The True Atheist and the Fundamental Debate on God's Existence✍ Written by: Muhammad Nauman Bukhari
❖ Characteristics of a True Atheist
A true atheist is one who sincerely seeks the truth with full dedication. He understands that:
✔ The purpose of science is not to find God but to understand the mysteries of the universe.
✔ He does not confuse science and religion, knowing well that science aims to explore the nature and structure of things, not to investigate their Creator.
✔ He may be moved by the beauty of natural phenomena, but rather than worshipping nature, he remains in search of the Creator of nature.
✔ Such an atheist does not follow any religion, nor does he raise irrational objections against religion.
✔ He is neither a supporter nor an enemy of religion, for he recognizes that bias and hostility obstruct the path to truth.
❖ Core Disagreement with the Atheist on God's Existence
The fundamental disagreement between believers and a true atheist lies in the existence of God.
✔ Once the concept of God’s existence is understood, questions like religion and which one is true are resolved naturally.
The Atheist's Position
The atheist argues:
➤ In the beginning, when there was nothing in the universe, the first existing entity was lifeless, unconscious, and powerless matter.
➤ From this matter, the universe emerged, its laws developed, and eventually even intelligent, conscious beings like humans evolved — all from the same lifeless matter.
The Believer's Position
The believer responds:
➤ The first existence in the universe was Allah, the One who possesses infinite power, wisdom, and authority.
➤ Allah created the universe with His divine will and wisdom, and made human beings the noblest of creations.
➤ Allah has placed countless signs of His existence within the universe and sent prophets to guide mankind with His message.
Who Created God?
Once a true atheist accepts God's existence, the next question often asked is:
Who created God?
✔ The Answer:
➤ God is the Creator, and a Creator is self-existing — not dependent on anything else for His existence.
➤ If we claim that someone created God, then that entity would be the actual Creator, and God would be a creation — which is a contradiction.
➤ The definition of God is that He is free from birth and death, uncreated, and eternal.
Comparison of Both Viewpoints
Two clear perspectives emerge:
① One that asserts the universe originated from lifeless matter without purpose or consciousness.
② The other that believes the universe was created by an all-knowing, all-powerful God, who placed signs of His existence in the cosmos and guided mankind through revelation.
✔ Any unbiased individual using their reason can assess which of these positions is more convincing and closer to intellectual satisfaction and inner awareness.
