A dot is a whole, without parts and sections, not divided, single. As such, it symbolizes oneness and unity. A true scholar is the one who is aware of this whole and can see it in its entirety. Such scholars, if they want, can open and expand that whole in their mind through reasoning. The one who has just started to talk about that whole and has questions about it is not yet master of that knowledge. Both because he or she could not comprehend the whole all at once, and because they spoke where they should have been silent...
Here, we have delved into the field of thought of two philosophers: Descartes and Wittgenstein. Descartes (1596–1650) sought knowledge about which there could be no doubt. That knowledge, he decided, was the fact that he existed and that he could think. The fact that we think, that is, that we are thinking individuals, is self-evident beyond any doubt. So, each of us can say: "I think, therefore I am." That is, my existence is an indisputable fact. From this point of view, he tried to show that we can reach the truth and answer metaphysical questions, especially the existence and unity of God. These reasonings formed the basis of Descartes' philosophy.
Wittgenstein (1889–1951), on the other hand, argued that even if we have knowledge of certain facts, they cannot be put into words. To him, to exist is the greatest mystery and the most obvious miracle. Language can express the relations between beings, but when it comes to the question of what being is or why there is something instead of nothing, it gets bogged down, unable to move forward, helpless. Wittgenstein said, "What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence" [1]. This famous quote, as it were, summarizes his philosophy and points out the limit he has reached by thinking.
So, what is this “dot” that gathers all the knowledge? Just as we know with certainty that each of us has a “self,” we can also clearly recognize that this self does not exist by itself. Rather, it exists because of the One upon whom everything depends, who grants existence and all attributes to everything. That One is unlike His creations, He cannot be contained or limited, and therefore cannot be comprehended in the same way that everything else can [2]. The foundational knowledge upon which everything rests—likened to a single dot—is the knowledge that God exists and is absolutely unique.
Every scientific discipline and philosophical school of thought seeks to uncover a system that is internally consistent. Scientific research begins with the assumption that such a comprehensive and coherent system exists. Contradictory scientific theories are unsettling for scientists. This is why physicists, in particular, view the pursuit of an “ultimate theory”—one that unifies all phenomena under a single framework—as the highest goal and its realization as the greatest scientific achievement. The starting point of knowledge and the final point of its destination is to affirm the existence and unity of God.
Consolidation of knowledge
Perhaps at no other time have the answers to the questions of truth and knowledge appeared so deeply at odds with one another as they do today. This widespread confusion, according to German philosopher Max Scheler (1874–1928), stems from the fragmentation of knowledge. As scientific disciplines gain independence under the influence of the principle "knowledge for the sake of knowledge," they become increasingly isolated and alienated from one another. This "crisis" in Western thought, which affects the whole world, is closely linked to the breakdown of unified knowledge through specialization. An adage attributed to Caliph Ali, "Knowledge was a single dot, the ignorant multiplied it," sheds light on the core problem discussed in this article.
Although the “multiplication of knowledge” is seen as progress today, it also potentially brings along a great danger. This danger lies in the detachment of knowledge from its divine source and its confinement to materialistic sciences, where causes are idolized – causes which are merely veils over God's will and actions. Whether we call them nature or the laws of physics, they can never replace God as the true source behind all things.
It has almost become the norm to discredit physicists as scientists if they believe in God. Believing physicists, however, see the laws of nature as manifestations of God's will, in line with the Qur’anic verse, "He is the one who makes the rain fall" (ash-Shura 42:28). Yet many physicists feel pressured by the scientific community to avoid attributing anything to God. For example, when speaking about rain, an extraordinary blessing from God, they often avoid any mention of the Creator and instead say, "Rain is a natural phenomenon, it consists of condensed water vapor falling to the ground under the influence of gravity."
Science explains the mechanisms behind why rain falls, identifying specific physical causes. Religion, however, has declared from the very beginning that rain is a mercy. In this sense, the religious perspective is more encompassing and more humane. Both science and religion have their rightful place. Science seeks to discover the laws operating in the universe and explains events through them. But who established these laws in the first place? Scientific inquiry is like assembling the pieces of a vast puzzle. God Almighty, out of His mercy, has created the universe in a way that can be understood. Yet in the face of infinite knowledge, is it not an act of arrogance to take pride in merely discovering a few of its pieces—and to assume that we know, or can ever know, everything?
The universe becomes more meaningful when we explain it not only through the lens of “atoms,” but also through reference points that lie beyond what is visible. The true essence of all things is rooted in the Beautiful Names of God, which transcend the material world. In order to understand the truth of things, we must begin by asking, "What is being?" It is the human being who poses this question and who is capable of finding the answer. It is mistaken to treat the sciences as absolute truths that exist independently of human understanding. In reality, the paradigms that people adopt shape the direction of scientific inquiry and often form its very foundation.
When we say, "Rain is an embodiment of mercy," the meaning of all we’ve discussed becomes clearer. It is our Lord who sends the rain, allowing us to feel His mercy and care through it. He expresses His compassion to a newborn by providing milk through the mother. At the heart of these events is not simply the material process, but divine mercy. Material elements and causes are merely mirrors reflecting the manifestations of that mercy in the physical world. When explaining rain, it is essential to recognize the One who created not only the elements such as clouds, the sun, and the sea, but also the properties that make rain possible, like evaporation and condensation. Just as these physical causes serve as veils over the deeper reality behind rain, a similar pattern appears when we examine life and living beings through the lens of biology. In the intricate systems of life, where wisdom, mercy, and compassion are clearly visible, we witness the manifestations of many of God’s Beautiful Names, such as the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful, and the Provider, along with the divine attributes on which these names are based.
The laws and principles that operate in nature and appear as causes in the creation of living beings are, in fact, screens that help us perceive the wisdom behind creation. The perfection, order, harmony, and precise balance revealed through human discovery not only astonish the mind but also serve as interpreters of sacred truths. Science gains true value when it nurtures curiosity and the search for truth, when it deepens faith, and when it serves humanity and upholds virtue.
Notes
- This sentence (German: "Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen," is the last sentence of Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and expresses a reflection on the limits of language and the possibilities of meaningful speech. Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus Logisch-philosophische Abhandlung, London: Kegan Paul, 1922, (8th Edition: 1960), p. 188.
- Whatever comes to mind, God is different from him. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, "Think of God’s creations, and do not think of His Person," (Kanz al-Ummal, 5705).
