The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
They respond: "What you use to prove the creator necessitates
that this world is pre-eternal (had no beginning) ." Our answer is:
there is no need for substance. The Creator invents this from nothing.
We know that images, like that of a wheel, were created with no
substance. So they must have had an image-maker. We have given
you the example of something that came from nothing, the image.
But you cannot show us a creature that came from no creator.
[ 5:3]
Devil's Deception of the Naturalists (al-tabd'iyin)
lblis realised that his supporters in denying the Creator were few.
This is because sound intellect must deduce that the created must
have a creator. So Iblis convinced some people that all creatures
were made by nature. He said, we notice that all creatures have four
components to them: earth, water, fire and air. So these four components
must be the acting creators. We respond to this argument
by saying: the presence of these components in creatures does not
prove that they are actors. Also, it has been demonstrated that qualities
of things only act when they assemble and interact with other
qualities. This proves that these qualities are restricted by other qualities.
Our opponents admit that qualities are not living, knowing nor
able. However, organised actions can only be done by an entity that
is knowing and wise. How can something that does not know create
something that does?! And how can something that is unable
create something that is?!
If our opponents say: had the Creator been wise, then no fault
would be present in His creation. For example, these harmful animals
would not have existed.
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