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I have started studying Islamic texts and thus multiple questions are coming in my mind? I am asking just for clarification and the thought process behind, there is no ill intention.

My observation throughout my life is: In nature for a single species multiple variants are present, even in man made systems for a single problem multiple variant of solutions are present. and even while thinking we choose between multiple options to carry forward our thought process. Then why Islam ( or any abhramic religion) focuses on keywords like " only", "one" and "true"? From where this inspiration comes as in why we blatantly ignore self experiences i.e. our own empirical experiences and focus more on given text i.e. is there a proof based logic in Islamic text where self experience is considered as lower than scriptures? I mean to say even when I am feeling pain in certain condition, do I need to search for a text which "may be" opposite to that feeling.

Take for example in general daily life as per my experience, valid sources of knowledge are from as below in descending order:

  1. Self experiences /empirical evidence
  2. Inferences ( previous or similar empirical exp behind it)
  3. Analogy or comparison ( previous or similar empirical exp behind it)
  4. Words from a "trust-able" source ( previous empirical exp behind it as trust is based on empirical exp)

Now what I believe all the three sources(2,3,4) of valid knowledge can be negated by empirical experiences like the example of pain I have given. Whereas in Islam, my observation is otherwise i.e. Least form of valid source of knowledge is considered as best , but I believe there must be some evidence based logic ( logic comes in inference which is again dependent on empirical exp) behind it. Requesting you to please clarify.

Please help me with query, I will be really thankful for these as it may help me to understand the Islam better.

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  • I am not sure I understand your question. Islam being true is a statement about reality. Personal feelings have little to do with it. Either the earth orbits the earth or it doesn't. Just like that, there is one God who chose Muhammad (SAW) as his last prophet. There aren't multiple versions of reality.
    – The Z
    Jun 25, 2020 at 12:05
  • But why it is "true". What is the definition of truth here? And the personal feeling comes in picture when I see tag of "only one path" as"true" while other not i.e. to say when I have to go from point Signapore to point Newyork , either I can go directly, or with stops, or toward west or via toward east. I can chose my path as per my choice and condition, but when you say there is only true one path, it restricts me to choose that but nature or reality doesn't work in this way. You can have water from multiple sources based on your condition not only one source.
    – Ablex
    Jun 25, 2020 at 12:18
  • It isn't a matter of path, it is a matter of reality itself. There are no two realities. Either there is one God or there isn't one God. Either idol-worship is useless or it isn't. Either the Quran is from God, or it isn't. There are no two ways about it.
    – The Z
    Jun 25, 2020 at 12:21
  • So my question is what does true means and why it is not in accordance with empirical experiences i.e. the way nature or reality is? Reality is subjective in nature, for me one person can be good or for you that same person can be bad. My reality is based on my subjective empirical exp but when you say that that what i believe in i.e. my subjective exp is objectively true and the person in question is objectively good one then you are negating my subjective and treating me just as an object. I hope you get my question i.e. in plain simple words What is the logic of "true", "only" and "one"?
    – Ablex
    Jun 25, 2020 at 12:23
  • Your comment is based on two valued logic and logic is cultural thing not universal. When you put four value logic which is predominantly used in Indian culture there can be four options e.g. idol worship is bad, or idol worship is good, or idol worship is may be bad or may be good, or idol worship is neither bad nor good. Thus how one culture logic is true and others are not?
    – Ablex
    Jun 25, 2020 at 12:26

2 Answers 2

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Truth is not subjective. Something is either true, or it is not.

Your four-point criteria, on the other hand, is subjective. You may use it to decide what you choose to believe or disbelieve about the world around you, but that has no bearing on what is actually true. Everything from self experiences, inferences, analogy and trustable sources can be misunderstood, misapplied or downright wrong. And there are many elements of this world that simply can't be determined with such a limited mindset.

It really wasn't too long ago that your exact same criteria would've had you believing in geocentricism, or alchemy, or spontaneous generation, or any number of common (pseudo)scientific theories of past ages that are no longer considered valid.

It is a fallacy to decide that something that is directly observable is "more true" than something that is not; if you choose to reject al-ghaib ("The Unseen") simply because you can't observe it, or deduce it, or trust anybody who reports on it, that's on you.

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  • It doesn't answer my question. My question is related to Islam "ClAIM" of "ONLY" and "one" and "true" and "path"? Further re have you heard of QFT which is based on four valued logic and how concept of reality is changing in quantum sciences which outright totally denies and refute two valued logic like "Truth is not subjective. Something is either true, or it is not" ? I agree there can be al-ghaib, no refutation for that.
    – Ablex
    Jun 25, 2020 at 18:55
  • @Ablex I have provided an answer according to Islamic perspective, as per the scope of this site. If you're looking for expertise in quantum physics or alternate models of logic, there are other sites where those are in scope, but this is not one of them.
    – goldPseudo ♦
    Jun 25, 2020 at 19:01
  • Thanks for your answer but it doesn't answer the question. I am not looking for expertise in quantum physics here, I am just clarifying with you that truth cant be defined by two valued logic or any logic systems. Animal has diff form of truth, every culture have diff form of truth, truth manifest in millions forms. Just my question is why Islam claims and consider itself as only one true path and negates other forms in totality whereas everything manifest in multiple forms e.g. even one person act differently in diff situations. Why focus on keywords "only" "one" and "true"?
    – Ablex
    Jun 25, 2020 at 19:33
  • Further are you saying Islam perspective is bound in just two valued logic and can't fathom or acknowledge other logic systems?
    – Ablex
    Jun 25, 2020 at 19:35
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    @Ablex You're right: The truth cannot be defined by two valued logic or any logic systems. Logic is simply a method by which people find the truth, it does not define it. The truth itself either is, or is not, and your insistence in bringing in alternate logic systems is entirely tangential to that point. Islam teaches that the truth, the right path, is clear, and my answer demonstrates the weaknesses in your criteria for finding that truth. Without addressing those, no answer I or anyone else can give will satisfy you.
    – goldPseudo ♦
    Jun 25, 2020 at 20:59
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@Ablex I completely agree with you on the fact that our perceptions of reality are subjective and generally guided by our empirical experiences but the argument that these perceptions should be our independent guides to how we live falters in a society, which needs consensus and if everyone followed their own paths no society could function.

This is the same logic why we have certain generalised laws in countries, that prohibit lets say murder even though a certain unfortunate person might’ve grown up in an environment of crime and thus informing his perspective that taking someone’s life is not ‘bad’.

And also there is only ‘one’ set of laws in a country to keep people from forming their own ones and maintain order in society.

In Islam, our fundamental unquestionable belief is that there is only one God and that is Allah and He is the supreme entity and the ultimate authority. So it logically follows that to keep the entire civilisation from crumbling, the laws (which comprehensively teach us even interpersonal relations and individual morality) should be dictated by this highest authority that is Allah. Belief in the ‘one true path’ is basically belief in one God. Hope that answers your question:)

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  • <comments deleted> Comments are intended for constructive criticism and seeking clarification for the purposes of improving the post they're on, not for argument and debate or extended discussion of tangential points. If the relevant posts are unclear to the point that you need extensive discussion to explain how it answers the question, chances are the post needs to be edited.
    – goldPseudo ♦
    Jul 2, 2020 at 5:11

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