Introduction
In every age, humanity has attempted
to answer a fundamental question: What does it truly mean to know God?
For some, the answer lies in ritual—prayers, meditation, chanting, or
devotional acts. For others, the path is intellectual—studying theology,
philosophy, or metaphysics. Yet across traditions, a deeper truth emerges: God
is not only a matter of faith but also of science and practice (ilmiah
and amaliah).
This article explores the concept of
God as both scientific and practical reality, by showing that divine
presence is not confined to scriptures or rituals but is manifested in the very
fabric of creation, its laws, and the continuous guidance that flows through wasilah—the
divinely ordained method of connection between the Infinite Creator and finite
beings.
We will examine:
- The role of scripture as written signs (ayat
tertulis).
- The natural world and its laws as unwritten signs (ayat
kauniyah).
- The necessity of wasilah as both method and
medium for divine connection.
- The integration of scientific analogy, spiritual
wisdom, and practical life application.
The aim is to demonstrate that God’s
reality is not abstract but empirical, observable, and practical—if approached
through the right methodology.
1.
Scriptures as Written Signs
Sacred texts across religions
describe themselves as repositories of divine truth. The Qur’an calls itself “hudā
li al-nās” (guidance for mankind) (QS. Al-Baqarah: 185). The Bible affirms:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bhagavad Gita is
revered as the “song of the divine,” where Krishna imparts eternal wisdom to
Arjuna.
Yet, these scriptures also warn of a
time when words alone will remain, stripped of their living essence. The
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “A time will come when nothing will remain of Islam
but its name, and nothing will remain of the Qur’an but its written words.”
(Hadith, Ibn Majah).
This means that while scriptures are
necessary, they are not sufficient by themselves. Without the living
connection—the wasilah—scriptures risk becoming lifeless text,
disconnected from the divine source.
2.
Nature as Unwritten Revelation
The Qur’an consistently directs
believers to look beyond the written text and contemplate creation as a vast
book of signs.
- “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and the alternation of the night and day, are signs for those of
understanding.” (QS. Al-Imran: 190).
- The Bible echoes: “The heavens declare the glory of
God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1).
- Hinduism sees the cosmos as Brahman’s manifestation,
where natural law (Rta) reflects divine order.
- In Buddhism, the principle of interdependence (pratītya-samutpāda)
shows the scientific harmony of cause and effect as cosmic truth.
Thus, the universe and its laws
are ayat-ayat Allah that are not written in scripture but inscribed in creation
itself. Physics, chemistry, and biology reveal divine wisdom as much as
sacred verses do. Gravity, electromagnetism, the genetic code—all operate under
consistent laws, reflecting the order of a supreme designer.
Modern science, when free of
arrogance, becomes a tafsir (interpretation) of divine creation. Every law of
thermodynamics, every orbit of planets, every DNA sequence can be read as cosmic
scripture, inseparable from revelation.
3.
The Necessity of Wasilah
If scriptures and nature both point
to God, why is wasilah still necessary?
The answer lies in the limitation of
human perception. Humans are finite; God is infinite. The finite cannot access
the infinite directly without a connecting methodology. This is wasilah.
Scriptural
Foundations of Wasilah
- Islam:
“O you who believe! Be conscious of Allah, and seek the wasilah (means
of nearness) to Him.” (QS. Al-Maidah: 35).
- Christianity:
Jesus declares: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
- Hinduism:
“Learn the truth by approaching a guru, inquiring submissively, and
rendering service. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you.”
(Bhagavad Gita 4:34).
- Buddhism:
“You must make the effort; the Tathagata only shows the way.”
(Dhammapada 276).
Wasilah
as Method
Wasilah should not be reduced to a
mere “middleman.” It is better understood as a methodological channel
connecting the unlimited Creator with limited creation.
This connection is multidimensional:
- Guidance:
Clear direction in understanding divine will.
- Spiritual Power (Energy): The enabling force to act in harmony with divine law.
- Sustaining Strength:
The endurance to overcome trials and align life with divine order.
Just as electricity requires a
conductor (wire) to reach appliances, divine energy requires wasilah to flow
into human life. The wire is not the electricity, but without it, the power
cannot be delivered. Similarly, prophets, messengers, and their inheritors are
not God, but they channel God’s living power.
Examples
of Divine Energy Transmitted through Wasilah
Across scriptures, we see extraordinary
manifestations of divine energy channeled through prophets:
- Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham): Saved from the fire by divine command.
“We said: O fire! Be coolness and safety upon Abraham.” (QS. Al-Anbiya: 69).
🔑 This demonstrates that through wasilah, God’s energy overpowered natural law (fire’s burning) without abolishing it—fire still burns, but divine command neutralized it for Ibrahim. - Prophet Musa (Moses):
Parted the sea by God’s permission.
“Then We inspired to Moses: Strike the sea with your staff; and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.” (QS. Ash-Shu’ara: 63).
🔑 Here, Musa as wasilah channeled divine energy that altered natural phenomena, creating a path of salvation. - Prophet Isa (Jesus):
Healed the blind and resurrected the dead.
“...and I heal the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead—by Allah’s permission.” (QS. Al-Imran: 49).
🔑 His miracles were not from his own power, but from divine
energy that flowed through him as wasilah.
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
Experienced the miraculous journey of Isra’ and Mi’raj.
“Glory be to Him Who carried His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs...” (QS. Al-Isra: 1).
🔑 The Prophet transcended time and space, a proof of divine
energy channeling him beyond human limitations.
Synthesis
These miracles across different
prophets are not isolated “wonders,” but consistent examples of how divine
energy flows through wasilah. The prophets did not act independently of
God; they were conduits of His limitless energy, manifesting in ways that both
defy and yet affirm natural law.
Thus, wasilah is not symbolic—it is functional,
energetic, and necessary. Without it, divine energy remains inaccessible to
finite creation.
4.
Scientific Analogies of Wasilah
To illustrate wasilah
scientifically, we may turn to natural laws:
- Electricity and Conduction: Power stations generate energy, but without cables,
light bulbs remain dark. Likewise, without wasilah, divine light cannot
illuminate human hearts.
- DNA and Expression:
The genetic code exists, but proteins manifest only through transcription
and translation. Wasilah functions as the biological “machinery” that
makes divine code active in human life.
- Cosmic Transmission:
Radio waves permeate the atmosphere, but a receiver is needed to decode
the signal. Prophets and spiritual guides are those receivers, translating
divine frequencies into human language.
These analogies demonstrate that
wasilah is not a theological luxury but a natural necessity, mirrored in every
system of creation.
5.
Integrating Science and Spirituality
Recognizing God as both scientific
and practical means seeing no separation between faith and natural law.
- Physics and Tawhid:
Unity of forces in physics (grand unified theories) echoes the unity of
God in theology.
- Biology and Spiritual Growth: Just as living beings evolve and adapt, spiritual life
requires transformation and growth through guidance.
- Ecology and Divine Balance: The Qur’an warns against fasad (corruption) on
earth. Climate change is a violation of divine balance, demonstrating that
spiritual failure produces ecological collapse.
Thus, science is not the enemy of
religion but its partner. Both reveal different dimensions of the same divine
reality.
6.
Practical Implications
If God is ilmiah and amaliah, then
faith must manifest in practice:
- Personal:
Developing mindfulness of divine presence in every action.
- Social:
Upholding justice, compassion, and truth in community life.
- Environmental:
Living sustainably, honoring the earth as a trust (amanah).
- Intellectual:
Pursuing knowledge as an act of worship, since learning the laws of nature
is learning God’s signs.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ declared: “Seeking
knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Hadith, Ibn Majah).
Knowledge here includes not only scripture but also the sciences of creation.
7.
Avoiding Illusory Spirituality
Without wasilah, rituals can devolve
into empty forms or even misleading experiences—visions, voices, or energies
that feel spiritual but are not divine.
- The Qur’an warns: “And the devils inspire their
allies to dispute with you...” (QS. Al-An’am: 121).
- Christian tradition warns of false prophets who
perform wonders but mislead (Matthew 24:24).
This is why authentic wasilah is
crucial. It ensures that spiritual experiences are rooted in divine source, not
psychological projection or external deception.
8.
Wasilah as an Ongoing Chain
Divine-human connection is not frozen
in history. Prophets, messengers, and their successors function like an unbroken
chain of transmission.
One side is eternal (God, the source
of power). The other side is temporal (human guides who change across eras).
Both must synergize. Without the eternal, the chain is powerless; without the
temporal, the energy has no conduit.
This ensures that divine energy
continues to flow across generations, adapting to time and context while
preserving its origin.
9.
Seeking and Recognizing the True Wasilah
If the cosmos and the scriptures
already testify to God’s presence, why is wasilah still indispensable? The
answer lies in the inherent limitation of human perception. The finite being
cannot access the Infinite without a divinely sanctioned methodology. This
methodology is wasilah.
Wasilah is not a mere intermediary;
it is the channel through which divine guidance, sustaining strength, and
spiritual energy flow into the human soul. Just as electricity requires a
conductor to reach appliances, divine light requires a channel to illuminate
human existence. Prophets, messengers, and their inheritors are not God, but
they serve as the living conductors of God’s power.
This becomes evident in sacred
history:
- Prophet Ibrahim walked unscathed through fire (Qur’an,
Al-Anbiya: 69).
- Prophet Musa split the sea with his staff (Qur’an,
Ash-Shu’ara: 63).
- Prophet Isa healed the blind and revived the dead by
God’s permission (Qur’an, Ali Imran: 49).
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ journeyed beyond time and space
during Isra’ Mi’raj (Qur’an, Al-Isra: 1).
These miracles are not human
accomplishments; they are manifestations of divine energy transmitted through
wasilah.
Yet because wasilah operates on a
subtle and metaphysical plane, it cannot be accessed merely through
intellectual reasoning or personal desire. It requires a living guide
(murshid)—one who is connected through an unbroken spiritual lineage
(silsilah) that flows from God through Angel Jibril, to the prophets, and
onward through their inheritors up to the present.
The Qur’an itself commands:
“O you who believe! Be conscious of
Allah, and seek the wasilah (means of nearness) to Him, and strive in His way
that you may succeed.”
(Qur’an, Al-Maidah: 35)
And again, it warns:
“Whomever Allah guides, he is
rightly guided; but whomever He leaves astray, you will never find for him a
protecting guide (Waliyyan Murshida).”
(Qur’an, Al-Kahf: 17)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ further
emphasized this reality when he said:
“Whoever dies without recognizing
the Imam of his time dies the death of ignorance (jahiliyyah).”
(Hadith, Sahih Muslim)
These references establish that
spiritual success is inseparable from recognizing and following the true
murshid—one who is not self-proclaimed, but divinely connected through an
authentic chain of transmission.
10.
Conclusion
This exploration has shown that God
is both Scientific and Practical. Scientific, because His existence and
order can be discerned through natural laws, cosmic harmony, and revealed
scripture. Practical, because His guidance and power shape human life through
action, morality, and spiritual transformation.
The universe itself is filled with unwritten
verses that complement the written revelations. Both together form a
unified testimony to the Creator. Yet because human beings are limited, they
require wasilah to bridge the gap between the finite and the Infinite.
Wasilah is not simply a symbolic
mediator; it is the living methodology through which divine wisdom, strength,
and energy flow. It requires not only recognition of scripture and reflection
upon nature, but also submission to a true murshid—a spiritual guide
whose authority is rooted in an unbroken lineage that traces back to the
prophets and ultimately to God Himself.
Thus, the believer’s journey is not
complete with abstract belief alone. It demands an earnest search for the
authentic wasilah, manifested in a living guide who can channel divine light
into human hearts. Without such guidance, as the Qur’an and Hadith affirm, one
risks spiritual misguidance.
Therefore, the call of this article
is clear:
To truly know God as both Scientific
and Practical, one must study His signs in nature and revelation, but also
embrace the living wasilah transmitted through the chain of divine guidance.
Only then can life be lived not merely as a worldly passage, but as a conscious
journey into the Infinite.
References
(Selected)
- The Qur’an (Surah Al-Maidah 5:35, Al-Imran 3:190,
Asy-Syura 42:11).
- Hadith (Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi).
- The Bible (John 14:6; Psalm 19:1; Matthew 24:24).
- The Bhagavad Gita (4:34).
- The Dhammapada (276).
- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Religion and the Order of
Nature.
- Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics.
- Ian Barbour, When Science Meets Religion.
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