The Relationship Between God and Man: Consciousness, Non-Existence, and Being✍ Written by: Fatḥullah Gulen
(Translated from Urdu to English)
Introduction: Rethinking the Creator-Creation Relationship
The relationship between God and man has long been interpreted through traditional concepts—such as Creator and creation, originator and originated. Due to man's confinement within the material realm, he tends to perceive God through physical dimensions—a view that is inherently limited and insufficient. Thus, human curiosity about the true nature of God remains ever-alive.
Foundational Questions Explored
What is non-existence?- What is the reality of being?
- Is existence itself a creation?
- Is existence merely a manifestation of limitation?
Understanding Non-Existence and Being
Non-Existence (ʿAdam)
"Non-existence" is defined as a state devoid of matter, awareness, or any entity. It may also signify a transcendent dimension—beyond our perception and comprehension.
Being (Wujūd)
The awareness of existence forms the core of human consciousness.
Existence is not merely what is around us, but how our mind absorbs and interprets these impressions.
Being and consciousness are interdependent—without consciousness, existence is not recognizable.
Humans experience a limited form of existence, outside of which they can only speculate absence or void.
A Central Hypothesis: Consciousness of Being
❝ Man is not in existence per se, but is aware of existence within a boundary of being. ❞
That is, man's true essence lies in his awareness of being, cultivated within a specific framework designed for perception.
Understanding God Beyond Human Perception
- God exists beyond existence itself (fawq al-wujūd).
- The universe is a creation of God's will, not a part of Him.
- The Creator cannot be part of the created, just as the architect is not a part of the building.
- Hence, God cannot be confined to physical or conscious dimensions.
- This places God outside the scope of human comprehension, which is inherently material.
Human Consciousness and Its Limitations
Nature of Human Creation
- Man was created with a conscious perception of existence.
- This consciousness leads him to grasp the presence of a Creator.
- While man is formed from both material and cognitive foundations, God is non-material and transcendent.
Limits of Conscious Awareness
- Human thought is limited by material constructs.
- Imagination is similarly bound to material existence.
- Thus, pre-creation realities and trans-existential truths lie beyond human understanding.
The Creator Beyond Created Realms
- God created the "structure of existence" through which man perceives reality.
- Yet, God Himself is above and beyond this realm.
- Man tries to understand God through material analogies, which is a fundamental flaw.
The Event of Miʿrāj and the Limit of Human Perception
The Night Journey (Miʿrāj) is symbolic of the boundary between human and divine realms—a realm where human cognition fails.
Hadith:
"Paradise is a place which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has ever conceived."
This reflects the inaccessibility of divine reality to human experience.
Philosophical Reflections on Being and Consciousness
Existence as a Dream
- Human perception of life is likened to a dream, which ceases at death or sleep.
- The Qur’an describes life as play and amusement—possibly indicating that worldly life is a projection of a higher truth.
Cognitive Boundaries of Human Beings
- Human intellect and knowledge are bound within the material world.
- Hence, questions like “Who created God?” emerge from these mental limitations.
- God is beyond the definitions of existence and non-existence, outside the frameworks of creation.
Conclusion: Man’s Powerlessness and Divine Transcendence
- Man, due to his limited cognition, cannot fully grasp the reality of God.
- God is infinite, in both material and non-material dimensions.
- Man must acknowledge his intellectual limitations and submit to the vastness of divine transcendence.
Does Our Hypothesis Offer Any Clarity?
Yes. This conceptual framework helps us understand that:
✔ God transcends the material and perceptible realm.
✔ Human understanding, limited to sensory and cognitive faculties, must humbly accept its constraints.
