes and extinguished the lights of truth within the hearts!
I agree with you, my brother, that for many, these proofs alone are not enough; they require other types of evidence (and unfortunately, I was one of them too!!).
What I have mentioned is merely the beginning of the experience; I have recounted what happened to me exactly as it occurred in reality. These reflections are of great benefit. Although they might not remove doubt from the hearts of the arrogant (Modern Man), they polish the heart, removing dullness, poor thinking, and vanity, thus preparing the heart to receive certainty. You may find people—whom God has graced with a sound fitra (innate nature), pure hearts, and untainted minds—who contemplate God’s wonders, and it increases them in unshakable faith. The existence of God requires nothing more than reflecting on the signs of His existence that He has placed for us. However, we have become accustomed to seeing them with such dullness; we have become so familiar with them that they no longer signify anything to us.
As for modern man, contemplation and reflection often only increase his vanity and denial. On the contrary, he persists in repeating phrases like: 'Thank you, Nature,' 'Nature made for me,' 'Nature gave me,' 'Oh, my dear Nature!' and 'Creative Coincidence!!' (similar to 'What a beautiful coincidence!!'). This happens instead of increasing in humility before the Creator of the universe and directing all gratitude and submission to God Almighty.
This is modern man, my brother!! The existence of God is clearer than the existence of the sun!! But this is the predicament of modern man!
Nonetheless, these proofs were not the final end for me in my experience, nor were they the only thing that made me certain of God’s existence. There are more and more proofs that God Almighty guided me toward by His grace and mercy.
What you mentioned, my brother, regarding Consciousness and Freedom is truly one of the decisive and pivotal points. By the grace, favor, and mercy of God, it had a profound impact on removing all doubts and tossing atheism into the dustbin of history!
It is freedom and consciousness... but this is an advanced stage that will be mentioned when its time comes, God willing.
May God bless the honorable brothers... and may your Eid be blessed, God willing."
Key Concepts in the Translation
Teleology (الغائية): The philosophical study of nature as being permeated by design or purpose.
Hegelian Dialectic (الدايلكتيك الهيجلى): Referred to here as the framework modern man uses to explain progress through conflict rather than divine wisdom.
Fitra (الفطرة): Translated as "innate nature," referring to the Islamic concept of an intuitive human disposition toward believing in a Creator.
Dullness (بلادة): Used by the author to describe the loss of wonder or the "autopilot" mode humans experience when looking at complex biological systems.
"On the sidelines of the topic of kidneys and God’s creative brilliance in them... Something happened to me when I was an atheist regarding this matter, and I think it is useful to mention it.
I have a very close friend, one of my lifelong companions. This friend of mine was tested by God with kidney failure after a long deterioration in his kidney function, which eventually led to complete failure (may God protect you all from every evil). My friend undergoes dialysis at a rate of one to three times per week.
He usually takes one of his friends and his mother with him as companions when he goes for dialysis. On one occasion, he asked me to accompany him along with his elderly mother. We stood in the queues as usual!! Then we went into the dialysis room. We were received by a nurse with a (terrible) reception—the kind of 'Oh, come on in' [sarcastic] style!! Anyway, I swallowed my anger and let it slide.
As I stood beside him while he was undergoing dialysis, I looked at the machine to which my friend’s body was connected to purify his blood. I found it to be a massive, high-tech device, brilliantly designed. Out of curiosity and wonder, I asked the doctor: 'Doctor, how much does this machine cost?'
He told me: 'It depends on the range of functions it performs. Prices start between 60,000 and nearly 150,000 Egyptian pounds, and of course, the price increases as the technology improves and the size decreases.' The doctor added: 'My son, these machines are not manufactured here in Egypt!! We do not possess the technology to manufacture most medical equipment, such as endoscopes, sonar, or MRI machines. This machine is produced by one of the giant corporations—Olympus—which is Japanese in origin, but this specific unit is German-made!'
Take a look at the size of the machine I saw!! Although the one I saw was much older than this and somewhat larger in size, it had the same design as I recall:
[Referencing the image provided in the original post]
At that moment, I was amazed!! The kidneys in my body perform all of this, yet they are only the size of a palm!!!
There is a rule among all rational people: the smaller and more precise an object becomes (while maintaining the same functions), the more it proves the precision of the manufacturing and the capability of the manufacturer.
I asked myself, wondering: How could 'Dear Nature' and its laws surpass wise, intelligent human beings and hundreds of factories around the world to produce something that performs all these functions—and create a 'device' for me the size of a palm?!
'Dear Nature' established all of this for me!! Truly, 'What a beautiful coincidence!!'
Look at the kidneys and their design!! And the urinary system!
[Referencing the diagrams provided in the original post]
These kidneys are supposedly the product of random and cumulative coincidences!!!
Glory be to the Creator of minds and intellects!! The image before this one—of the dialysis machine—is a device designed by the largest medical manufacturing companies!! Yet this human kidney... nature 'made' it for us!! (What a beautiful coincidence!!)
This is the mindset of an atheist. Praise be to God for the blessing of guidance. There is no power nor might except with God!
May God protect you all from every evil and every illness."
Key Thematic Notes
The Contrast: The author uses the contrast between the massive, expensive, man-made dialysis machine and the small, efficient, biological kidney to argue for a Higher Intelligence.
Economic Context: Mentioning the price in Egyptian pounds and the fact that the technology is imported (German/Japanese) emphasizes the difficulty humans have in replicating biological systems.
Irony: He continues his use of "Ya mahasin al-sadaf" (What a beautiful coincidence) to mock the idea that such complexity could arise without a designer.
Original post by Al-Hammadi: "What about your reading at the beginning of the journey??
Were you benefiting from it?"
Response: "My esteemed brother, of course, I benefited greatly regarding intellectual doctrines, how they originated, and the causes for the emergence of atheism. I also benefited by learning that atheism has existed since ancient times; thus, I realized that linking it exclusively to science in the modern era is nothing more than deception practiced upon the general public and the poorly informed.
In fact, the primary reason for the emergence of [modern] atheism was Christianity. After the minds of Westerners were opened by Muslims and their civilizations—following the decline of the Andalusian civilization and the transfer of its heritage to the West—Islamic scientific and intellectual heritage opened the minds of Westerners, leading them to reject that pagan and superstitious religion [as practiced then]. This led the straying Europeans to put all religions in one basket, labeling them all as myths.
After adopting empirical science and its foundations from Muslims (and science in Islam has never contradicted religion), they found the ecclesiastical authority to be an obstacle. The Church’s war on science and the killing of scientists drove Westerners to revive and reclaim Greek philosophical heritage. They resurrected the philosophies of Democritus, Heraclitus, Aristotle, Plotinus, Socrates, Epicurus, Pyrrho, and Protagoras. They also translated the philosophies of Averroes (Ibn Rushd) according to their own whims, and so on, reviving both materialist and idealist philosophies (especially the materialist ones). From this, embittered figures emerged, such as Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Bergson, Spinoza, Feuerbach, and Hegel—and later ones like Sartre, Russell, Marx, Engels, and Darwin.
Thus, atheism stood before me stripped of its 'fake scientific cloak,' and this is by the grace of my Lord and His mercy upon His humble servant, praise be to God.
However, the best and most beneficial book I read—by the grace of God first and last—was Islam Between East and West by Professor Alija Izetbegović (may God have mercy on him).
Why is this book specifically the best (in my view), despite having read many books that critique atheism and discuss this issue with great depth, some of which may even be larger in volume?
Firstly, the style of the book is very different from any book I have read in my life. Its method of presentation and discussion is distinct from the typical discourse you might find from another Muslim. It contains a wealth of information and demolishes all materialist philosophies while elevating the status of the human being. It exposes their flaws from a moral perspective and critiques the ideas of the 'Utopian City,' Marxism, Existentialism, Absurdism, and Nihilism. It also critiques the lie of 'moral atheism.' The list goes on! I cannot describe or express the brilliance of this book more than by referring you to a link to download it: [Link provided in original text].
I also must not overlook a very valuable book edited by the scholar Sulayman Dunya: The Incoherence of the Philosophers by the Muslim philosopher Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. The book itself is a rebuttal to the arguments of atheists first and last; for what they say now, they have said before!! Because atheism has been a form of stupidity since its inception! This is in addition to the commentary and additions by scholar Sulayman Dunya, which made the book even more beneficial. You can search for it to see if it has been uploaded to the internet.
Through reading, doubt was gradually receding, and the scale was tipping away from atheism. However, reading was not the 'deciding factor' for certainty entering my heart. It brought me much closer to it, by the grace of God, but the tranquility of the heart and inner peace only came to me through the grace and mercy of God—and through contemplating and reflecting upon the creations of God Almighty.
Praise be to God for His grace and blessings."
God bless you all
"Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.
Pardon me, Professor 'Mujarrad Insan', for the delay in replying...
Why I left religion in the beginning... I will not hide from you that I was a Muslim by birth, like all Muslims. However, God created me with a mind that is highly inquisitive and prone to deep thinking. This tendency intensified when I reached the age of thirteen.
In the beginning, my questions were only about the differences between religions; at that time, I never doubted the existence of a Creator. But gradually, I began to drift away from Islam due to excessive thinking and questioning.
When I entered high school and studied philosophy, unfortunately, it made matters worse. Because of my mindset since childhood—which rejects imitation or memorization without understanding—I studied philosophy from a rational perspective, not just as a standard school subject. Added to that were my independent readings of Latin literature icons such as Gabriel García Márquez, Hemingway, and Albert Camus. Despite the beauty and brilliance of their work, their literature increases one's confusion because it establishes the existentialist and absurdist thought that these authors embraced.
Philosophy and independent reading (without proper guidance)... I do not blame myself for this as much as I blame my father, especially for the lack of guidance toward what is correct, rather than leaving me without direction—especially since I was young then and my passion for reading was, and still is, immense; it is my first and last hobby. Therefore, poor guidance made the situation worse, and partial doubt turned into total doubt.
Not for a single day did I doubt my own existence; I hadn't reached that level (thank God). But I doubted the existence of God, especially since evolutionary thought had invaded all fields of biology and geology. I studied Darwin's theory and read 'The Origin of Species,' and at that point, I was 99% close to atheism. I had no hope that any human on Earth could prove the existence of God to me.
I used to think that all believers were merely following tradition by inheritance. Especially since, during my previous period of doubting religions, I studied Christianity and Judaism from a neutral perspective and found that they were not acceptable to the mind. Yet, seeing Jewish and Christian scholars and thinkers believing in these 'intellectual superstitions' led me to a final judgment about believers in general: that they are essentially atheists who simply inherited their religions. I thought there was no true believer on Earth, that everyone believed by inheritance, and that there was no God or anything else. To this day, I do not know the reason for that feeling that overcame me then, but that is what happened.
I will not hide from you that I used to cry a lot out of confusion and a sense of resentment. I would sit by myself for long periods, isolated from people, lost in thought, driven by a desperate desire to end the confusion that had turned my life into a hell. Due to excessive thinking, my worries grew day by day, to the point where my friends began to think I was upset with them. Often, while we were sitting together, they would speak to me, but because of my distraction and deep thinking, I wouldn't notice them at all. Consequently, they thought ill of me, assuming I was arrogant and didn't want to talk to them. This added to my pain and sadness because I couldn't tell my friends what I was going through; I didn't want them to experience the bitter moments I was living. If I had known that talking to them would help me, I would have told them; on the contrary, I was afraid for them, not wanting to plant doubt in their hearts.
This wasn't because I was a Muslim then, but because I loved them and didn't want them to feel the pain and confusion I was experiencing. Even though I wasn't convinced at the time of God's existence or the truth of Islam, I used to say: 'Even if what they believe in is an illusion or a fantasy, they are happy with this illusion, unlike me.' I treated my family in the same way.
But unfortunately, my irritability increased, especially in the last eight months, and my behavior toward my parents became poor. I became quick to anger and very tense. This wasn't because of anything they or my siblings did; rather, I was dying inside from confusion and pain, and from the despair of ever reaching certainty. What made it worse was that I couldn't disclose what was inside me to my parents! This increased the pressure and tension, which manifested as irritable and nervous responses toward friends and family. God knows I didn't mean it then, but that was my psychological state due to this doubt—this disease that I wished they could take everything from me, everything, just to give me the peace of mind of an ordinary employee or the worker who washes my car.
I used to look at the housemaid with envy! I would say, 'If only I could reach certainty, even if everything I own was taken and I became as poor as this woman, I would be the happiest of people!' Due to the intensity of the doubt, I was close to declaring to myself clearly that there is no God and leaving everything behind with conviction. However, fear would grip me, and I felt a sense of purpose in life—a feeling that made me reject and abandon atheism. This feeling made my mind mock the idea of a purposeless, absurdist universe. It wasn't for any logical or scientific reason, but a strange internal feeling I couldn't explain, yet it pushed me to look at atheism and absurdity as something ridiculous.
At the same time, it would wake me from sleep, terrified and afraid... that there might be another life where I would be held accountable for this atheism and disbelief! I was afraid I might have denied my God who created me while He actually exists! What would my position be then? Especially since I viewed life as having no ultimate value, because in the end, a human cannot live forever and must inevitably die. Then, the feeling of the absurdity of atheism would increase, and my crying and confusion would intensify. I would talk to God, saying things like: 'If You exist, why don't You help me?' 'Why do You leave me like this in my confusion if You exist?' These were the imaginary dialogues I directed toward the sky, resentful and angry at what I was going through.
I bite my fingertips now in regret for what I did regarding God. But God knows that I wasn't doing it out of arrogance; I did it out of extreme confusion and the feeling that the path was blocked before me. It reached a point where I wished that if He existed, He would guide me, even if He took my soul afterward and I died!
About nine months ago, I decided to settle the matter: either atheism or faith; either there is a God or there isn't. Honestly, I decided this with no turning back because I was exhausted from the doubt. I said to myself, if I find atheism to be the truth, I will follow it and never look back, because I will not remain in this confusion for the rest of my life. I set a limit to end this turmoil.
Then, I decided to push my mind to its limits during that period, increasing my reading and secluding myself to read books in search of certainty—whether atheism or faith. It became my primary preoccupation and sole concern. I set a methodical plan to research the issue, nominating valuable books for myself and then beginning careful and deliberate study.
I selected books such as 'Struggle with Atheists to the Bone,' 'Exposing Deceptions,' 'I Saw God' by Abdel Wadoud Shalabi, and many, many other books addressing the issue. My hope at the beginning of every book was that by the end of it, I would reach certainty and find the solution! For example, in 'Exposing Deceptions' (750 pages), I would read every day with the hope that by the time I reached the end, I would attain faith. But unfortunately, after finishing a period of concentrated reading that lasted nearly two weeks, I reached nothing. This increased my tension, and the tension turned into anger. I would break things on my desk out of rage and confusion. I was like a walking dead man. The world felt so narrow, as if I were looking through the eye of a needle. This was the case with every book, until my read library reached nearly a hundred large volumes by famous authors and respected scholars.
But the deciding factor in the case came after losing hope in everything and trying everything!
The deciding factor in the case was....... (To be continued tomorrow, God willing, after I return from college).
I am sorry for the delay in my response, but my esteemed Professor, my health condition was poor. The anesthesia kept me from focusing, in addition to the many painkillers and antibiotics that doctors do not hesitate to prescribe in abundance!! Whether before or after the surgery.
"Cursed is man; how ungrateful is he! From what substance did He create him? From a sperm-drop He created him and destined him." (Abasa: 17-19)
When a person walks the path of recklessness and ignorance and refuses to return... that is the very definition of arrogance. When Mustafa Mahmoud walked the path of atheism, mocking religion and writing insults against Islam, he was a pure atheist. We all remember his quote in the book God and Man: "God, in my view, is modern science—and God, in my grandmother's view, is the doctor who treats her leg!!"
But when a person contemplates, thinks, and sheds the aura of vanity and pride, looking with a humble and meditative eye, he inevitably admits his own ignorance. He looks at his size in this vast universe and looks at himself—the wonders of his own soul and the marvels within his body that could only be the work of an All-Knowing, All-Wise Creator, not the result of coincidental or random laws. Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud reflected and abandoned atheism, fighting against it with all his might!
His case applies to many others, both past and present: (Zaki Najib Mahmoud, Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad, Anis Mansour, Abdel Rahman Badawi, Najib al-Zamil, Antony Flew—the fiercest atheist of the 20th century—Ismail Mazhar, Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri after his opposition to the Quran and his atheism, and Jeffrey Lang). The list is very, very long!!!!!!
In this honorable forum, you can find a man who was once among the most ferocious non-believers, known as "Darwin" (Al-Jahiz). Look at how, when he found himself in error, he abandoned atheism and irreligion!
I have always preferred to respond to anyone with logic! Have you seen how many atheists have left atheism?!!!! I think the answer is clear to everyone. We now know who should remain silent and watch this thread without uttering a word, lest they embarrass themselves further after already being proven wrong so many times!! Especially after mentioning just a few of the atheists who came to believe in the existence of God.
I once debated a Scottish atheist on a forum; by God, even Western atheists are far more knowledgeable and significantly more rational than "imitative" Arab atheists. I have never seen such a massive amount of ignorance as that displayed by Arab atheists, no pride intended! Secondly, they lack the refined manners and high ethics found in Western atheists (except for a very few, to be fair)!!! If only Arab atheists imitated the West in their high ethics just as they imitate them in everything else!!
In any case, I will continue my topic, God willing. I hesitated a lot before posting this, but after speaking with some brothers who suffer from doubts regarding the existence of God Almighty, I decided that sharing my experience might be useful to some and save them from this grueling journey. It is also to expose atheism for those who were deceived by it and turned to it just to be called "thinkers"!!!
I ask God to make our work purely for His sake... and to keep us away from the ignorant and their interference in what does not concern them!! Amen.
May God bless you, my brothers. (You made me laugh, Professor Hassan Al-Morsi!)
Part 12
Man has become accustomed to looking at things with dullness and arrogance, without contemplation, passing by things as if he were their creator and innovator!! He eats as if he were the one who subordinated the food for himself; he never thinks while eating about "Who prepared this beautiful food for him?"
When he gets a small cut on his hand and the body repairs it and heals the wound automatically, he says: "Thank you, Nature!!!" He has eyes full of wonder and brilliance, created by God for a clear purpose, yet someone might say to you: "A man's nipple is useless!!!" What does that have to do with anything? Man is arrogant because of the little science he has reached. Yet, within the human soul are signs that, if one were to count them, he wouldn't finish until he died!!
One day, I was eating in my room and I asked myself: How does this digestion process happen?!! How is it that I do nothing but chew? I don't exert any effort or even supervise this complex process!! Who knew all my needs and placed the specialized organs for them?!
The question began with something small that people hardly notice: the teeth!! How are the teeth arranged in a way that makes chewing and cutting easy for humans?! In the beginning, the canines to cut large pieces, then the incisors to cut food into small parts. How beautiful are the physical laws that "knew" I needed teeth with this organization and created them for me!!!
Then, at the same time and during the chewing process, the salivary gland secretes saliva which breaks down substances and converts starches into sugar to facilitate digestion! Thank you, Nature!!!
The tongue—this muscular organ. I said: How does this small organ distinguish between bitter and sweet? How is it that without it, we wouldn't be able to taste anything? Everything would be the same! Then there would be no meaning to eating or drinking!! Oh, my dear Nature!!
All this, and I am only chewing the food!! All these preparations in the mouth alone!! And still, "dear Nature" created tonsils for me to prevent airborne bacteria and viruses from entering the body. Thank you, Nature!! Nature created an immune system from the tonsils and lymph nodes to defend me. This is just in the mouth!!
When I said to myself: What happens next? Is this the end of the food's journey? You find that "dear Nature" provided the mouth with the esophagus, the epiglottis, and a digestive tract. I asked myself about the epiglottis: What is the function of this small organ? This piece of cartilage, what is its importance? How does it fold over the larynx when swallowing food to close the airway so that food and drink do not enter the lungs? Amazing! This "Nature" knows all my needs and desires!! And it even protects me!!!
Note: Nature was mentioned only to mock my naive way of thinking at that time! Glory be to the Changer of states!... May God protect you from all evil.
Praise be to God.
To be continued, God willing.
Original post by maybe: "Dear Sir, With all due respect, I believe this topic is directed more towards non-Muslims, as it is a personal experience similar to what many who have struggled—or are currently struggling—with doubt and confusion go through.
So, why do you want to deprive them of discussing this experience with our esteemed colleague?
Personally, I have been following the colleague's thread, eagerly waiting for 'the deciding factor' that brought him back to religion. I also wanted to ask him some questions, especially since I believe that discussing things with someone who has had a similar experience—even if the outcomes differ—gives me a sense of psychological comfort. I feel that he, in my opinion, would understand me better than those who reject the very idea of my existence or view me as nothing more than a 'hateful Christian' or a 'conspiring Jew.'
In the end, the decision is yours."
Response: "My dear friend, do not be hasty in passing judgment on something without reading it carefully; haste is never beneficial! If you wish to ask questions, it is only polite to wait until the speaker has finished what they have to say—only then will the questions have meaning.
Why am I telling you this? It is not to suppress your opinion, God forbid. But perhaps, as I recount my experience, you will find answers to the questions haunting you, or it may at least lessen the amount of doubt you have. That way, the benefit for everyone will be greater, and the questions will be fresh and useful for both of us! Moreover, this prevents the thread from becoming scattered—which is the desire of many atheists who abandon hundreds of topics where they have no answers, only to interfere in others!!
I hope you understand my point, my dear friend.
ABSENT (Due to studies)"
"After I finished chewing the food and it became palatable and easy to swallow, I asked myself: What comes next? The esophagus—this muscular tube that delivers food to the digestive tract and then to the stomach, where the food settles and other, more complex processes begin! Is all of this merely a coincidence and a stroke of luck without any prior arrangement?!
Then what? We move to the digestive tract and then to the stomach (that muscular sac inside the human abdomen). And what happens there?
Once the food settles in the stomach, various digestive juices are secreted, which help in a strange and organized manner!! to digest the food. The strange and wondrous thing!! is that 'dear Nature' assigned a specific secretory gland for each juice, coordinated for its release. Even stranger is that these glands measure the proportion of secretions and substances in the blood! Based on that, they control the amount of secretions they produce!
You find the liver secreting bile, which breaks down fats into less complex substances to nourish the blood... and that is not all the liver does. The liver is like a laboratory for analyzing harmful toxins that might afflict a person. It regulates blood sugar levels and stores what is in excess of the body's needs. When blood passes through it, the liver purifies it, analyzes it, and expels toxins better than any laboratory on the face of the earth!!!
And 'dear Nature'!! organized the secretion of juices in the liver so that you don't find bile being secreted when you aren't eating or when there is no food in the stomach!! My 'dear Nature' created an organ for me to store bile (the gallbladder) so that it flows when food enters and is stored when there is no food!! If I had spoken to myself only about the functions of the liver back then, I would have dozed off and fallen asleep, and the meal I was eating would have gone to waste!!
Then comes the maestro, the pancreas (and the Islets of Langerhans)!! with the terrible complexity of its structure!! But I assumed that 'dear Chance' was the one that put it in its place!! However, I looked at its function!! and silence took over my soul as I began to think: How does it work?!!
How it secretes digestive enzymes that help digest substances inside the stomach, and what's more!! Look at what 'dear Nature' did for me!! It made these pancreatic secretions maintain the balance of acid levels in the stomach!!! How sweet!! How beautiful are the laws of physics that possess all this wisdom and intellect!!!
The Islets of Langerhans—those complex glands that secrete insulin into the blood—act like a maestro, constantly regulating the blood sugar level!!! Whether you fed on a whole sheep or consumed a lot of sweets!! the sugar level in the blood remains constant!! (Oh, my 'dear Nature'!!)
How does the pancreas regulate sugar with such precision?! If it were to deviate by even a negligible fraction, the blood sugar level would be disrupted!! What a beautiful coincidence!!
To be continued, God willing."
Summary of the Author's Style
Sarcasm: The author repeatedly uses phrases like "Nature" and "Chance" followed by "dear" or "beloved" to mock his former atheistic worldview.
Teleology: He points out the "purpose" and "design" in organs like the gallbladder and pancreas to argue that they couldn't have appeared randomly.
Scientific Imagery: He uses metaphors like "Maestro" and "Laboratory" to describe biological functions.
"I made an unintentional mix-up in a piece of information mentioned in the first post.
It concerns the book 'How Do You See God?!' by Dr. Abdel Wadoud Shalabi, and not the book 'I Saw God' by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud.
The book I intended to mention in the context of narrating my experience was indeed 'How Do You See God?!'; it is a valuable and beautiful book by Dr. Abdel Wadoud Shalabi.
As for the other book, 'I Saw God' by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud... unfortunately, with the exception of the first ten pages, the rest of it discusses Sufi myths and superstitions, and what they call 'Imam al-Niffari'—the author of nebulous and imaginary 'ecstatic utterances' (shatahat).
Therefore, it is not a good book, given that it offers nothing but superstitious Sufi ideas, by some of which the Doctor (may God have mercy on him) was unfortunately influenced. I did not intend to mention it at all!!
I was afraid of being seen as someone promoting innovations (bid'ah) and superstitions, but this was an unintentional error. I ask for your pardon.
.......
ABSENT (Due to studies)"
Key Terms in the Translation:
Sufi myths/superstitions (خرافات الصوفية): The author is using "superstitions" to express his disapproval of specific mystical practices.
Ecstatic utterances (شطحات): This is the technical translation for shatahat, referring to unconventional or "nebulous" statements made by some mystics.
Innovations (بدع): A specific Islamic term (bid'ah) referring to newly invented matters in religion that lack scriptural basis.
"Every human being possesses a soul (Nafs) that constantly requires taming. Within every person, there is a perpetual internal struggle between submitting to one's self and desires, and curbing or disciplining them. The soul is inherently inclined toward denial, ingratitude, and rejection; none can control it except those upon whom my Lord has had mercy. Therefore, I found it necessary to put this ungrateful, skeptical soul in the prisoner's dock and deliver blow after blow—punches of radiant proof and evidence—until it yielded and surrendered to the Truth and the Light. Once I sensed even a tiny glimmer of light, even if it were at the end of a long road, I knew I had to clear away the accumulations of doubt covering my soul. Despite all these clear proofs, all this perfection, and all this intellect and wisdom, my soul had not yet found peace!!
So, I insisted on continuing my meditation and research until the soul was tamed and calmed, accepting the authority of Truth and following it without resentment or doubt.
I continued my journey following the path of food inside the body. After I finished reflecting on the complex and incredibly organized process within the digestive system, I asked myself: What next? What happens to the waste and harmful substances in my body? How does the body get rid of them? And how does it distinguish between the harmful and the beneficial?!!
I found myself before another system, even more complex!! 'Dear Nature' (by a stroke of 'lucky coincidence') did not leave me stranded; rather, it provided me with an excretory system of the highest caliber!! I do not know how physical or evolutionary terms could have helped me then to explain the creativity and order I was witnessing!
Alongside the liver, which filters the blood from toxins and harmful substances, you find that 'Dear Nature'!! placed two kidneys for me to rid the blood of waste and to stabilize the correct levels of water and mineral salts in the blood and body! (What a beautiful coincidence!!). Not only that, but the way the kidney functions is the pinnacle of precision! 'Blind Nature'!! equipped the kidneys with a renal artery and a renal vein! They were placed in the kidneys by chance? Fine, let’s let it slide as a 'coincidence' this time!!
The point is, I found that the renal artery carries blood loaded with waste and harmful materials!! I don't know why!! Perhaps by chance, or perhaps 'Blind Nature' is knowledgeable and aware of my needs! It made the blood pass through this artery into the kidneys (Oh, my 'Dear Nature'!!). After that, the blood enters through the renal artery to be filtered and purified of all these harmful substances. The blood is pushed into tiny parts that resemble filters used to purify water—the kind made by an intelligent human being!!
They are called the glomeruli (What a beautiful coincidence!). The kidneys are equipped with filters to purify the blood of harmful substances. These tiny filters (glomeruli) rid the blood of harmful materials—how did they distinguish what is harmful from what is beneficial for my body?!! Perhaps they took private lessons from 'Nature'!! The minute capillaries inside each 'glomerulus' transport the waste materials and fluid to a tube called the 'nephron.' Now, there is a problem!! How will we get these harmful materials out of the kidney?!! Look at these happy coincidences!!
'Dear Nature'!! created for me what is called the ureter! This ureter, present in both kidneys, transports urine to the bladder—which collects the urine to eventually expel it outside the body!!
I asked myself, as a denier of God’s existence back then: How can I explain all of this through coincidence, randomness, and physical laws?!! Is it right, after all this organization, splendor, creativity, and design, to attribute it all to randomness and a series of coincidences?
All of this happens in my body while I am oblivious to it (living in total ignorance)!! And all of this is just for one small meal I ate!! The calamity is that all these processes operate without any intervention, monitoring, or supervision from me!!
(What a beautiful coincidence)!!
My soul sought refuge in silence!! But I did not let it settle into ingratitude; instead, I pursued it with something even more astonishing than everything that preceded!
To be continued, God willing...
ABSENT (Due to studies)"
Translator's Notes:
The Soul (Nafs): In this context, the author uses the Arabic term Nafs to refer to the "ego" or the "self" that struggles with spiritual submission.
Satire: The author continues to use phrases like "Dear Nature" and "Blind Nature" ironically to highlight the absurdity (from his perspective) of attributing biological complexity to unguided forces.
Scientific Terms: Terms like Glomeruli and Nephron are translated directly as they are the standard medical terms used in the Arabic text.
"May God bless all the brothers. My brother 'Al-Amazighi,' may God bless you; may He grant us and you steadfastness in His religion until death.
My brother, the evidences and proofs of perfection, wisdom, and teleology (purposefulness) are among the most clear, manifest, and powerful proofs.
However, the problem, my brother, does not actually lie in the weakness of the evidence. The real problem lies in the mindset of Modern Man—the human being raised on Western materialist theories and philosophies. These philosophies have framed everything in the universe according to the Hegelian Dialectic—evolving from the lower to the higher without planning, wisdom, or anything else! Merely the idea of the 'struggle of opposites' that elevates things toward the better (without wisdom, intellect, or design!!).
Allow me to share these expressive words by the late Alija Izetbegović, which I always include in my signature:
'The narrow-mindedness of modern man is most evident in his belief that he sees no mystery before him. It is as if his wisdom is the sum of his knowledge and ignorance combined. It is ignorance, yet man is unaware of it, to the point that he accepts it as knowledge!! In the face of a mystery, he behaves with arrogance and vanity, such that he does not even see the problem. In this, the true scale of human ignorance and fanaticism is revealed.'
Indeed, these proofs no longer satisfy modern man. This is not due to their weakness, but due to the intense tyranny of modern man, his immersion in materialism, and the penetration of atheistic thought into all sciences. This has placed a veil over the eyes and extinguished the lights of truth within the hearts!
I agree with you, my brother, that for many, these proofs alone are not enough; they require other types of evidence (and unfortunately, I was one of them too!!).
What I have mentioned is merely the beginning of the experience; I have recounted what happened to me exactly as it occurred in reality. These reflections are of great benefit. Although they might not remove doubt from the hearts of the arrogant (Modern Man), they polish the heart, removing dullness, poor thinking, and vanity, thus preparing the heart to receive certainty. You may find people—whom God has graced with a sound fitra (innate nature), pure hearts, and untainted minds—who contemplate God’s wonders, and it increases them in unshakable faith. The existence of God requires nothing more than reflecting on the signs of His existence that He has placed for us. However, we have become accustomed to seeing them with such dullness; we have become so familiar with them that they no longer signify anything to us.
As for modern man, contemplation and reflection often only increase his vanity and denial. On the contrary, he persists in repeating phrases like: 'Thank you, Nature,' 'Nature made for me,' 'Nature gave me,' 'Oh, my dear Nature!' and 'Creative Coincidence!!' (similar to 'What a beautiful coincidence!!'). This happens instead of increasing in humility before the Creator of the universe and directing all gratitude and submission to God Almighty.
This is modern man, my brother!! The existence of God is clearer than the existence of the sun!! But this is the predicament of modern man!
Nonetheless, these proofs were not the final end for me in my experience, nor were they the only thing that made me certain of God’s existence. There are more and more proofs that God Almighty guided me toward by His grace and mercy.
What you mentioned, my brother, regarding Consciousness and Freedom is truly one of the decisive and pivotal points. By the grace, favor, and mercy of God, it had a profound impact on removing all doubts and tossing atheism into the dustbin of history!
It is freedom and consciousness... but this is an advanced stage that will be mentioned when its time comes, God willing.
May God bless the honorable brothers... and may your Eid be blessed, God willing."
Key Concepts in the Translation
Teleology (الغائية): The philosophical study of nature as being permeated by design or purpose.
Hegelian Dialectic (الدايلكتيك الهيجلى): Referred to here as the framework modern man uses to explain progress through conflict rather than divine wisdom.
Fitra (الفطرة): Translated as "innate nature," referring to the Islamic concept of an intuitive human disposition toward believing in a Creator.
Dullness (بلادة): Used by the author to describe the loss of wonder or the "autopilot" mode humans experience when looking at complex biological systems.
"On the sidelines of the topic of kidneys and God’s creative brilliance in them... Something happened to me when I was an atheist regarding this matter, and I think it is useful to mention it.
I have a very close friend, one of my lifelong companions. This friend of mine was tested by God with kidney failure after a long deterioration in his kidney function, which eventually led to complete failure (may God protect you all from every evil). My friend undergoes dialysis at a rate of one to three times per week.
He usually takes one of his friends and his mother with him as companions when he goes for dialysis. On one occasion, he asked me to accompany him along with his elderly mother. We stood in the queues as usual!! Then we went into the dialysis room. We were received by a nurse with a (terrible) reception—the kind of 'Oh, come on in' [sarcastic] style!! Anyway, I swallowed my anger and let it slide.
As I stood beside him while he was undergoing dialysis, I looked at the machine to which my friend’s body was connected to purify his blood. I found it to be a massive, high-tech device, brilliantly designed. Out of curiosity and wonder, I asked the doctor: 'Doctor, how much does this machine cost?'
He told me: 'It depends on the range of functions it performs. Prices start between 60,000 and nearly 150,000 Egyptian pounds, and of course, the price increases as the technology improves and the size decreases.' The doctor added: 'My son, these machines are not manufactured here in Egypt!! We do not possess the technology to manufacture most medical equipment, such as endoscopes, sonar, or MRI machines. This machine is produced by one of the giant corporations—Olympus—which is Japanese in origin, but this specific unit is German-made!'
Take a look at the size of the machine I saw!! Although the one I saw was much older than this and somewhat larger in size, it had the same design as I recall:
[Referencing the image provided in the original post]
At that moment, I was amazed!! The kidneys in my body perform all of this, yet they are only the size of a palm!!!
There is a rule among all rational people: the smaller and more precise an object becomes (while maintaining the same functions), the more it proves the precision of the manufacturing and the capability of the manufacturer.
I asked myself, wondering: How could 'Dear Nature' and its laws surpass wise, intelligent human beings and hundreds of factories around the world to produce something that performs all these functions—and create a 'device' for me the size of a palm?!
'Dear Nature' established all of this for me!! Truly, 'What a beautiful coincidence!!'
Look at the kidneys and their design!! And the urinary system!
[Referencing the diagrams provided in the original post]
These kidneys are supposedly the product of random and cumulative coincidences!!!
Glory be to the Creator of minds and intellects!! The image before this one—of the dialysis machine—is a device designed by the largest medical manufacturing companies!! Yet this human kidney... nature 'made' it for us!! (What a beautiful coincidence!!)
This is the mindset of an atheist. Praise be to God for the blessing of guidance. There is no power nor might except with God!
May God protect you all from every evil and every illness."
Key Thematic Notes
The Contrast: The author uses the contrast between the massive, expensive, man-made dialysis machine and the small, efficient, biological kidney to argue for a Higher Intelligence.
Economic Context: Mentioning the price in Egyptian pounds and the fact that the technology is imported (German/Japanese) emphasizes the difficulty humans have in replicating biological systems.
Irony: He continues his use of "Ya mahasin al-sadaf" (What a beautiful coincidence) to mock the idea that such complexity could arise without a designer.
Original post by Al-Hammadi: "What about your reading at the beginning of the journey??
Were you benefiting from it?"
Response: "My esteemed brother, of course, I benefited greatly regarding intellectual doctrines, how they originated, and the causes for the emergence of atheism. I also benefited by learning that atheism has existed since ancient times; thus, I realized that linking it exclusively to science in the modern era is nothing more than deception practiced upon the general public and the poorly informed.
In fact, the primary reason for the emergence of [modern] atheism was Christianity. After the minds of Westerners were opened by Muslims and their civilizations—following the decline of the Andalusian civilization and the transfer of its heritage to the West—Islamic scientific and intellectual heritage opened the minds of Westerners, leading them to reject that pagan and superstitious religion [as practiced then]. This led the straying Europeans to put all religions in one basket, labeling them all as myths.
After adopting empirical science and its foundations from Muslims (and science in Islam has never contradicted religion), they found the ecclesiastical authority to be an obstacle. The Church’s war on science and the killing of scientists drove Westerners to revive and reclaim Greek philosophical heritage. They resurrected the philosophies of Democritus, Heraclitus, Aristotle, Plotinus, Socrates, Epicurus, Pyrrho, and Protagoras. They also translated the philosophies of Averroes (Ibn Rushd) according to their own whims, and so on, reviving both materialist and idealist philosophies (especially the materialist ones). From this, embittered figures emerged, such as Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Bergson, Spinoza, Feuerbach, and Hegel—and later ones like Sartre, Russell, Marx, Engels, and Darwin.
Thus, atheism stood before me stripped of its 'fake scientific cloak,' and this is by the grace of my Lord and His mercy upon His humble servant, praise be to God.
However, the best and most beneficial book I read—by the grace of God first and last—was Islam Between East and West by Professor Alija Izetbegović (may God have mercy on him).
Why is this book specifically the best (in my view), despite having read many books that critique atheism and discuss this issue with great depth, some of which may even be larger in volume?
Firstly, the style of the book is very different from any book I have read in my life. Its method of presentation and discussion is distinct from the typical discourse you might find from another Muslim. It contains a wealth of information and demolishes all materialist philosophies while elevating the status of the human being. It exposes their flaws from a moral perspective and critiques the ideas of the 'Utopian City,' Marxism, Existentialism, Absurdism, and Nihilism. It also critiques the lie of 'moral atheism.' The list goes on! I cannot describe or express the brilliance of this book more than by referring you to a link to download it: [Link provided in original text].
I also must not overlook a very valuable book edited by the scholar Sulayman Dunya: The Incoherence of the Philosophers by the Muslim philosopher Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. The book itself is a rebuttal to the arguments of atheists first and last; for what they say now, they have said before!! Because atheism has been a form of stupidity since its inception! This is in addition to the commentary and additions by scholar Sulayman Dunya, which made the book even more beneficial. You can search for it to see if it has been uploaded to the internet.
Through reading, doubt was gradually receding, and the scale was tipping away from atheism. However, reading was not the 'deciding factor' for certainty entering my heart. It brought me much closer to it, by the grace of God, but the tranquility of the heart and inner peace only came to me through the grace and mercy of God—and through contemplating and reflecting upon the creations of God Almighty.
Praise be to God for His grace and blessings."
God bless you all