Belief and Certainty
Belief and Certainty
The Quran differentiates between belief (īmān) and certainty (yaqīn), especially concerning matters of the unseen (ghayb). Belief involves acknowledgment based on signs and evidence, while certainty arises through direct witnessing or undeniable proof.
Belief Without Seeing: Reasoned Faith
Belief in God, the angels, and the Hereafter is rooted in reason, evidence, and the observation of God’s signs, rather than blind faith.
Belief Through Witnessing Signs
The Quran emphasizes recognizing God’s signs in the universe and within ourselves as a rational basis for belief:
سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ
Sanurīhim āyātinā fī al-āfāqi wa-fī anfusihim ḥattā yatabayyana lahum annahu al-ḥaqqu.
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.
(41:53)
These signs, found in nature, celestial phenomena, and the intricacies of creation, serve as evidence for those who reflect.
Innate Knowledge of God
Monotheism is an inherent inclination instilled in every human being:
Monotheism as a Natural Instinct
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًاۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَاۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Fa-aqim wajhaka li-d-dīni ḥanīfan; fiṭrat Allāhi allatī faṭara an-nāsa ʿalayhā; lā tabdīla li-khalqi Allāhi; dhālika ad-dīnu al-qayyimu walākinna akthara an-nāsi lā yaʿlamūn.
So direct your face towards the religion as a monotheist. Such is the natural instinct that God instilled in the people.
(30:30)
This innate understanding forms the foundation of belief in God.
Certainty: Belief Transformed by Witnessing
Certainty (yaqīn) represents a higher level of faith attained when individuals witness undeniable evidence or miracles.
The Example of Moses
Even Moses, though a firm believer, sought to see God for absolute certainty:
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرۡ إِلَيۡكَۖ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِى وَلَٰكِنِ ٱنظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوۡفَ تَرَىٰنِىۖ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّ۬ا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقً۬اۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
Wa-lammā jāʾa mūsā limīqātinā wa-kallamahu rabbuhu qāla rabbi arinī anẓur ilayka; qāla lan tarānī walākin unẓur ilā al-jabali fa-in istaqarra makānahu fa-sawfa tarānī; falammā tajallā rabbuhu lil-jabali jaʿalahu dakkan wa-kharra mūsā saʿiqan; falammā afāqa qāla subḥānaka tubtu ilayka wa-anā awwalu al-muʾminīn.
When Moses came to Our appointed time, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, "My Lord, let me look and see You." He said, "You cannot see Me, but look at the mountain; if it stays in its place, then you will see Me." Then when his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He reduced it to rubble, and Moses dropped down unconscious. When he came to, he said, "Glory to You. I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers."
(7:143)
This event transformed Moses’ belief into certainty.
The Example of Abraham
Abraham sought reassurance through witnessing:
وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيۡفَ تُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۖ قَالَ أَوَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِنۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَطۡمَئِنَّ قَلۡبِىۖ قَالَ فَخُذۡ أَرۡبَعَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَصُرۡهُنَّ إِلَيۡكَ ثُمَّ ٱجۡعَلۡ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٍ۬ مِّنۡهُنَّ جُزۡءً۬ا ثُمَّ ٱدۡعُهُنَّ يَأۡتِينَكَ سَعۡيً۬اۚ وَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ۬
Wa idh qāla ib'rāhīmu rabbi arinī kayfa tuḥyī al-mawtā; qāla awalam tuʾmin; qāla balā walākin liyaṭma-inna qalbī; qāla fa-khuḍ arbaʿatan mina aṭ-ṭayri fasur'hunna ilayka thumma ajʿal ʿalā kulli jabalin min'hunna juzʾan thumma udʿuhunna yaʾtīnika saʿyan; wa-ʿlam anna Allāha ʿazīzun ḥakīm.
And when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You bring the dead to life." He said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but so that my heart is reassured." He said, "Then take four birds and draw them close to you, then place a piece of the birds on each hill, then call them, they shall come rushing to you, and know that God is Dignified, Wise."
(2:260)
By witnessing a divine miracle, Abraham achieved certainty.
The Quran as Proof
The Miracle of 19
The Quran refers to its numerical structure of 19 as a sign and proof of its divine origin:
إِنَّهَا لَإِحۡدَى ٱلۡكُبَرِ
Innahā la-iḥ'dā al-kubar.
It is indeed one of the greatest.
(74:35)
This numerical miracle strengthens faith and provides certainty to believers.
Conclusion
The Quran bridges the gap between belief and certainty. While belief acknowledges the unseen through reasoning and signs, certainty arises when individuals witness divine evidence. By reflecting on the Quran’s guidance and miracles, the sincere are elevated to a higher level of faith.