What is non-existence?
Submitted by on Tue, 23/06/2020 - 10:28
Dear Brother / Sister,
NON-EXISTENCE
We did not exist in the past. The world did not exist a long time ago. The universe we see did not exist billions of years ago. As the Prophet put it,
The key we have lost is not with us (is non-existent), but it has an existence in the place where it fell. When things were first created, they were not completely non-existent; they had existence in the knowledge of Allah.
“There was Allah, there was nothing else.”1
He determined with His knowledge,chose with His will, and created everything out of nothing with His power.
The science of physics, which examines the world, expresses that it is not pre-eternal. Hamdi Yazır expresses it as follows:
“It is impossible for something non-existent to come into being on its own”2 “Nothing can come into existence from non-existence on its own.”3
In Islamic works, non-existence is expressed by the word “adam” and existence by the word “wujud”.
When the question, “does non-existence exist?” is answered as “Yes”, it is given a kind of “wujud” (existence). So, we can clarify adam and wujud as follows:
Wujud is the non-existence of adam, and adam is the non-existence of wujud.4
Adam is divided into two parts:
1-Adam al-mahd (Absolute non-existence).
2-Adem al-idafi (Relative non-existence).
The first one is real non-existence. The other means non-existence based on certain conditions.5
For example, the key we have lost is not with us (is non-existent), but it has an existence in the place where it fell. When things were first created, they were not completely non-existent; they had existence in the knowledge of Allah.
1.Muhammad Ismail Bukhari, Jamius-Sahih (Sahihul- Bukhari), Bad’ul-Khalq, 1
2.Hamdi Yazır, HakDîniKur’an Dili III, 2007.
3.Yazır, III, 2009
4.Ahmet AvniKonuk, Füsusu’l- HikemTercümeveŞerhi, p. I, 8
5.Konuk, p. I, 8
Questions on Islam
- Is there a realm called the realm of non-existence? If there is, how can it be defined? If there is not, how can something that does not exist be talked about as if it exists?
- How can we explain the concepts of existence and non-existence? Can they be described?
- Can human beings create something out of nothing when technology advances? Does the property of creating something out of nothing belong to Allah?
- What is the relationship between Allah and the world like?
- How should we give an answer to those who do not accept the act of creation out of nothing?
- What does Allah’s being Everlasting mean?
- Who is the addressee of the command "Be"?
- How should we understand the statement, "Allah is not anywhere and He is everywhere"? They say, "Allah is very close to us and we are far away from Him." How is it possible?
- What are Allah's attributes? How many groups are they divided into?
- What does Allah’s existence being from His own essence mean?