✦ Introduction
This dialogue took place with a 19-year-old Indian youth residing in Aligarh, who was inclined towards atheism. He raised questions through Facebook and later expressed his doubts during a phone conversation. This detailed discussion addressed various objections posed by atheism in the light of the Qur'an, Hadith, and philosophical arguments.
① First Objection: Preservation of the Qur'an
Question:
The atheist claimed that the Qur'an is not preserved because Sahih Muslim contains a narration from ʿĀʾishah (RA) stating that the verse about ten breastfeedings was abrogated by the verse about five, and that this verse continued to be recited until the Prophet ﷺ passed away.
Answer:
- Nowhere in ʿĀʾishah’s (RA) narration is it mentioned that this verse was recited after the Prophet’s ﷺ demise.
- "It continued to be recited" means people were aware of the verse, but it was no longer part of the Qur'an, as it had been abrogated.
- If it had remained part of the Qur'an, ʿĀʾishah (RA) would have objected to Abu Bakr (RA) and ʿUthmān (RA), which she did not.
- The authenticity of a Hadith’s chain does not always mean it is applicable. For example, Imām Tirmidhī narrated a Hadith where the Prophet ﷺ combined Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr prayers without any excuse — yet scholars did not consider it practicable.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Kitāb al-Raḍāʿ, Ḥadīth No. 1452
② Second Objection: Who Created God?
Question:
If God created the universe, then who created God?
Answer:
- This question is logically flawed. If someone created God, He would be a creation — and a creation can never be the Creator.
- The principle of infinite regress states that if every cause depends on a prior cause, then existence could never have begun.
- A Necessary Being (Wājib al-Wujūd) is one whose existence is essential and on whom the existence of all other things depends. God is that Necessary Being, to whom the law of cause and effect does not apply.
- This is clearly articulated in both the Qur'an and Islamic theology (ʿIlm al-Kalām).
Reference: Sharḥ ʿAqāʾid al-Nasafiyyah, ʿAllāmah Taftāzānī
③ Third Objection: What Was God Doing Before Creation?
Question:
If God created the universe, what was He doing before that?
Answer:
- Human knowledge is limited, and God's essence and actions cannot be fully comprehended.
- The very idea of “before” the universe is flawed, as time itself is God's creation, and He is beyond time.
- Trying to comprehend the infinite nature of God with our limited intellect is like a drop attempting to understand the entire ocean.
④ Fourth Objection: Apostasy of the Scribes of Revelation
Question:
Two individuals who wrote down the Qur'an during the Prophet’s ﷺ time later became apostates and claimed that Muhammad ﷺ dictated from himself.
Answer:
- It is true that some individuals became apostates, but their claims were baseless.
- They had embraced Islam out of worldly desires, and after failing in their aims, resorted to false accusations.
- The inimitable eloquence of the Qur'an remains unchallenged to this day, which itself is the greatest evidence of its divine origin.
⑤ Fifth Objection: Was Muhammad ﷺ a Warrior Chief?
Question:
Muhammad ﷺ united tribes, established a government, and fought wars. This proves (God forbid) he was not a Prophet but a warlord.
Answer:
- The Prophet ﷺ did not overthrow any government but rather established a new state in Madinah.
- He was offered leadership in Makkah, which he refused.
- Defensive battles by the Companions were fought to protect the Islamic state from destruction.
- These battles were not fought for conquest or power, but for justice and the establishment of truth.
⑥ Sixth Objection: Wars Among the Companions
Question:
How can the wars among the Companions be justified?
Answer:
- The Companions were not infallible and could make errors in ijtihād (independent reasoning).
- Their objective was not to seize power but to govern rightly.
- Both sides acted with sincere intentions, seeking the betterment of the Muslim community.
⑦ Seventh Objection: Why Did Prophethood End After Muhammad ﷺ?
Question:
If Muhammad ﷺ was the greatest Prophet, then why did prophethood end with him?
Answer:
- Muhammad ﷺ is the highest model of guidance for humanity.
- The ending of prophethood with him signifies that divine guidance has been completed, and no further addition is needed.
- Just as measuring the height of a mountain requires identifying a highest peak, the finality of prophethood establishes that ultimate guidance has been delivered.
✦ Conclusion
Responding to atheistic doubts requires robust logical, philosophical, and religious arguments. Scholars should seek guidance from classical works of ʿIlm al-Kalām and present answers in a contemporary and intellectual style.
This dialogue demonstrates that most atheistic objections are based on weak premises and can be addressed through reason and logic.
