GORAP — The Basic Dawah Conversation · A Guided Case for God
8 — Why dependent reality needs an independent ground
Handle with care. Do not say Hilbert's Hotel mathematically disproves infinity; the physical and explanatory question is disputed.
In short
- 1.Contingent things could have failed to exist.
- 2.They depend on conditions beyond themselves.
- 3.A larger collection remains dependent.
- 4.Explanation ends in what does not borrow existence.
The claim being examined
A collection of things that borrow existence does not become self-explanatory by being endless or complete.
The Islamic position
Created things depend; Allah (SWT) alone is al-Samad, self-sufficient and depended upon by all.
Analysis
Unlike , contingency reasoning can proceed even if the universe is eternal. Ibn Sina distinguished necessary existence from what is possible through itself and actual through another. Hilbert's Hotel illustrates unusual infinities but does not alone disprove physical infinity; Oppy contests that step. The stronger point here is explanatory dependency.
From the Qur'an
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahu al-Samad.
Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Self-Sufficient upon whom all depend.
Sources
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