Saturday, July 12, 2025

God's Power and Logical Absurdities - The Necessity of Logical Principles While Discussing God

 The Necessity of Logical Principles Before Discussing God


Before we even begin discussing God and His actions, we must recognize an important truth: logical axioms and first principles are the foundation of reality.


The law of non-contradiction (something cannot exist and not exist at the same time).


The law of identity (a thing is itself and not something else).


The principle of sufficient reason (everything that exists has a reason for its existence).


These principles are not human inventions. They are the very structure of reality itself. Without them, we cannot make sense of anything. Words, sentences, and even thoughts would lose their meaning.


Now, if someone says:


> “God transcends these principles, so He can do things that break logic.”


This creates a huge problem:


If logic doesn’t apply, then reality itself becomes unintelligible.


Words like “God,” “power,” “create,” and “exist” stop meaning anything because they depend on logical coherence to make sense.


Even asking a question about God like “Can God do X?” becomes impossible because the framework needed to ask and understand the question has already collapsed.


In other words:


> If reality is no longer grounded in logical principles, then asking about God’s nature or actions is meaningless.


Questions like:


“Can God create a stone He cannot lift?”


“Can God cease to exist?”


“Can God make 2+2=5?”


…are not just strange, they are nonsense. They attempt to discuss something while simultaneously destroying the very conditions that make discussion possible.


If reality itself could change arbitrarily, if square circles and existing/non-existing simultaneously were possible, then all reasoning, language, and knowledge would collapse. In that case, the discussion about God wouldn’t just be difficult; it would be impossible.


God's Power and Logical Absurdities


God's actions being bound by logical rules does not limit His omnipotence. Rather, logical consistency is part of God's nature, not a constraint outside Him.


Why This Is Not a Limitation


Logical contradiction is not a "thing" to be done:


Surah al-Baqarah 2:106: "Indeed, Allah is over all things competent."


Omnipotence means God can do all "things". But logical contradictions are not "things" at all. They are not a real entity to begin with. For example:


"Creating a square circle"


"Making 2+2 equal 5"


"Existing and not existing at the same time"


These are not tasks—they are meaningless combinations of words, a linguistic illusion. So, not doing them is not a limitation on His omnipotence. They're like asking: “Can God make blue smell louder than justice?”


It is more appropriate to say that such things cannot be done than to say that God cannot do them, because they are not properly ‘things’. 


You can’t say: “Can God draw a square circle?” or “Can God make Himself cease to exist?”


That’s not a test of omnipotence, it’s a misuse of language.


Meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix them with the words ‘God can.’


Because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.


Analogy:


Suppose someone says:


"Can the most powerful painter paint a color that is not a color?"


That’s not a limitation of the painter. It’s just a nonsense request.


 So, God not doing the logically impossible is not a weakness; it’s a reflection of the coherence of His nature.


Misunderstanding 'Power':


"Can God create another god?" or "Can God cease to exist?" is a false question because it involves denying God's necessary nature, which is irrational and not possible.


The idea that God’s power is ‘limited’ because He does not do impossible things is a misunderstanding of what power means.

Because, logical contradictions are not "entities" (ashya’) for power to act on. They don't exist, so power doesn't apply to them. 

He is called omnipotent because He does what He wills, not because He suffers what He does not will.


For the things that cannot be ascribed to His actions are those that are not signs of power but of weakness and hence incompatible with God.


Limitation implies a higher standard:


Saying God is limited by logic only makes sense if logic is outside or greater than God. But theologians argue:


Logic is grounded in God’s nature.

God doesn’t conform to logic; rather, logic flows from His own rational, perfect essence.

So, God is not under logic—He is the source of rational order.


----------


Here’s a simplified rational proof common in kalām theology:


 Premise 1: Omnipotence (al-qudra) is the capacity to bring about things (ashyā’).


 Premise 2: A thing (shay') must be conceivable (maʿqūl) and not self-contradictory.


Example: A square circle is not a “thing”; it is a contradiction in terms.


 Premise 3: Logical contradictions are not real things, because their very definitions negate themselves.


"Can God create a rock He can’t lift?" is like saying:


“Can God be weak and strong in the same sense at the same time?”


→ This is not a "thing" but a linguistic illusion.


 Conclusion:


God’s power applies to all things (kulli shay’ mumkin), but logical contradictions are not “things”, so not doing them does not limit God.


--------


Effects on the Concepts of Reality and Existence


If one believes that God can do illogical things, it has profound and complex effects on the concepts of reality and existence, primarily by challenging the foundational role of logic in understanding the universe. Basing on the above discussion, here's a breakdown of the implications:


1. On the Nature of Reality (Metaphysics):


 * Undermining Universal Laws: If God can defy logic, then the very laws of nature and the principles governing existence become contingent and potentially arbitrary. For instance, if God can make a square circle, then the concept of a square or a circle, and the mathematical principles that define them, lose their inherent meaning.


 * Arbitrary Creation: A God who can do illogical things implies a reality that isn't necessarily coherent or understandable through reason. The universe could operate on principles that are unfathomable to human intellect, or it could change in unpredictable, illogical ways. However, from what we know about the world, this isn't the case. 


2. On the Nature of Knowledge (Epistemology):


 * Limits of Human Reason: If God's actions are not bound by logic, then human reason becomes inherently insufficient to comprehend the reality God created. Our logical frameworks, which are the basis of science and philosophy, would be revealed as limited or even fundamentally flawed when applied to the ultimate nature of existence.


* Skepticism and Nihilism: If reality itself can be illogical, it could lead to profound skepticism about the possibility of any meaningful knowledge. If "anything goes," then the pursuit of understanding through consistent principles might seem futile, potentially leading towards nihilism.


3. On Ethics:

* An "illogical God" could command contradictions (e.g., "always tell the truth and always lie"). This would make ethical reasoning impossible.


In essence, believing God can do illogical things will render meaningless how we understand reality, existence, knowledge, and truth and make them all arbitrary leading to Ontological and Epistemological chaos. Hence it's important to keep in mind logical principles while discussing God and His actions.


(The first section on 'The Necessity of Logical Principles Before Discussing God' was added by Dr. Asim sb)


Wednesday, June 25, 2025

How reliable is "scientific research"


Those who put all their faith in "scientific research" and hence question Islam based on those "research studies" need to wake up from their 'scientism'....

Why Most Published Research Findings Are False

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1182327/#pmed-0020124-b6

"There is increasing concern that in modern research, false findings may be the majority or even the vast majority of published research claims."

The above is also the problem with lots of medical "research".
See this article titled:
'There is a worrying amount of fraud in medical research'
https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2023/02/22/there-is-a-worrying-amount-of-fraud-in-medical-research

"In 2009 PLOS ONE published a round-up of 18 surveys of scientists, mostly in America, that had asked about fraud. Though only 2% of respondents admitted falsifying data themselves, 14% said they knew someone who had. Similarly, a third of those asked confessed to other questionable research practices, such as dropping inconvenient data points based on “gut feeling”, or making important changes to a study’s protocol while it was in progress. But they pointed the finger at 72% of their colleagues."

Also see this article in the reputed journal 'Nature' titled:
Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02299-w
"How many studies are faked or flawed?
Investigations suggest that, in some fields, at least one-quarter of clinical trials might be problematic or even entirely made up, warn some researchers.
By studying the IPD spreadsheets, he judged that 44% of these trials contained at least some flawed data: impossible statistics, incorrect calculations or duplicated numbers or figures, for instance. And 26% of the papers had problems that were so widespread that the trial was impossible to trust"

Friday, April 11, 2025

Preserving the Ideological Gains of Ramadan: How Ramadan Impacts our World View

-Dr Habeeb Haris

Ramadan is not only a time of spiritual reset but also of ideological reset. It provides an antidote to the poisonous effects of modernity that are destroying our Aqeeda, Iman and ideology and are corrupting our world view.

It's important to note that ideology and spirituality are both dependent on one another. A change in one impacts the other too.

Modernist world view:
-Revolves around fulfilling the desire for food and sex, making man a slave of his stomach and genitals.
-Encourages a culture of instant gratification.
-Reduces the human being to just his physical body and it's needs while ignoring or suppressing his Soul and it's needs (Materialism over Spirituality).
-Teaches anthropo-centrism and sidelines God.

Ramadan's effects on world view: 
-Frees the Muslim from slavery of his desire for food and sex.
- Strengthens the Soul and makes it the master over his body and it's pleasures.
-Teaches patience and delaying gratification for higher purpose.
-Fights materialistic and naturalistic tendency by enhancing belief in the Unseen and strengthening Spirituality. 
-Takes a person from anthropo-centrism to Theo-centrism and from being Duniya-oriented to Akhirah-oriented.

We need to protect this ideological purity gained in Ramadan by safeguarding our world view from modern ideologies and dominant societal trends and by continuing to strengthen our Spirituality.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Counselling the Patients who Cannot Fast in Ramadan:

Dr. Habeeb Haris

Proper counselling of Muslim patients for whom fasting is contraindicated is important to ensure compliance.
Doctors / family members should console the patients for whom Ramadan fasting is contraindicated that they should not feel guilty about it as they are not doing anything sinful by not fasting. They can tell the patients that Allah has excused them and they will be rewarded inshaAllah for accepting His will with Sabr. 

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “When a slave falls ill or travels, he gets a reward similar to that which he gets for the good deeds he usually performs when at home [not travelling] and in good health." (Bukhari)

Imam Ibn Hajar writes in Fath Al-Bari, the authoritative commentary of Sahih Bukhari: “This applies to the one who is used to performing acts of obedience, but he was prevented from it, while his intention was to do it had he not been prevented.”
And the rewards of the missed Ramadan fasts can be acquired by observing the Qadha Fasts after they recover, or by offering the Fidya if they are terminally sick patients. Moreover, these patients can do all other acts of worship in Ramadan to compensate for the spiritual gains they think they are missing out by not fasting. 

Ultimately, Allah sees our intentions and rewards accordingly.


Monday, March 10, 2025

Dates in Ramadan - The Diabetic Dilemma


- by Dr Habeeb Haris

Dates in Suhoor and Iftar:

It is sunnah to eat dates in Suhoor and Iftar.
“The most excellent pre-fasting meal of the believer is dates.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1399, Grade: Sahih)


The prophetic wisdom of eating dates at Iftar and Suhoor is the ideal biological decision, as fructose (the sugar in dates) maximizes rates of liver glycogen restoration. 

[Conlee RK, Lawler RM, Ross PE. Effects of glucose or fructose feeding on glycogen repletion in muscle and liver after exercise or fasting. Ann Nutr Metab. 1987;31(2):126-32. doi: 10.1159/000177259. PMID: 3592616.]


But the Prophet () would break the fast with water if dates were not available.

Anas bin Malik (RA) narrated:

"The Messenger of Allah would break the fast with fresh dates before performing Salah. If there were no fresh dates then (he would break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water." (Tirmidhi: 696)


The Prophet () even stopped his companions from taking dates when they were sick.

"The Messenger of Allah () entered upon us, and with him was Ali bin Abu Talib, who had recently recovered from an illness. We had bunches of unripe dates hanging up, and the Prophet (saw) was eating from them. Ali reached out to eat some, and the Prophet (saws) said to Ali: 'Stop, O Ali! You have just recovered from an illness.' I made some greens and barley for the Prophet (), and the Prophet () said to Ali: 'O Ali, eat some of this, for it is better for you.' [Sunan Ibn Majah, The Chapters on Medicine, Hadith No: 3442]


So, there is no problem if Physicians ask their patients to cut down dates intake in Ramadan to limit the calories. The sunnah can be achieved by taking a single date or even a small part of it. Diabetics can choose dates that are lower in sugar content like the Ajwa or the Deglet Nour or the Barhi (semi-dry). 


If it is proven that a patient will more likely get harmed due to eating dates, it is perfectly fine from a shariah perspective to advice him against taking it. 

But any such advice should be done based on a proper scientific analysis by taking the following thinks into consideration:


-The glycemic index (GI) of dates varies according to the variety of dates and the stage of their ripening. 

-Generally people do not eat only dates at Iftar. The effect on blood glucose will vary if other foods are taken with dates. Proteins, fats and fiber intake will all alter and decrease the glycemic effect.

-Brisk walk after Iftar to the masjid for Maghrib Salah will also decrease the blood glucose spike. That's what most people do.

-Also the extent of diabetes control of the person will affect his body response to dates intake.


Any good study has to take all these things into consideration before giving any blanket recommendations.


Moreover there are many studies which actually say that dates may not be that harmful for diabetics after all.


For example:

'Effect of dates on blood glucose and other metabolic variables: A narrative review'

by Sachdev Meenakshi and Anoop Misra says:

"The glycemic index (GI) of date varieties ranges from 42.8 to 74.6, and glycemic load (GL) 8.5–24. 

The glycemic indices of various stages of dates are; Rutab (semi-ripe), 47.2; Tamer (fully ripe, traditionally sun-dried), 45.3, and Tamer (commercial), 35.5. 

Glucose tolerance-based studies and cross-sectional studies show no significant changes in glycemic indices or association with glycemic worsening with intake of dates. Few randomized controlled trials (RCT) also showed no change in glycemia and weight in the intervention groups consuming dates."


Glycemic indices of five varieties of dates in healthy and diabetic subjects

By Juma M Alkaabi (Nutr J. 2011 May 28;10:59. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-10-59)
“The results show low glycemic indices for the five types of dates included in the study and that their consumption by diabetic individuals does not result in significant postprandial glucose excursions.”


‘Glycemic indices of dates “Ramadan Symbolic Food” in patients with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring system’

By Samir Assaad Khalil (Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, Volume 172, February 2021)


Can People with Diabetes Eat Dates?
by Lisa Wartenberg, MFA, RD, LD 
(https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dates-for-diabetes)
“If you have diabetes, consider eating dates alongside a source of protein, such as a handful of nuts, which supports your body digesting the carbs a bit more slowly, further helping prevent blood sugar spikes.”

“dates generally have a low GI, between 44 and 53, which may differ slightly depending on the type of date”
 “they have a low GI and medium GL, those living with diabetes can enjoy dates in moderation.”. 


There are many other such studies and articles from different countries. What is needed is more RCTs (randomized controlled trials) pertaining to the glycemic index of different date varieties in different amounts and in combination with different traditionally taken Iftar meals in our homes and different levels of patient physical activity post Iftar. This will enable the Physicians to give proper evidence based and personalised advise to each patient.


Meanwhile it's ok to caution the patients to limit calorie intake through dates and other fruits in a nuanced way to avoid both dates-overindulgence and dates-phobia.