Why is God Invisible?

There is a question that is often asked by ordinary people who are starting to be curious about the concept of divinity, “Why is God not visible?” Some who ask this are lay people, others are atheists or agnostics who are trying to criticize the concept of divinity, especially in Islam. However, anyone who asks this question really needs to answer it with sound knowledge. The author will try to compile an answer that may Allah ﷻ provide guidance in it.

First: Not everything that is invisible means nothing

One example of a light argument that is intriguing, but enough to provide insight is: we ourselves never see the shape of our own brain. However, we believe that we have brains, right?

How can we believe that we have a brain? Obviously there is an example process that we do. We accept the absolute truth that humans generally have brains, we can prove it with pictures and advanced science. And we ourselves are part of humanity itself. We also prove that we are a kind of human by seeing the many similarities in features. So, we can firmly believe even though we have never seen it, that we have a brain in our cranium.

Nowadays, if we have sufficient scientific insight, we can easily accept this argument. There are many things in this world that we never see directly, but we believe exist. Let’s take the closest example, namely all the atoms that make up us. We believe that we are composed of atomic particles, but we ourselves never see the units. Perhaps, there are already several scientists who can see the shape of the atomic structure, but most of us have never seen it directly, but we still believe. What is even more significant is that the sub-atomic states, which make up the entire atom, can only be determined based on wave reflections and physical phenomena.

If we want to take a very distant example, then that example is the stars and black holes in our sky. There is a lot of star news that reaches us in the form of exposure to waves that cannot be caught by the eye. For example, in black holes, we can only see bends of light caused by their gravity. As for the black hole itself, we cannot determine its physical form. Even though we recognize it as popular knowledge today.

All of this shows that there are many ways to make us believe without looking. Among these methods is collecting lots of indications, testimonies, similar examples, and many more. Meanwhile, Allah ﷻ is the Substance with the most signs of existence.

Second: The many signs of the existence of Allah ﷻ

This entire universe is proof of the existence of Allah ﷻ. Ibn Taymiyah God bless said,

How can we ask for proof against someone who is proof of everything?

“How is it required to be able to look for evidence to show something that itself is proof of everything?” (Madarijus Salikin, 1: 82) [1]

He continued with the example that daylight no longer needs to be proven because its manifestation is so clear to anyone with sense. Ibnul Qayyim God bless then said,

It is known that the presence of God Almighty is more real in the mind and mind than the presence during the day.

“It is known that the existence of God ﷻ is clearer to reason and nature than the existence of daytime reality.” (Madarijus Salikin, 1:83)

Don’t we see the sky with all its contents circulating with its rules and lines? Don’t we see the various forms of living things together in all their beauty? Don’t we realize that there are prayers that we pray and are answered in the best circumstances?

Haven’t they paid attention to the kingdom of heaven and earth?

“And do they not pay attention to the kingdoms of heaven and earth and everything that Allah created?” (QS. Al-A’raf : 185)

All of this is proof that there is a form of Allah ﷻ even though he cannot be seen with the naked eye. And Allah ﷻ has also invited us all to reflect on this in many of His verses.

Also read: How does Reason Show the Existence of Allah Ta’ala?

Third: Precisely because Allah ﷻ is invisible is a form of His justice

In this world, not everyone has perfect eye sight. Some have nearsighted eyes, cataracts, even (sorry) blindness. If Allah ﷻ is seen in a captured physical form, then this would truly be unfair to humans who cannot see. While Allah ﷻ is the Most Just Being, He does not give room for injustice to Himself.

In a hadith qudsi, from Abu Dzar Al-Ghifari May god bless you, The Prophet ﷺ conveyed the words of Allah ﷻ,

O My servants, I have forbidden injustice to Myself and forbidden it among you, so do not oppress one another.

“O My servants, indeed I forbid injustice against Me and I forbid injustice between you, so do not oppress each other.” (HR. Muslim no. 6737)

Fourth: Allah ﷻ will definitely be seen

Even though it is impossible to see in this world, Allah ﷻ promises to give a vision of Himself to humans in the afterlife. Allah ﷻ says,

The faces that day were radiant looking at their Lord.

“The faces (of the believers) on that day will be radiant. To their Lord they will look…” (QS. Al-Qiyamah: 22-23)

Ibn Kathir God bless explain the meaning of the sentence,

You see it with your own eyes, as narrated by Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, in his Sahih: “Indeed you will see your Lord with your eyes.

“They saw God with their own eyes, as narrated by Imam Bukhari, from Jarir, in the book authentic“Indeed, they will soon see their Lord truly with their eyes.” (HR. Bukhari no. 554)

Allah ﷻ will definitely be seen in the afterlife – for believers – this is the faith established by Ahlus Sunnah, as quoted by Salaf Imams, including in Ibnu Abil Izz Al-Hanafi’s long discussion. God bless in the Syrah Thahawiyah-he.

Fifth: Seeing Allah ﷻ is the privilege of believers

Allah ﷻ says,

They have everything they want in it, and We have much more.

“Those who are in it (heaven) obtain what they desire; and with Us there is additional.” (QS.Qaf: 35)

Ibn Kathir God bless in his interpretation says, “This verse is like the word of Allah,

For those who do good, kindness and more

“For those who do good, there is the best reward (heaven) and additional rewards.” (QS. Yunus: 26)

An additional pleasure is seeing the face of Allah ﷻ. In fact, only believers can see this incomparable additional pleasure. Meanwhile, for disbelievers and hypocrites, they do not get this blessing. Allah ﷻ says,

No, they were hidden from their Lord on that day.

“Absolutely not, in fact on that day they will be completely prevented from (seeing) their Rabb.” (QS. Al-Muthaffifin: 15)

Sixth: Perfection of the exam concept in the world

That world is Darul Balaa test arena for humans. The test that Allah ﷻ gives is a path for us to go to Allah ﷻ’s heaven, if successful; or instead fail and fall into His hell.

The invisibility of Allah ﷻ from a human perspective is a test that tests human faith. Look at the news about the nature of people who believe and accept the truth of Islam at the beginning of the Koran. In Surah Al-Baqarah, a true Muslim is required to believe in unseen things as Allah says,

This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for those who are pious, who believe in the unseen, perform prayers, and spend some of the sustenance that We have given them.

“Alif the mime. There is no doubt in this book (the Qur’an), guidance for those who fear Allah, namely those who believe in the supernaturalwho perform prayers, and spend some of the sustenance that We have bestowed upon them.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 1-3)

Therefore, it is very natural that it does not appear that the form of Allah ﷻ is in harmony with the concept of the world as an arena for life’s tests. It does not appear that the substance of Allah ﷻ is a gift for those who truly believe in Him. Because of that, Allah ﷻ gives special rewards compared to people who do not believe.

Seventh: If Allah ﷻ is visible, is there any guarantee for his opponents to believe?

In fact, opponents of the existence of God from among atheists and agnostics, still do not believe in Allah ﷻ even though the existence of God ﷻ is visible in their eyes, if they are stubborn. One famous atheist, Bertrand Russell, was quoted as saying, “If God appeared before I died, I would say to him, ‘Why didn’t you show me better evidence?'”

Likewise the statement of the skeptical atheist, Richard Dawkins, that even though there are miraculous things that can be correlated with evidence for the existence of God, he will always look for critical answers based on logical reasons to refute it. [2]

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If we can dive into the ocean of Allah ﷻ’s verses with the reason and nature that Allah ﷻ has implanted in us, then we can experience many miracles from the one destiny of Allah ﷻ. It is our destiny not to be able to see Allah ﷻ directly in the world, which actually contains extraordinary wisdom for the human life system. In the supernatural appearance of Allah ﷻ from the naked eye, there are precisely the values ​​of justice and the promise of pleasure that motivate us to do more good deeds.

Apart from that, these many verses from Allah ﷻ are sufficient evidence to silence people who are cynical about Islam, from atheists or agnostics. Return to Allah ﷻ, O people who have gone beyond the limits!

Also read: How to believe in the existence of Allah Ta’ala

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Writer: Glenshah Fauzi

Article Muslim.or.id

Footnote:

[1] Also quoted in Detailed Syarah for the Pillars of Faith And Mausuah Al-Aqdiyah.

[2] This excerpt was taken from the following site that examines atheist arguments: https://www.str.org/w/why-evidence-will-not-convince-some-atheists