1 2nd ISTAC International Conference On Islamic Science June 29-30, 2010 Science and Mystical Cosmology in Ibrahim Hakki’s Marifetname Dr. Ali Akbar Ziaee International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization International Islamic University Malaysia July 2010
The Marifetname which carried his reputation and fame to the climax in his time and in the present day deals with classical scientific subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, medicine and physics, also offers discussions on modern scientific concepts and presents certain contradictory statements on “Islamic science” and “science. Ibrahim Hakki believed that there is no contradiction between Religion (Quran and Sunnah) and sciences. Religion and science are two aspects of social life. There has been a prolonged conflict between religion and science for a long time, but, as a matter of fact, as far as their ultimate goal is concerned, there is no contradiction between the two. Both science and religion aim for the Reality, but the means of knowledge differ. Science is the attempt first, to discover, by means of observation and reasoning based upon it, particular facts about the world, and then laws connecting facts with one another and making it possible to predict future occurrences. This theoretical aspect of science is connected with the scientific methods which utilize scientific knowledge for the cause of man, due to which people, who, though not scientists, give importance to it In contrast to this the sources of religious knowledge are spiritual experiences which are firsthand, immediate and incommunicable and as such are not verifiable like scientific laws
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2nd ISTAC International Conference On Islamic ScienceJune 29-30, 2010
Science and Mystical Cosmology in Ibrahim
Hakki’s Marifetname
Dr. Ali Akbar Ziaee
International Institute of Islamic Thought and CivilizationInternational Islamic University Malaysia
July 2010
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Science and Mystical Cosmology in Ibrahim Hakki’s Marifetname1
Dr. Ali Akbar Ziaee
Abstract:
The Marifetname which carried his reputation and fame to the climax in his time and in the present day deals with classical scientific subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, medicine and physics, also offers discussions on modern scientific concepts and presents certain contradictory statements on “Islamic science” and “science. Ibrahim Hakki believed that there is no contradiction between Religion (Quran and Sunnah) and sciences. Religion and science are two aspects of social life. There has been a prolonged conflict between religion and science for a long time, but, as a matter of fact, as far as their ultimate goal is concerned, there is no contradiction between the two. Both science and religion aim for the Reality, but the means of knowledge differ. Science is the attempt first, to discover, by means of observation and reasoning based upon it, particular facts about the world, and then laws connecting facts with one another and making it possible to predict future occurrences. This theoretical aspect of science is connected with the scientific methods which utilize scientific knowledge for the cause of man, due to which people, who, though not scientists, give importance to it In contrast to this the sources of religious knowledge are spiritual experiences which are firsthand, immediate and incommunicable and as such are not verifiable like scientific laws
1 This paper is a part of research grant given by IIUM, April 2010.
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Ibrahim Hakki
Ibrahim Hakki of Erzurum, was born in the township of Hasankale, a district of the
Erzurum city, Turkey, on May 1703AD/1115H and died in 1780AD/1193H.2 His
father, Dervish3 Osman HusnÊ Bin MullÉ4 Bakr Bin Dursun Mehmed, also known as
HaqÊrullÉh, was a famous Dervish in the district of Erzurum. In 1703, Dervish Osman
left his hometown and settled in Erzurum.
His mother is Sherife Hanife, daughter of Dede Mahmud from Kındığı village of
Hasankale. He explains his birth in Marifetname5 as the following:
“May it be known, Dervish effendi,6 was surprised and despondent for the deceased,
and reached the year of HijrÊ 1115. He prayed ÎalÉt al-IstikhÉrah with great
commitment as discretion on the first Friday of Muharram, and in his dream, he was
ordered to leave all the worldly niqmah behind and dedicate his life working for
akhirah. When he woke up from his sleep, he filled up with the joy of starting his
journey to find the Murshid KÉmil7. And on the Friday morning, at the hour of Ðuhr8
when the sun was rising, his son was born. His was named Ibrahim Hakki. His soul
and body was filled with love and joy of his son’s arrival. He found peace with the
blessing of Allah from his physical and spiritual burdens and sorrows. Ibrahim Hakki,
who took lessons from his father Osman Effendi, also took lessons from the local
2 Baghdadi, Isma’il Basha, Hadiyyah al-‘Arifin (Beirut: DAr al-Fikr, 1982), 1/39. 3 A Dervish is someone treading a path or TarÊqah, known for their extreme poverty and austerity.
Dervishes have been known as sources of wisdom, medicine, poetry, enlightenment, and witticisms.4 MullÉ is generally used to refer to a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law.5 Ibrahim Hakki, Marifetnameh, 3/1118.6 Effendi or Efendi (Arabic: أفندي Afandī; Persian: آفندی ) is a nobility title meaning a lord or master. It is
a title of respect or courtesy, equivalent to the English Sir, which was used in Turkey. It follows the personal name, when it is used, and is generally given to members of the learned professions and to government officials who have no higher rank, such as bey or pasha.
7 The Perfect Guide, who dedicates his life for Allah, His Love, and His course to enlighten people.8 On Fridays, 7 am in the morning.
4
Íodjas9 and Sarı Gümrükçü Dervish Effendi, an old friend of his father in Erzurum.
He lost his mother at the age of 7. His father Dervish Osman Effendi was deeply
shattered upon his (Dervish Osman’s) father’s demise with his hour of death in Kefe10
when he joined the campaign of Azak.11 As a result, this event turned Dervish
Osman’s good virtue and behavior into a bad character and manner, which deeply
saddened him day by day. In order to make himself a better person and get rid of the
effects of his father’s demise, he started to look and reach for Murshid KÉmil. He
travelled to Erzurum city. In Erzurum, Gümrükçü Dervish effendi, whom he was
acquainted some time ago, offered Dervish Osman to become master of his son.
However Dervish Osman, kindly refused his offer, and met HabÊb Effendi and learned
the knowledge of Islamic mysticism from him. HabÊb Effendi, appointed Dervish
Osman as an imÉm to the mosque that he had had constructed in Mehdi street. One
day, feeling the deep grief and sorrow of his father’s demise, Dervish Osman Effendi,
met the Uzbek preacher who was visiting the LÉle PashÉ Mosque in Erzurum at that
time, and he told his story, and even wanted to come along with the preacher. But the
Uzbek preacher replied to him:
“O, Muslim brother! We would have welcomed you among us. However, our sultan
and master had chosen you beforehand. You have a great master who is the most
Murshid Kamil, he is as the red sulfur. He had been yearning to meet you for six years
and you are destined to meet him in two years.” Upon receiving his words as good
news, he travelled to Bitlis region (1716) with his companion Sheikh Eyyub Effendi in
9 ×odja, also spelled as Hoca, is a title of respect in some Central Asian and Middle Eastern cultures.
Hodja can also refer to a folkloric character known for his sharp wit. It is often used to refer to Muslim Imams or the Muezzin.
10 Feodosiya (Ukrainian: Феодосія, Crimean Tatar Kefe, Russian: Феодосия, Armenian: Թեոդոսիա, Turkish: Kefe) is a port and resort city in Crimea, Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast. The name is sometimes spelled as Feodosia οr Theodosia, according to transliteration from the Greek: Θεοδοσία. During much of its history the town was known as Caffa or Kaffa.
11 Azov
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order to look for his Murshid Kamil. In that time, as his wife Hanife passed away, he
left his son Ibrahim to his siblings. After visiting the tomb of MullÉ Mehmed Avrasi,
Sheikh of Eyyub Effendi, and staying two weeks in Bitlis and Müküs12, they travelled
to Siirt, towards the destination of the Ka’aba, intending to perform their Hajj. They
heard about the person who was known as Sheikh Ismail in the Tillo (Aydinlar)
village of Siirt from the folk of the caravan travelling from Hizan to Siirt, and they
visited him. Dervish Osman, didn’t realize that Ismail FaqÊrullÉh was the Murshid
Kamil that he was looking for at the beginning of their acquaintance. However, after
sometime, he started to feel that his grief and deep sorrow was fading away day by
day. Then he figured out that, Ismail FaqÊrullÉh was the Murshid Kamil that he had
been longing for a long time, and he decided to stay with him. Ibrahim Hakki, also
came to Tillo where his uncle and father used to stay when he was 9 years old, and
met Ismail FaqÊrullÉh. Then he and his father stayed ten years with Ismail FaqÊrullÉh.
On the tenth year of their stay, his father Osman Effendi passed away and Ismail
FaqÊrullÉh took the responsibility of him. Ibrahim Hakki, going through from a
spiritual education of his Sheikh during his stay with FaqÊrullÉh, collected some of his
master’s wise advices in his book (Marifetname).
“MullÉ Ibrahim, everything comes from Allah, and returns to Allah. MullÉ,
Everything is with Allah, and for Allah. MullÉ, everything is with the power of Allah
and His work. MullÉ, whoever loves Allah, also loves reciting the Quran. MullÉ,
reciting the Quran is nourishment for the soul. MullÉ, reciting al-fÉtiÍa is alluring and
loves Allah, also complies with His Beloved One13. MullÉ, whoever loves Allah’s
Beloved One (HabÊb), also implements his Sunnah in his life.
MullÉ Ibrahim, silence is an eloquent divine wisdom and a delightful character. MullÉ,
silence of the tongue is a reason for silence of the heart, as silence of the heart is for
the knowledge of the God.
MullÉ Ibrahim, the best dhikr is “LÉ ilÉha illallah”. Repeating His name leads to love
of Allah. Allah also cites (dhikr) and loves the one who only cites (dhikr) His name.
The true dhikr is to forget everything other than Allah.
MullÉ, putting yourself and your trust in the hands of Allah, and submitting yourself to
Allah and the patience are the methods on the path of acceptance by Allah, the
methods of reaching to Allah. MullÉ, patience is an inspiration from Allah, hurry is a
craft from the Satan, and endurance is safety and immunity to fear.
MullÉ, wisdom is by learning, and a good character is by constraining the heart
towards it. Knowledge is a great degree, and a good character is a great gift to Him."
On the death of his father in 1132H/1720, Ibrahim Hakki, who was educated in
Islamic knowledge and mysticism, travelled to Erzurum twice between 1719 and 1735
and stayed 9 years in his first visit and continued his education. He learned Arabic and
Persian from Muhammad Hazik, the famous poet and the mufti of Erzurum. He
became expert in Turkish, Arabic and Persian and was able to write beautiful poetry in
all three languages.
In 1728, he return to Tillo in Siirt and continued the Ismail FaqÊrullÉh lectures and
eventually married the daughter of AbdulqÉdir, the grandson of his master, Sheikh
FaqÊrullÉh, becoming his teacher's son-in-law. He then undertook the duties of his
master, such as delivering lectures and teaching when his master passed away. Sheikh
13 Prophet Muhammad (saw)
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FaqÊrullÉh, who educated his student Ibrahim Hakki with those advices, passed away
on a Friday after the second half of Shawwal in 1734AD/1147H at the age of 80.
He travelled to Istanbul in 1738, then Hedjaz in 1763, and he stayed in Egypt for a
while on the way back. He travelled to Istanbul in 1745 and 1754, and two more times
to Hedjaz in 1763 and 1767. On returning from Hajj, he wrote his book, Lubb al-
Qutb. This volume consists of extracts from the works of great Islamic scholars from
the past. During his stay in Istanbul, he was able to use the Library of Palace with the
permission of Sultan Mahmud I. He engaged in exchanges of information with famous
Islamic scholars in Aleppo, Damascus, Mecca, Medina and Quds; relations he had
established during his second hajj, the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. On the way back
from his travels, he wrote his famous book, the Marifetname.He stayed in Erzurum
between the years 1754 and 1764. Ibrahim Hakki who spent most of his life since
childhood, stayed in the Tekke14 of FaqÊrullÉh from 1764 until his demise (1780).
During this time, he began writing his works and remained there until he passed away.
He completed his Divan, Marifetname, IrfÉniyya, IÍsÉniyya and MajmË’ah al-Ma’ÉnÊ,
his first five main books, during his stay in Erzurum. His grave is located nearby the
feet of his Sheikh FaqÊrullÉh.
b) His Works
Ibrahim Hakki who is a Sufi, thinker, sociologist, physiologist, innovator, scientist,
scholar of astronomy and kalam15 is also a poet. He discussed multi-faceted matters
such as mathematics, anatomy, geometry, astronomy, geography, medicine, science
(principals) of etiquette, method of education in his works, and also studied many
14 A building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood, or tarÊqa, and is a place for
spiritual retreat and character reformation. In the past, and to a lesser extent nowadays, they often served as hospices for Sufi travellers (SÉlik) and Islamic students.
15 Islamic theology.
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topics ranging from the roundness of earth to times of sexual intercourse and what
effects the appearance of an unborn baby. The cumulative result in his works is to
teach his readers how to become a perfect person in branches of the Islamic sciences.
Mo’allifÊn (Beirut: Dar ‘IÍyÉ’ al-Turath al-‘ArabÊ), 1/25.17 Gazi Husrev Bek’s manuscript remained the most valuable copy of this scientific and Islamic
encyclopedia in the Ottoman Empire.
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existence; the states of Islamic Theology18 and the positive sciences as astronomy,
earth sciences, physics, biology, mathematics, medicine, method of education that
discovers the Universe whose creator is Allah and as characterology and physiology
which leads the person to the very existence of Allah and His endless power.
Meanwhile, when he was taking up the issues in the book, especially about the Islamic
mysticism, he did not neglect to embellish it with some poetry and he presented many
geometric drawings pertaining to science of astronomy.
It is an interesting Islamic and scientific encyclopedia in Turkish. Ibrahim Hakki was
an eighteenth-century Turkish saint and religious scholar who was an expert in
anatomy, astronomy and mysticism. The author presents the fundamental theories of
Islamic cosmology concerning heaven, hell, Barzakh, skies, earth, planets of our solar
system, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, seas, mountains, and the function of human
organs, diseases and other medical issues as well as Islamic mysticism. The most
important feature of Ottoman science of the eighteenth century was that its approach
shifted from East to West under the influence of the newly established educational
institutions;19 hence, Ibrahim Hakki attempts to connect Islamic science with modern
science in this book. However, during this century, Hakki’s mathematics remained
faithful to the classical mathematical tradition.
In the preface, dedicating this book to his son Ahmed Naimi, he explained the reason
why he wrote the book, after giving his endless praises (×amd ( شكرShukr) and (حمد
thanks to Allah as follows:
18 The Islamic thinking 19 History of the Ottoman State, Society & Civilization, Edited by: Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (Istanbul:
2002), p. 593.
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“May Allah bless you with glory in DunyÉ and Akhira. First of all, may it be known
that Allah announced to everyone that He created the Two Worlds20 for the mankind,
and He created the mankind, so that they get to know Him better. As a matter of fact,
he said, with kindness and grace: ‘I was a hidden treasure and I liked to be known, so
that I created the creation (mankind)’. Therefore, the main purpose and the holy
decision which is behind the creation of universe and the mankind is the knowing of
God. This endless power and infinitive bliss comes before everything. However, it
depends on your knowledge of yourself (Nafs) which depends on knowing of your
body. The acknowledgement of your body is acquired by the knowledge of the
universe. The knowledge of universe is in the Real Knowledge.21 Because of this
reason, I have written and assorted this beautiful work, translating into Turkish
Language, as one introduction part, three chapters and an epilogue after extracting and
taking up the topics benefiting some from the science of anatomy and philosophy, and
also from some information that I gathered and choose from the science of astronomy,
and some from the science of heart and irfan.22
This Islamic and scientific encyclopedia consists of an introduction, three chapters and
conclusion. It contains extensive information on mathematics, geography, biology,
anatomy, and astronomy. In the introduction, the author presents fundamental theories
of Islamic cosmology such as heaven, hell, Barzakh, skies, earth and the quality of
their creation. The states and levels of being and intellects that are metaphysical and
independent of astronomy were correlated with the Ptolemaic scheme as modified by
20 DunyÉ and Akhira.21 Real knowledge/science is known to accept not only the physical science which is depending on only
the physical experiments which can be measured physically, but also the metaphysical science which can not be calculated but still can be known with a different dimension or point of view (like angels and devil) in evaluating the universe and the science.
22 Irfan also spelt erfan (Arabic/Persian/Urdu: عرفان) literally means knowing. Sometimes it is transliterated as Erfan. It is used to refer both to Islamic mysticism as well as the attainment of direct spiritual knowledge. In the latter sense it is often translated in English as gnosis. Those with the name are sometimes referred to as having an insight into the unseen.
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Ibrahim Hakki. This cosmological scheme began with the first Intellect, included nine
other Intellects, each of which generated a particular heavenly sphere that possessed
its own soul and ended with the Tenth Intellect, which governs the sublunary region.
Since each Intellect was generated by the Intellect above it, the Divine Reality (FayÌ
Muqaddas) reached all levels of existence and in fact generates those levels.
It is interesting to know that during the 18th century, approximately 374 works were
written by Ottomans on astronomy; of these, and 116 were in Turkish.23 Marifetname
is considered an important source in Islamic astronomy.
In its first chapter, he writes about the planets of our solar system, the solar eclipse,
the lunar eclipse, and the seas and mountains etc. In the second chapter, he writes
about anatomy and the human organism of regarding organ functions, diseases and
other medical issues. He made major contributions to the development of Ottoman
medicine with the book he wrote on the subject. He and other doctors such as Ömer
Şifâî (d. 1155/1742-1743), Bursalı Ali Münşî Efendi (d. 1160/1747) and Abbas Vesim
Efendi (d. 1173/1759-1760), were responsible for making available to Ottoman
doctors many subjects about which they had not been informed and played a role in
changing the conceptual framework of Ottoman medicine.24
The third chapter, which is the longest, deals with mysticism, sayr wa sulūk (the
stages of Contemplation and Action); dhikr (remembrance; Sufi chanting); tawakkul
(self-confidence, trust in God); nafs mutma'innah (the peaceful self, the contented
self); nafs mulhamah (inspiration towards piety and God-consciousness); nafs
marÌiyyah (the Gratified Self); and nafs ammÉra (the station of Commanding the
Self). He said in this chapter that the only way to obtain peace of mind and rest
without going to extremes and being exposed to spiritual trouble and pain is to seek 23 Ibid, p.583.24 Ibid, p.588.
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the love and pleasure of God, and then order one's life around this aim. In this
chapter, the author introduced the biography of his master, Sheikh FaqirullÉh, and his
father, Dervish Othman. Ibrahim Hakki finished this work in 1170H/1756.
Cosmology or the study of cosmos is closely related to the philosophy. The
philosophy itself is related to the principle of religion because the immutable revealed
principle emerges and manifests itself everywhere as well as in the cosmos. The
Islamic cosmology integrate the diverse phenomena of nature into the realm of
revelation.25
Fol. 50-Marifetnameh- Gazi Husrev Bek Library-Bosnia
According to Ibrahim Hakki, at the top of the hierarchy of beings is the Divine Being
or the creator. From this emanates a second being which is the First Intellect. This
being is an immaterial substance. The nine intellects emanate from the First Intellect.
The First Intellect comprehends God and, in consequence of that comprehension,
produces a third being, which is the Second Intellect. The First Intellect also
comprehends its own essence, and the result of this comprehension is the production
of the body and soul of al-samÉ' al-ËlÉ, the First Heaven. Each of the following
emanated intellects are associated with the generation of similar astral phenomena,
including the fixed stars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury and the
25 Seyyed Hossein Nasr, An Introduction to Islamic Cosmological Doctrines, (GB: Thames and
Hudson, 1978), pp.1-2.
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Moon. Of particular significance in the emanationist hierarchy is the Tenth Intellect: it
is this intellect which constitutes the real bridge between the heavenly and terrestrial
worlds. This Tenth Intellect (variously called by the philosophers the active or agent
intellect in English, the nous poiétikos in Greek, the dator formarum in Latin and the
'aql al-fa'Él in Arabic) was responsible both for actualizing the potentiality for thought
in man's intellect and emanating form to man and the sublunary world. With regard to
the latter activity, it has been pointed out that here the active intellect takes on the role
of Plotinus' Universal Soul.26
Science and Religion:
The opposition towards the integration of religion and Pure sciences became a big
challenges in the Era of Late Ottoman Empire. Ibrahim Hakki who was educated in
the madrasah and taught Islamic mysticism, surprised many scholars in his era. This
is because he performed great success in Islamic Ideology, poetry, anatomy,
physiology, astronomy, characterology, climatology and psychology. He lived his life
in the square of four cities only which are the cities of Tillo, Hasankale, Erzurum and
Istanbul (where he had been only two twice) in the era where people were not able to
think contrary to the worn ideas of the time and far behind the advancement of the
West. Ibrahim Hakki reached such success as he was able to think as a scientist,
without the dogmatic influence of his environment. Whereby many secular scientists
prolonged their frowning upon religion, regarding Ibrahim Hakki who is a religious
scholar as well as a scientist, as a secularist.27 However, The Allah, who created the
26 Netton, I.R. (1989) Allah Transcendent: Studies in the Structure and Semiotics of Islamic Philosophy,
Theology and Cosmology,(London and New York: Routledge), pp 99-148. 27 Secularist: the concept that government or other entities should exist separately from religion and/or
religious beliefs.
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rules of the religion and the “laws of nature” so called by the rationalists;28 who put
the universe in an order, creating the earth, the sky and the substances within,
according to a systematic harmony and who is arranging their movements is the same
Allah. God created and gave the universe to the utilization of the mankind.
Ibrahim Hakki was learning all branches of sciences in mosques and madrasah. A
religious institution in Islam means the mosque and a religious school. As far as Islam
is concerned, its basic source of knowledge is the Holy Qur'an, which forms its creed.
This is illustrated by the Sunnah. After Ibrahim Hakki describes some elementary
roles of geometry, he points to this verse:
أولم ینظروا في ملكوت السماوات واألرض وما خلق اللھ من : "قال اهللا عز و جل، األعراف(، "شيء وأن عسى أن یكون قد اقترب أجلھم فبأي حدیث بعده یؤمنون
185.(“Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all things that
Allah has created, and that it may be that the end of their lives is near. In what
message after this will they then believe?"
and he considered that verse as a reason to write about the structure of the universe,
because it will assist our great desire to know God better.
Ibrahim Hakki believed that there is no contradiction between Religion (Quran and
Sunnah) and sciences. Religion and science are two aspects of social life. There has
been a prolonged conflict between religion and science for a long time, But, as a
matter of fact, as far as their ultimate goal is concerned, there is no contradiction
between the two. Both science and religion aim for the Reality, but the means of
knowledge differ. Science is the attempt first, to discover, by means of observation
and reasoning based upon it, particular facts about the world, and then laws
connecting facts with one another and making it possible to predict future 28 In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of
knowledge or justification".
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occurrences. This theoretical aspect of science is connected with the scientific
methods which utilize scientific knowledge for the cause of man, due to which people,
who, though not scientists, give importance to it In contrast to this the sources of
religious knowledge are spiritual experiences which are firsthand, immediate and
incommunicable and as such are not verifiable like scientific laws.29 On the contrary
to the ideas that religion is opposing to the usage of intelligence and thought on the
way of discovering the great wisdom behind the existence of everything and the
secrets of the Universe; the religion orders humankind to think and use their
intelligence in order to discover the secrets of the unknown and to discover the
knowledge of the Creator of the universe by looking at and thinking of His work and
every single thing created. We hope that the verses of Quran that are ending with
warnings such as; “Perhaps you will understand.”, “It is hoped that you might give
thought”, will lead the people who so-calls themselves to be rationalist, to Allah who
created the Universe and the brain and to His wonderful religion. As a result,
hopefully these people will realize the truth that the religion and the pure sciences are
not in a conflict with each other; on the contrary they come from the same divine
source.
Ibrahim Hakki states the following:
"Knowledge of science and astronomy and machinery and factories is based on
experiments and intellectual activity. Therefore, by the passage of time new
information proves that the old information was wrong. Old or new, wrong or
right all scientific knowledge points out that the Universe was created out of
nothing and that it is a necessity to believe in a Creator who has infinite
knowledge and power."
29 Majid Ali Khan, Islam on Origin and Evolution of Life, (Delhi: Idarah-I Adabiyat-I Delli, 2009), pp.4-5.
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If some laws of science are absolutely true today, it is possible these may change,
say, in the next decade. But the laws of a universal and true religion are
unchangeable, absolutely and most absolutely true, right and sure without any
doubt.30
As Ibrahim Hakki describes above, sciences are the most important sources, which
have changed our world and made it so different from that it was. He means that
science demands induction from facts and not deduction from dogmas, it insists on the
reign of law. Despite of the fact that he mentioned about the utility of sciences and the
role of causality and inductive reasoning, yet when they are not able to reconcile and
understand completely a certain thing, they put forward theories. This means that there
are facts whose laws we have not yet been able to discover and as such further work
of exploration is necessary.31 The shift in science from deductive to inductive
reasoning was prompted by the various writings of Francis Bacon, and perhaps more
forcefully by the results obtained by Galileo32 and Newton.33 The same basic
approach used then is still followed today in most research. The reliability of scientific
results we have come to expect is due to the inductive approach. When studying a part
of Nature the observer does so with a certain set of loose preconceived ideas, a certain
amount of background knowledge that he/she uses to make sense of the observations.
This is often called a paradigm. This background knowledge can range from the
very basic to the complex. Using this background knowledge, the observer attempts an
explanation of the phenomena and produces a hypothesis. It is important to note that
30 Majid Ali Khan, p. 6.31 Ibid, p. 27.32 Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), was born near Pisa, Italy on the day of Michelangelo's death; died near
Florence, Italy. See: Jose Wudka, p. 109.33 Isaac Newton (born Jan. 4, 1643, Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, Eng. died March 31, 1727, London)
English physicist and mathematician. Newton is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time. See: ibid, pp.125-126.
17
this hypothesis, though created within the context of a certain body of knowledge,
need not agree with that knowledge. Thus Einstein34 studied the properties of light
using Newton's ideas of motion, but the hypotheses that flourished into the Special
Theory of Relativity disagreed with Newton's basic assumptions about space and time,
which were almost universally accepted as providing the basic description of the
workings of Nature; Harvey35 obtained his revolutionary description of blood
circulation only after careful anatomical observations motivated by Galen's ideas,36
etc. Scientific theories have a limited applicability. When accurate measurements of
Mercury's orbit showed a small deviation from Newton's predictions, several
hypotheses were proposed to explain these observations. These included the
possibility of the Sun being not quite spherical, being surrounded by a tenuous gas
cloud, etc. All such attempts were unsuccessful. Finally, in 1916 Einstein showed that
the General Theory of Relativity accurately predicts planetary motion, including that
of Mercury. The range of applicability of Newton's theory was shown to be
inadequate for sufficiently large gravitational forces and high experimental
precision.37
Ibrahim Hakki was not a secular scientist. He knew all about the limitations of ancient
sciences and modern sciences. He says, “Thought mathematicians and geometrician,
have explained and acknowledged the distances of planets and starts and sizes of
objects in details after calculations and comparisons, however, after confessing and
34 Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a theoretical physicist, philosopher and author
who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and best known scientists and intellectuals of all time. He is often regarded as the father of modern physics.
35 William Harvey is famous for having accurately described how blood circulates around the body and the part the heart plays in this.
36 Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus (September AD 129 – 199/217; Greek), better known as Galen of Pergamum (modern-day Bergama, Turkey), was a prominent Roman physician and philosopher of Greek origin and probably the most accomplished medical researcher of the Roman period.
37 Jose Wudka, Space-Time, Relativity, and Cosmology, (Cambridge University Press, 2006), pp.6, 10-11.
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repeating their inability and failure of calculating and comparing the enormous size,
wideness and length of the Great Universe; and the distance between the centre of the
universe and its curve point; they said that it can be only known by God.
As mathematicians and geometricians, were able to observe and measure the other
universes, constant stars and planets by devices, it was appropriate to mention these
things in this section. So that, it will be an easiness for people who are able to think, in
order to know God, to think about His work of art and secrets of His wisdom, to
observe his magnificence and power, which is already our goal, that they will see and
know well all of it in the structure of their body. In fact, it looks very impossible and
unlikely to calculate and appreciate the universe and the starts for people who are
unaware of calculations of algebra. However, these calculations are the rules of ration
which are structured according to the rules of accurate sciences that is in fact real and
constant.”38
For understanding Ibrahim Hakki’s position to sciences it is better to refer to his
comments on Ghazali’s view of science and philosophy. He says in Marifetname:
“The matter of fact, the rules of this science had been founded upon those principals.
The alternate way is impossible. If this philosophic view thought to be against the
sharÊ’ah: the translation of Arabic statements which are written in the TahÉfut al-
FalÉsifah, of Imam Muhammad Ghazali, who is our endless source of wisdom, in
order to satisfy the hearts and not to worry.
Imam says, “May it be known, the dispute between the philosophers and the people
are in three chapters: In the first chapter, the disputes are made according to the
abstract statements. For instance: the philosophers, they call the creator of the universe
as “the essence”, then explained it as free from location and as a being which is self
38 Ibrahim Hakki, ibid.
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existing. The disputes in the second chapter are on issues which are not related to any
principal with regards to religion. So to dispute with them does not require the
necessity of accepting the Prophet.
Fol. 88- Marifetname, Gazi Husraw Bek Library-Sarajevo
Therefore, accepting those kinds of things does not require contradicting them or
otherwise. For example: the lunar eclipse happens as a result of disappearance of
moon’s light by earth’s movement in between the moon and the sun. In fact, the moon
gets the light from the sun. The earth is a sphere and the sky surrounds it from every
direction. Whenever the moon gets into the shadow of earth, the sunlight is blocked
from reaching the moon, as they say. The meaning of solar eclipse is: moon’s coming
in between the man who is looking at the sun on earth and the sun which makes
shadow on earth. These occasions happen at the moment moon and the sun are placed
on one line, as they say. It is not even possible to change these points of views of
philosophers by dispute.
In that case, if a person presumes that it is necessary to disproof those views because
of religious reasons, that person harms the religion great deal. In fact, those events
happen according to the geometrical and mathematical proofs. Even though a person
who knows, is able to verify, gives information regarding its reason, schedule, time
and amount regarding these events, is told: “This is against sharÊ’ah”, that person
never have doubts about what he knows precisely, that maybe he doubts about the
sharÊ’ah; start to have second thoughts, saying: “how can sharÊ’ah be against the real
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knowledge?” As a result, the harm to the sharÊ’ah, which is given by the people
without knowledge, is far greater than by the people with knowledge. As a fact, they
say: “wise enemy is better than stupid friend.”
Following this, Ghazali, after mentioning the hadÊth regarding the lunar and solar
eclipses: “as it is stated at the end of the hadÊth: “Lunar eclipse is a respect as a sign of
divine manifestation” and he stated that; it is not accurate (ÎaÍÊÍ) to convey this part
of the hadÊth. Its harmless\better not to insist on (misinterpretation of) usage of these
type of hadÊth in especially (scientifically) explicit\certain matters. The obvious
proofs\evidences had been misinterpreted\explained in the matters which are not
certain. Let alone the ones which are not accurate or ÎaÍÊÍ.
The issue which is being discussed between the philosophers and Islamic scholars is:
whether the universe pre-existed or not. As long as the fact that the universe isn’t pre-
existed is accepted\fixed, there is no harm to the religion in discussing whether it is
shape is round or flat; the planets and other components of the universe consist from
13 levels or more or less, as they can be discovered. No matter how the universe is
believed to be, the most important thing here is, the fact that it came into existence by
the power of Allah.
In the third chapter, the dispute or discussion is related to one of the principles of
religion: the post creation of universe, the Attributes of Allah and the recreation of
corpses (demised). It is compulsory to discuss with them and to proof them wrong by
all means. For example: they say: “the universe is not post-created (the universe is self
existed\timeless\eternal), it will last eternally. As a matter of fact, it depends on eternal
(forever) and what depends on eternal is forever.” We say, disproving these
statements: the universe is post-created (not self existed\eternal), it is not self created,
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because it is altering. Whatever is objected to change\alternation is post-
existed\created.
The words of Ghazali had been written here. So that people who are religious would
not choose the way of denial, as they might tent to assume that it is normal to deny
(religiously) the facts which might be looking extraordinary to them.
Ibrahim Hakki gives a clear vision of philosopher’s view of the high objects,
universes, and starts. According to the old philosophers, all these objects are simple: It
is neither light or hot, or cold, or wet, or dry; they are neither able to burn or stick;
they are quite pure and graceful.
In the matter of fact, Allah ordered: “Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the
earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not.”
لخلق السماوات واألرض أكبر من خلق الناس ولكن أكثر الناس ال : "قال اهللا تعالى ).57غافر، " (یعلمون
Almighty Allah who has power and glory is free from everything. Allah, who
created the whole universe solely and uniquely, who created the uniquely
movements of the planets, day and night to follow each other is exempt from
anything. “Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee!
Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.”
ذین یذكرون اللھ قیاما وقعودا وعلى جنوبھم ویتفكرون في خلق ال: "قال اهللا تعالىآل (، "السماوات واألرض ربنا ما خلقت ھذا باطال سبحانك فقنا عذاب النار
).191عمران، May you make us your slaves who think the creation of skies and earth, change of day
and night!
Evolution:
Ibrahim Hakki also mentioned about “The Theory of Evolution” in his Marifetname,
giving the views of Muslim Scholars. The secular scientist, who read those statements
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in his book, alleges that Ibrahim Hakki was a supporter of the Theory of Evolution
long before Darwin.39 They are pleased in their inner worlds that they think to have
found support from a Muslim scholar in their opposition to the historical
acknowledgement of the Religion which illustrates the mankind was created from the
earth. However, only heaven knows why, they tend to overlook below the lines which
comes after the explanation of the Theory of Evolution:
“The divine light (NËr) and the endless prosperity over-flowingly descends from the
level of highness, over the wisdom, and over the Nafs and then over the skies. This
descending is called “the beginning” and the “arched descending”. Then this divine
light ascends (rises) from the earth to the minerals, to the plants, to the animals, and to
the perfect human (insÉn kÉmil) and even to Allah. Finally it (nËr) returns back where
it came from, completing a circle. It is the divine light, that returns back to where it
came from with a circular move after coming out of its starting point and diverse
evolutions. The coming out of its origin is called qaws-i rujË’ (arched return).”40
According to him, the presence of God in creation from the First Intellect to the
archangelic, psychic and physical realm constitute the cosmogonic arc of descent (al-
qaws al-nuzËlÊ) and man’s conscious and active participation in the divine knowledge
through his return (rujË’) journey to God by ascending through the various levels of
being within himself, represents the arc of ascent (al-qaws al-Øu’ËdÊ).41 In Hakki’s
cosmology, the universe is found once again, in a complete but miniature model, in
man considered as the microcosm.
39 Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist who
established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection. He published his theory with compelling evidence for evolution in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species.
40 Ibrahim Hakki, pp. 91-117.41 For more information about the two arcs see: Zailan Moris, Revelation, Intellectual Intuition and
Reason in the Philosophy of MullÉ Øadra: An Analysis of the al-hikmah al-'arshiyyah, (US:Routledge, 2003), p. 59; Nasr, p. 102-104.
23
The evolution stated here is not the kind of evolution which Darwin has alleged i.e.
that the ancestor of mankind is monkey (mankind comes from monkey).
References:
Ali Khan, Majid Islam on Origin and Evolution of Life, (Delhi: Idarah-I
Adabiyat-I Delli, 2009).
Baghdadi, Isma’il Basha, Idah al-Maknun (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1982).
Baghdadi, Isma’il Basha, Hadiyyah al-‘Arifin (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1982).
Bennett, Jeffrey, Megan Donahue, and Mark Voit, The Cosmic Perspective, (US:
Robin J. Heyden, 1999).
Couper, Heatheer & Nigel Henbest, The History of Astronomy, (US: A Firefly
Book, 2009).
ÇaĞ,Mustafa, “Ibrahim Hakki Erzurumi” in Islam Ansiklopedisi (Istanbul, 2000),
CiLT 21, p. 305.
Diyanat, Ali Akbar “Ibrahim Hakki”, DMBI, 2/487-488.
Faroghi, Suraiya N., The Later Ottoman Empire, 1603-1839 (Cambridge
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