Our God — Page 183
Refutation of Arguments Supporting Atheism 183 It is Essential to Distinguish the Law of Nature from the Law of Shariah The objection has arisen because the critics have not reflected deeply on two sets of laws enforced in this world by God. They think that the whole world is functioning under one set of laws. The truth is that God has ordained two different sets of laws for this world. One is the law of nature which relates to the organisation of this universe. This comprises of the system of cause and effect and the properties of various elements. We observe the impact of this law at all times. The second is the law of Shariah, which relates to the moral and spiritual aspects of man and is revealed through Prophets and Messengers, and it operates on the principle of reward and pun- ishment that will be experienced in the life after death. The above objection has arisen as a result of mixing up the two sets of laws and not properly differentiating between them. What is the law of nature? The law of nature is that everything, every motion and every stillness, as well as each and every object of the world, has an innate ability to exert a certain effect. For example, the law of nature is that, if ingested in a certain quantity, arsenic will kill a living being, unless another law of nature coun- teracts the actions of arsenic and nullifies its effect. Likewise, it is in keeping with the law of nature that when a critical point of weakness has been reached, the roof will collapse and would kill anyone who is underneath unless another law of nature intervenes to save this person. Similarly, it is in keeping with the law of nature that a person who does not know how to swim will drown in deep waters unless an alternative way of nature saves him through an intervention. Thus, it is part of nature that anything, no matter