Necessary Existence and Monotheism: An Avicennian Account of the Islamic Conception of Divine Unity

Avicenna believes that God must be understood as the Necessary Existent (wâǧib al-wuǧûd) and that all the properties that are usually attributed to God can be extracted from God's having necessary existence. The aim of this Element is to provide a detailed discussion of Avicenna's arguments for the existence and unity of God, clarifying how the Islamic concept of monotheism is intertwined with the concept of essential existence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Avicenna, a renowned philosopher and physician in the Islamic world, held a profound belief that God must be understood primarily as the Necessary Existent (wâǧib al-wuǧûd). Throughout his extensive works, he presented diverse versions of an ingenious argument for the existence of the Necessary Existent, known as the Proof of the Sincere (burhân al-ṣiddîqîn). Avicenna's central contention was that all the properties commonly attributed to God can be derived solely from God's necessary existence. Given the significance of tawḥîd (divine unity) in Islam, Avicenna embarked on a quest to extract the essence of God's necessary existence, with the first focus being on God's oneness.

The present Element aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of Avicenna's arguments for the existence and unity of God. Through this project, the author seeks to clarify how, for Avicenna, the Islamic concept of monotheism is intricately intertwined with the concept of essential existence.

Avicenna's philosophical framework was rooted in the belief that everything in existence is interconnected and dependent on one another. He posited that the Necessary Existent, the ultimate source of all existence, is the sole being that possesses all the necessary attributes and qualities. This Necessary Existent is the foundation upon which all other beings and things arise.

In his Proof of the Sincere, Avicenna presented a systematic argument that sought to establish the existence of the Necessary Existent. He began by defining the concept of necessity, which he understood as the inherent property of something that cannot exist without itself. He then argued that the Necessary Existent must possess all the necessary attributes and qualities, as it is the sole being that cannot be lacking in any way.

Avicenna further asserted that the Necessary Existent is the source of all existence and that everything else in existence is derived from it. He argued that the existence of anything else is contingent upon the Necessary Existent, as it is the only being that has the power and capacity to create and sustain existence.

One of the key aspects of Avicenna's argument for the existence of the Necessary Existent was his emphasis on the unity of God. He believed that God is one and indivisible, and that all the attributes and qualities commonly attributed to God are manifestations of this oneness. Avicenna argued that the concept of divine unity is essential to understanding the nature of God and the relationship between God and the world.

Avicenna's Proof of the Sincere also included an argument for the unity of God based on the concept of divine attributes. He argued that all the attributes and qualities commonly attributed to God are interconnected and cannot be separated from one another. He further asserted that the unity of God is evident in the harmony and balance that exists in the natural world.

In conclusion, Avicenna's belief in the Necessary Existent as the ultimate source of all existence and his argument for the existence and unity of God were central to his philosophical framework. Through his Proof of the Sincere, he provided a systematic and compelling argument that sought to establish the existence of the Necessary Existent and demonstrate the interconnectedness of all things in existence. Avicenna's emphasis on the unity of God was a key aspect of his argument, as it emphasized the oneness and indivisibility of God and the relationship between God and the world.

Weight: 118g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108940054