Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III — Page 49
Footnote Number Eleven — First Objection 49 rational hypotheses, can never lead to perfect certainty and enlight- enment. The kinds of doubts that rattle the minds of those who are in thrall to rational arguments cannot be removed except through revelation. For, even if nature leads us to conclude that the universe must have a creator, who can say that the Creator actually exists. It is true that when we see a building we are convinced of the existence of a builder, but this is only because of our common experience whereby we see both the building and the builder. But who can show us the Creator of the universe. In this situation we can be certain of His existence only if we have sure knowledge about Him, as we do about builders. Even if reason were to testify that there should be a creator of this universe, the same reason would be confounded that if its assumption is indeed valid, why has this Creator not been found so far. Thus, if reason guides us to some extent to the existence of the Creator, it also waylays and misleads us. It has turned some into athe- ists and others into naturalists; some inclined to one view and some to another. How indeed can certainty come from mere intellectual inferences that have never been confirmed nor ever will be. If reason reaches as far as proposing that there must be a Creator, who can fully satisfy us that this conjecture is not a delusion and that we cannot explore this matter further. If reason were able to guide us fully, why would it leave us stranded halfway and refuse to lead us further. Is it the upper limit of our enlightenment and cognition of God to be content with the belief that there ought to be a Creator. Can such a conjecture help us attain the eternal bliss that has been prepared for those who have perfect certainty and perfect understanding and for which our souls cry out. If reason were able to grant us such certainty, we would be justi- fied in saying that there is no need for revelation, as we would have already achieved our goal; but it would be a mark of our misfortune if, despite being ill, we do not seek treatment nor try to find the means for attaining perfect health.