I learnt that Albert Einstein, through his scientific understanding of the universe, do believe in a supreme being, who have designed the universe and us.
However, he has classified this understanding of the Supreme Being, through the creations of the universe and of us, being the most intellectual and highest level of religiosity, and that the first two is not relevant to him. That's where we differ.
This is found in his collections of writings, in a compiled book - 'The World As I See It', under the topic of Religion and Science.
According to Einstein, there are 3 types of religiosity :
1. Religion based on fear.
He said, the most primitive form of religion is the one based on fear, where people feel the need to ask from and depend on a Being, who will nourish them or protect them from danger or sickness.
2. Religion based on social and morality needs.
When people became more 'civilised' people find the need for a guidance on right and wrong, and the need for reward for good things and punishment for bad things.
3. 'Cosmic' Religion.
The last one - cosmic religion, which Einstein subscribes to, is when people observe and discover the grandness the perfectness and magnificent order that the creation around us and within us are, therefore discovering the greatness of the Supreme Being.
Personally I find his thoughts on the 3 levels of religiosity to be enlightening. All three types of religiosity is valid and mentioned in the Quran, And it is no surprise - God is All Encompassing. Different kinds of religiosity may reach the souls of different types of people. However, the common factor that must exist in all 3 levels of religiosity is that the person should never ever associate any other beings with GOD, believe in the life after death and the day of Judgement.
Einstein, through his scientific findings in the absence of "free will" cannot understand why God would punish someone for something that is beyond the man's capacity to choose. A similar thought and question were also mentioned by a sahabah, and a modern scientist Briane Green.
In the case of the Sahabah, this hadith from Bukhari from the Book of Divine Will " While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) who had a stick with which he was scraping the earth, he lowered his head and said, "There is none of you but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise." Thereupon a man from the people said, "Shall we not depend upon this, O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, but carry on and do your deeds, for everybody finds it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his place)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited the Verse: 'As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah..' (92.5) "
So what do we do? With this knowledge, instead of being arrogant, trying to know everything that God does (when God already said, men's knowledge is too little), we should, in our current state of understanding and capacity, compel ourselves to do good, and put our hope in God to make us the inheritors of the Heavens.
In the case of Briane Green, in the conversation he has with Forbes' Dan Potterfield, written in an article dated July 21 2020, even though he is a strong believer of 'no free will' (in our Islamic terms, I would say that everything is fated, written, as Allaah said) - he still believes that everyone is still responsible for what their particles do. Should a person be punished for the wrong that he does? If punishment is a consequential perspective to shape future behaviours, he believes it is justifiable. (I cannot begin to tell you how many of his words just reminds me of ayahs in the Quran.. like this punishment to shape future behaviours.. "And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent" Q-AS-Sajdah 32:21)
In Islamic terms, I would say, this is the part, where to me, it is a test of our humility and submission (our Islam). We have to SUBMIT to all Allaah has said in the Quran. God does what He Wills. Put your trust in God - God is a Just God. God knows best. Humans know much much too little to comprehend. Just focus on doing good now. (Focus on the 'here', because 'there' it disintegrates - says Briane Greene)
"On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see?" Q - Azzariyat 51:20-21
May Allaah guide us all.
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