Belief, Providence and Eschatology: Some Philosophical Problems in Islamic Theism
Article first published online: 7 DEC 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2007.00119.x
© 2007 The Author
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How to Cite
Aijaz, I. (2008), Belief, Providence and Eschatology: Some Philosophical Problems in Islamic Theism. Philosophy Compass, 3: 231–253. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2007.00119.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 DEC 2007
- Article first published online: 7 DEC 2007
- Philosophy Compass 3/1 (2008): 231–253, 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2007.00119.x
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Abstract
Traditional Islamic theism gives us a certain picture of the world, in which the concepts of belief, providence and eschatology are involved. According to the traditional picture, belief in God is a universal phenomenon. This is because God has providentially arranged the world in such a manner that the signs of God are everywhere and which lead to knowledge of His existence. And, because the world is ‘providentially unambiguous’, those who do not have faith in God are culpable for their lack of it, and therefore deserve eternal punishment in hell. In this paper, I argue that this traditional picture is simply false, or at the very least seriously contestable. I also explore the implications of my argument for those who might be interested in assessing the viability of some form of (Islamic) ‘revisionary theism’, in which the concepts of belief, providence and eschatology feature.