There are some people who maintain that they have no obligation to investigate the acquisition of religion. They think: What need provokes us to consider religion?

We aim to show the flaw in this argument by means of the following explanations, and we shall demonstrate into ways the necessity of enquiry into religion.

1.Wisdom dictates that every man should give thanks for those benefits, which he has received.

2.Wisdom also dictates the need to prevent every kind of possible danger or harm. So now let us consider each of these two points.

It is our good fortune to benefit from all the Excellencies of life in this world: our digestive system, respiratory apparatus, the heart and other organs of the body. Each one of these is in its turn greater than the limit of our knowledge and even our imagination. Likewise the light of the sun, the existence of plants, the mines and resources hidden deep in the heart of the earth, all of them are great benefits, which, by the knowledge and power that has been given to him, man can make use of Greater than all of these, however, is the genius and understanding of man himself, which can break a mighty mountain into pieces and create from water and iron the most enormous power and the most delicate objects.

Now this question poses itself: Should we not engage ourselves in research and enquiry until, if there is a benefactor, we acknowledge that benefactor, so as to fulfill our duty and offer him our thanks?

Suppose a benevolent and charitable man adopts a baby who has lost his father and mother, and provides for him every kind of sustenance for life and growth. He arranges for the child to be brought up, and when he is ready for education provides him with the best teachers and books. Similarly he puts every possibility within his reach, and, in short, provides in every way for his welfare. Does this child not then have an obligation to try to find out first who this man is, and secondly, about his great generosity, his whole soul overflowing with thanks for his benefactor? It is the same in the field of existence, and we are obliged to engage in enquiry till we discover the Benefactor and Creator Himself and render our thanks.

Making effort to acquire the true religion is also a command of wisdom. He who has not yet found the right way, and is wandering without direction must not rest his feet until he has found the way of Truth and the true religion, satisfied by enlightening proofs and clear evidence. And when he has reached the source of spiritual life and the true religion, his heart full of peace and rejoicing, he should begin to give his thanks to the Creator Himself.

If a child were to come and tell you that he saw a poisonous snake go into the room you were in, you would immediately jump up from where you were and undertake a thorough search of every nook and cranny until you found it, or were satisfied that it was not there.

Similarly, if, while traveling by night in a dangerous country, you learnt that bandits were waiting on the road ahead to ambush you, without doubt you would wait until the way ahead was clear of danger, and would not take a single step forward until then.

In these two examples it has been made clear that we are compelled by reason to investigate conceivable dangers. It is possible that some of the harmful things may turn out to be nothing at all, and other people may not pay any attention to them, but if an injury carries the price of a human soul, and a life is destroyed, it cannot be ignored.

In the history of mankind, we learn of people who were famous for telling the truth and acting honestly. They claimed that they were messengers of God, and they called people to have faith in God and to act in a certain way. As a result of the efforts and the persistent sufferings of these special people in all corners of the world, many groups had faith in them. Thus the birth of Jesus Christ became the beginning of the Christian calendar and the migration of the Prophet Muhammad started the Muslim calendar.

Now, we see that these messengers of God attracted men to religion and to follow particular rules, caused them to fear punishment for their bad deeds and made them sure that they would be tried in the Great Court of Justice before the Righteous and Wise Judge. They trembled at the hardships and perils of Resurrection and the harshness of the punishment there, and made men fearful of these things. The question is, do their warnings make us realize the possibility of harm and danger in the same way, as did the warning of the small child?

Is it right that we should ignore the words and deeds of the real religious people of this world, when it is they who, in their belief and faith stood watch over the soul, and spared themselves no kind of sacrifice? Clearly, the words of the messengers, if they do not make a man certain, at least provoke him to think: perhaps what they say is true. Then what in fact is our duty, if it is correct that the messengers tell the truth? What answer will we give in the Court of Justice of God?

Here reason reckons the necessity of preventing this ``at least possible'' harm, and religion urges us to follow.

What is more, these messengers call man to a healthy and civilised life, and they also say that after death an extensive new world and everlasting blessings await one who has performed his duty, and give glad tidings that in that place is another existence overflowing with peace of mind and certainty of spirit, where there is no disease, distress, agitation, anguish or fear. Does reason allow us to ignore this important message?

Must we not give weight to the fears and threats of the messengers, who say that sins and transgression have their penalty, and follow religion and give our thought to it?

Whenever we see a beautiful building of great splendor and design, we can easily understand that its architect, master builder and mason was each one an expert in his own craft, and we discover, from observing such a well-proportioned building, the knowledge and science of its builder. Similarly, by looking at a car, an aeroplane, a computer or any other well-designed artifact, we are invariably guided to well-informed and knowledgeable inventors, discoverers and makers, and we are made aware of their skill and learning. In none of these instances it is necessary to actually see the constructor of the building or other objects with our own eyes to testify to his existence.

What is more, when observing all these things, it is not with any of our external senses that we perceive his knowledge and skill. But, nevertheless, we believe in his science and knowledge. Why? Because that same orderliness which we perceived in the artifacts, forces us to recognize the knowledge of their constructors. And from this we reach to the conclusion that it is in no case necessary that something whose existence we wish to believe in should be visible or tangible. How many facts there are which are not perceptible to our external senses, but of whose existence we become aware through paying care and attention to what effects they produce. For every wise man understands, without exercising too much attention, that there can be no effect without a cause, nothing orderly without wise and knowledgeable designer. On this basis we can divide the things of this world into two categories:

1. Things which are evident to one or more of the five senses; we observe visible things with the eyes, we hear sounds with the ears, and we become aware of pleasant and unpleasant smells, bitter and sweet tastes, hot and cold, rough and smoothes, with our nose, our tongue, and the skin of our body.

2. Things which are not perceived by any one of the five senses, but whose existence we can deduce by considering their effects. These facts are not all of one kind, some are material and some are non-material (i.e., they are without material limits or properties). We shall mention here a few of them.

Electricity. We can never, merely by looking at two wires, one of which is electrified, determine which of them has an electric current. We can only discover the existence of this current from the effect of the electricity, e.g. a lamp being lit. So electricity is something, which exists although our eyes cannot directly see it.

Gravitation. If you let go of the book, which you now have in your hand, it will fall to the ground, i.e. the ground will pull the book towards itself. This power is something, which we do not directly perceive throughout senses. Gravitation is again one of those things which is not visible, but of whose existence we feel sure through observing the falling of bodies - which is its result.

Magnetism. We place a magnet beside a piece of iron. Externally there is nothing except what we see, but when the iron is pulled towards the magnet we understand that in the space around the magnet the phenomenon of magnetism exists.

Invisible radiation. If we shine white sunlight through a prism we see on the other side of the crystal six colors (the spectrum), which are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. This side of red and beyond violet no more colors are to be seen. However, scientists have discovered that in the place where the eyes seen more light, further `colors' exist which have heating and chemical properties. These 'lights' are called infrared and ultra-violet.

Called infrared radiation - which produced more heat than visible light, and this same heat, which is a result of the radiation, convinced people of the existence of infrared radiation. -In the year 1800 a physicist and astronomer called Herschel conceived the idea of researching into whether radiation existed beyond what the eye can see. He gradually altered the position of a thermometer placed on a screen on which the six-colored spectrum (from red to violet) was projected, and exposed it to the various colors, measuring the heating effect of each of them. When he got this side of the red, he discovered that the thermometer indicated greater heat from it. He then became certain of the existence of invisible radiation.

At the same time, another scientist called Wollaston put a quantity of the chemical compound silver chloride in the place beyond the violet end of the spectrum, and, contrary to his expectation, discovered that in the place where light did not reach the eye there existed a factor which caused the silver chloride to darken. Later still, scientists found out that the changing of the color of the skin on exposure to sunlight was due to the chemical influence of this radiation.

It thus became certain that beyond violet light there was another radiation, which was invisible, and it was named ultra-violet.

Inaudible sounds. There are many sounds, which we do not hear. These are called supersonic sounds, and we discover their existence by examining their effects; they are used in medicine and technology.

Intelligence. All of us are aware of ourselves, i.e. we perceive that we exist, and we can also arrive at concepts in a gradual manner concerning matters outside ourselves, which we explain by this kind of statement: `I solved the most difficult mathematical problem.'

`I pondered a lot over such-and-such a theory until I came to the conclusion that it was correct.'

Also, man is aware of his own knowledge, i.e. he knows that he knows. Intelligence is not something visible or audible in the sense that man can see it with his eyes or hear it with his ears, but in fact, although it is intangible, everyone finds it in himself in addition to the powers of sight and hearing and the other external faculties. Other people cannot learn about my intelligence through the five senses, but must deduce its existence from the effects it produces. For example, when a scientist is expounding on a problem, it becomes clear that he has understood it, and also, if we ask a scientist if he is familiar with mathematical problems or not, and he says that he is informed about them, we understand that he is aware of his own understanding and knowledge, i.e. he knows that he understands the problems of mathematics.

The Constructs of the Mind. People can construct in their own minds any form that they wish, e.g. a tower similar to the Eiffel Tower whose construction in the external world required many years, a thousand sorts of different building materials and substances, and hundreds of workers; this can be built in the mind in an instant. Maybe thousands of similar ones can be built, and it is possible to imagine in the mind things, which have no existence in the outside world at all, thus we may create a monster with many heads, hands and feet. Its clear that others cannot be informed directly of the creations of our minds, because they are not visible and audible, but they can discover their existence from their consequences or from our speech.

Love, Hate and Determination. Everyone has, on the one hand, a liking for some things, and, on the other hand, an aversion to other things. Also, throughout his life he is in need of determination. For every task that he likes to do he determines to accomplish it, and for every task that he does not like to do he leaves it on onside and determines not to do it.

No one can understand directly the determinations of someone else, and what he likes and what he does not like, unless from the effects and reactions to it, because love, hate and determination are not visible, audible or tangible things which can be perceived through the external senses.

Life. A fine chicken, moving towards the water, falls into a pond, and, before we can rescue it, it dies. In the organisation of the life of this animal at this very moment, what change has taken place, and between its present condition and one moment before when it had been alive, what difference is there that it no longer moves, plays or eats?

We must of necessity say that there is something, which exists in the live chicken, which does not exist in the dead - life itself. Life is not an object of the senses. We only perceive the effects of it, which are movement, feeding, etc., and from these effects we discover its existence.

The established scientific facts mentioned above make it thoroughly clear that over and above the beings, which we perceive with our sensory organs, there are also things which we do not directly perceive, but which we know about only because of the effects they produce.

Thus we draw the conclusion that it is not right for us to reject something which we do not see only because its not visible, because being not visible is different from not existing, and the way of discovering something isn't confined to the eyes or other external senses. Reason can discover something's by means of the effects of those things, as we saw in the case of the existence of scientific facts that are known through their results, and which are not denied or doubted by any competent person.

We do not wish to say that God is similar to these facts, because God is a truth higher than these, to which nothing is equal or comparable, but our intention is to say that in the same way as we discover the existence of these things through their effects, we can discover the existence of God through His signs.

That His Existence can be discovered. -Which is one of the signs of God-Thus those who observe only with their physical eyes, and deny the existence of God because they cannot see Him with these eyes, are blind as far as their eye of wisdom and contemplation is concerned, since we know, byte dictates of wisdom, through the precise regulation of creation To these people we say, with the poet:
``Open thy heart's eye your soul to see, And what is invisible will be manifest to thee.''

Because in every creature there is a sign of God.

Which guides us to His Existence, also demonstrates that, since all the world and its creatures are signs of Him, and since His sign is not confined tone special instance or locality, rather all and every phenomenon is one of His signs, He Himself is another reality to which none of the creatures of the world are equal or comparable. Rather, He is an unlimited Being who possesses every perfection and is free from all imperfections.

-A more precise point, and a more important matter, is that a study of the results of the Power of the Lord -that is to say the world and its creatures - in addition to that We therefore discover two things from the study of the signs of God:

1. The existence of the Creator of the universe, in which all things are His signs.

2. That because His signs are without limit and are not specific to one time or place, He is a Being, unlimited and possessing every perfection, although we cannot perceive His Reality.

Muhammad ibn `Abdullah Khorasani, the servant of the eighth Imam (A.S.) said: A group of men were sitting with Imam Rida (A.S.) when one of those who deny God came in.

The Imam (A.S.) said to him: `If, as you say, there is no God, no Messenger, no Reckoning and no Book (which there surely is), will our prayer, fasting, zakah and faith be to our detriment?' The man (A.S) did not reply (i.e. his reply was no).

The Imam (A.S) continued: `But if, as we maintain, God exists, religion exists, the Resurrection and the Day of Retribution exist (and they surely do), are you destined to misfortune and ruin?' (It is clear that, by the dictates of reason, everyone, even on the basis of a mere possibility that beyond this world another world exists, should act according to the commandments of religion so that misfortune and ruin do not overtake him).

The man asked: `The God in whom you believe, what is He like and where is He?'

The Imam (A.S) said: `your question is mistaken. God is not such as to be in a place; He created space. He isn't such as to have quality; He created qualities. So He cannot be known in this way. God is not perceptible to any one of the senses, and it is not possible to compare Him.'

The man said: `If he is not perceptible to any one of the senses, then He is nothing!'

The Imam (A.S) replied: `Woe is you! (How small is your capacity for thinking) that since your senses are notable to perceive Him, you deny His Lordship. But we, for the very same reason that we cannot perceive Him, are certain that only He is our Lord and no one else.'

The man said: `Tell me, when has God existed?' The Imam (A.S) said: `You tell me when God has not been, so that I can tell you when He has been.' (i.e. God existed before time, and He created time).

He said: `What is the evidence for the proof of God?' Imam Rida (A.S) replied: `when I reflect upon my body, I realise that I cannot add anything to its length or width, nor subtract from it. Similarly, I cannot choose to be happy or unhappy (perhaps, for example, I may try very hard to get better from an illness, but I do not succeed). From this evidence and also from noticing the regulation of the sun and the stars, the heaven and the earth and the orderliness of the whole universe, Understand that my body and this world of creatures has a Creator and a Lord (who is Knowing and Able.⁽¹⁾

In this universe, from the smallest atom to the largest celestial body, in everything we see, we are reminded of its perfect orderliness and exact regulation, so much so that the great scientists have been provoked to amazement. Cecil Boyce Hamann, Professor of Biology at Asbury College, says that whenever he puts a drop of water under a microscope or observes the farthest star through a telescope, he is filled with great wonder.

There is so much orderliness in nature that it is possible to explain by means of immutable laws the course any phenomenon will take before it occurs.

For this reason (i.e. that the patterns and laws which govern nature are immutable and fixed), scientists endeavor to discover these laws. For if they did not hold would not every kind of effort in this field be fruitless?⁽²⁾ The earth, in which we live, with respect to its size, its distance from the sun, the speed of its orbital movement, etc., is so arranged that it is able to act as the support for life. Because, if in the conditions of its existence the smallest changes were to take place, losses of unacceptable dimensions would occur.

The atmosphere, most of whose constituent elements are life-giving gases, is sufficiently viscous that it can, like a shield or Armour, protect the earth from the deadly attack of 200 million meteors every day, which approach the earth with a speed of 50 kms per second.

The responsibility for regulating the temperature of the earth's surface within limits which maintain life also belongs to the atmosphere, and if it did not exist, inhabited land would, like the dry deserts, become incapable of supporting life.

But why are we taking the long way round in explaining these things? Nearer than anything is ourselves. The mysteries of man's existence are without number, so much so that the world's scientists, after years of research and study, have not yet been able to fathom all the wonders of it.

After many years of study, Dr. Alexis Carrel wrote a book called ``L'homme, cet inconnue'' (Man, the Unknown). He wrote confessing that biology and other sciences were still unable to discover the facts about the working of the human body, and that many problems remained to be unraveled.

The body of man is like a building. It is composed of small building blocks called cells, each of which is itself a living entity. Each cell, therefore, is alive, and its nourishment, digestion, absorption, elimination and reproduction, for example, are as in other organisms, and are perfectly carried out.

In the structure of the cells most metals, such as iron, copper, calcium, as also other elements such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphurs are used.

The number of these cells in the body of man is about 1016, which is equivalent to ten thousand, million, million.

Each one of these living cells works in perfect cooperation with the next, and all of them follow the same aim. They are very quick to suffer, having little toleration, and nourishment must be correctly supplied for their needs. The blood, with the help of the heart, performs this duty very well. The structure of the heart is of well-designed and perfect dimensions, so that it can supply blood to the whole body through the agency of the blood vessels and the capillaries.

The blood, after it has delivered nourishment to the cells, absorbs poisonous substances, which have accumulated there, and returns to the heart with a dull color. The heart delivers this to the lungs, a filtering apparatus for the blood, whereupon it is respelled to the whole body with a bright color and greater freshness. While passing through the kidneys, another part of these poisonous matters are removed, so that no kind of disturbance arises in the general working of the body.

Do we not see in the precise combination and quantity of the metals and other elements from which the cell is formed, and also the amazing structure of the heart and its way of working which is claiming the attention of the thinkers of today, a plan of perfect and superior design?

And if we see in the human body a mysterious whole and at the same time a design, are we exaggerating? Without doubt, no.

And in this same way we must confess that the world of existence is firm on the foundation of perfect orderliness, and undoubtedly every orderliness and design is the creation and accomplishment of a wise and powerful maker. This subject will be investigated completely in further chapters.

Today, most people manage to do their most difficult work easily with the help of machines. One of the most amazing of these machines is the computer, about whose various capabilities most people have heard. For example, one variety of computers can, in a few minutes, accurately supply a doctor with medical records, which have been stored in it, and are capable of diagnosing illnesses. It investigates details of every condition reported in the past year or even ten years ago, and makes recommendations for the cure and therapy of diseases. This computer can, when necessary, recommend a suitable medicine to the hospital pharmacy, and inform the nurse, so that she can give the medicine to the patient. Some important factories also use computers for the control and adjustment of their machines.

Is it possible that an accident or chance brought the computer into existence, or is its astounding design rather a proof of the intelligence and genius of its maker?

Undoubtedly anyone faced with such a machine would agree that he is aware of the greatness of the intelligence and thinking of its maker.

``Orbits'' is the name of an apparatus, which can prepare excellent food for more than one thousand people in one hour.

In many present-day countries transport cafes and roadside restaurants make use of this apparatus; it is capable of doing the work of twenty trained cooks.

When you park your car in front of the restaurant, you press the button on a loudspeaker beside you, and immediately a voice asks you what you want. You give an order for various kinds of food, and exactly eight minutes later a special waiter brings your food.

When the customer presses the button, a light switches on inside ``Orbits'', and as the customer gives his order for food (e.g. a sandwich), someone sitting in front of the apparatus depresses special switches. The machine starts to work. In this way, first, bread is cut by means of an automatic knife, and at the same moment a piece of meat is sent to the cooker, which grills it in exactly four minutes.

Then it is transferred onto the bread and the other parts of the sandwich are also placed on it. At this point the warm sandwich is put into a plastic bag and is ready.

Is the automatic and well designed ``Orbits'' without a maker or a designer, and did it come into existence as the result of an accident or chance? Or is it not rather the product of the ideas of a scientist who invented it using precise calculations?

Undoubtedly, this design and order, which you notice in the above examples, is the result of the thinking of its designer and inventor. That is to say that if there had been no inventor, and if they had not been constructed on the basis of very exact calculations and measurements, these machines would never have come into existence.

The same argument demonstrates a general proof and its undoubted truth, that design and orderliness must take their origin in a source of knowledge and power, and that chance cannot be the origin of marvels having design and orderliness, because, as to everything belongs a particular effect (e.g. cold water is an unlikely cause for being scalded), it is incorrect to suppose that design and reckoning should come from chance or mere accident.

It therefore follows that the wonderful design and orderliness which is observed in the brain, the nerves, the digestive system, the heart, the eyes, the ears and thousands of other examples constitutes complete evidence and a living proof that the world of creation has a wise and powerful designer and creator, and that whatever attracts our attention among the secrets of the way creation is arranged, permits us to become more aware of the greatness of its Creator. Can we say that the human brain and the wonders of the body are less significant than the computer?

Its designer. In addition to this, the understanding and intelligence, which is seen in man, is clear evidence of the manifestation of something knowledgeable and intelligent which produced him, because it is not possible for someone who has no understanding and intelligence to give to his constructions and creations such understanding and intelligence.

-Of course, you will acknowledge that all these things are a proof of the greatness and magnitude of the knowledge and powerful Creator of the world-its disigner .In addition to this, the understanding and intelligence which is seen in man is clear evidence of the manifestation of something knowledgeable and intelligent wich produced him, beacause it is not possible for someone who has no understanding and intelligence to give to his consturction and creations such understanding and intelligence.

The Holy Quran points to this undoubted truth and shining reality in many verses, such as the following:

God is He Who raised up the heavens without pillars you can see, and then He ascended His Throne. He subjected the sun and the moon each one running to a term stated; He directs the affair; He distinguishes the signs; haply you will have faith in the encounter with your Lord. (XIII: 2)...

The amazing progress of man's knowledge is progressively uncovering the unknown and destroying misconceptions in physiology and the experimental sciences. For example, it was once thought that some of the organs of the body were of no use, but modern science, after much analysis and research, has demonstrated specific uses for each of them, and, in the future, when research tools have been further developed, more important functions will surely be discovered. We shall mention some examples to show what we mean.

1. The thymus is a small gland located in the media sternum, in front of the windpipe and behind the ribs. The specific function of the thymus had been unclear, and previous scientists had thought it to be a superfluous organ. But today it is known that the thymus plays an important role in resistance and defense against foreign substances, which attack the body.⁽³⁾

Some scientists believe that this gland has an important influence on sexual function and the growth of the body after puberty. Its removal results in atrophy of the sexual organs and delayed puberty.

2. The pineal gland, or epiphysis is more complex than the thymus, and it is situated in the brain. In the past some physiologists had attributed no use to it, but nowadays it is believed that this gland is operative in controlling sexual activity and in preventing premature puberty. It also has other functions, which, if stopped, cause death.⁽⁴⁾

3. Previously, physicians had thought that the tonsils were without function, and in the event of swelling of the tonsils would advise their extraction, and would excise them. However, today, specialists understand their importance, and do not recommend their removal except in exceptional circumstances.

The tonsils produce white blood cells whose function is to defend the body against microbes. They perform the same function for the body as does quarantine for diseases coming into a country. They act as a strong barrier at the entrance to the respiratory passages, cleaning the inspired air against infection and destroying microbes. When the air is more polluted, or when microbes are more active, the tonsils work harder, and as a result they swell up. Removal of the tonsils is inadvisable, because:
- It results in an increased activity of microbes in the throat and lets them enter the glottis, the windpipe and the lungs, and causes illnesses such as bronchitis, - The skin lining the nose and the glottis becomes thinner than normal and causes dryness in the nose and throat (atrophy of the mucous membranes). What is more, at the time of various throat infections, the tonsils swell up and, like warning lamps, inform doctors of these illnesses. So, if they are not there, the disease will not be diagnosed, and this may result in further complications such as angina.

4. After much research, a group of scientists came to the conclusion that the appendix has an important role to play in the fight against cancer, and its removal, when unnecessary, can be a cause of this fatal illness. It has-been explained in the Journal of the American Medical Association that removal of the appendix in those who are in danger of getting cancer has an important effect, and may itself cause cancer.

The study of the examples mentioned above, together with hundreds of others, shows that when we do not find any use or advantage for something, we should not come to the conclusion that it really has no use or advantage. Rather, we should wait until its secrets and functions are revealed in the light of science. For, although man has made much progress, he is still at the first stages, and has not yet read even one line from the great Book of Nature.

Einstein said in his book The Philosophy of Relativity that what we have read from the Book of Nature has taught us many things, but we know that we are far from finding the complete solution and understanding of her secrets.

Williams James also remarked that the difference between our knowledge and our ignorance is like the difference between a drop and the ocean. Therefore do not those materialists who, because of incomplete knowledge of the secrets and properties of a thing, think to be without use or function make a serious mistake? Whereas if they were to be more careful, they would realise that there is a world of difference between not knowing a thing and its nonexistence, and that it is not correct to assume that because a man does not find a thing therefore it does not exist.

It is obvious that man's not knowing the details of one or two things from the infinity of existents should not be an obstacle to him on comprehending the Wise Creator of the universe through the secrets of the world of creation and its wonderful harmony.

There is no doubt that the study of even one of the parts of creation, or even just a fragment of that part, is sufficient to lead man to the Knowing Designer and Builder of the universe. If one picks up a book which is written in a fully rational and logical manner, but one does not understand some things because of one's lack of knowledge, what should be one's judgment on the book? Should one ignore all the useful matters therein which are derived from the writer's creative thinking and broad vision? Surely not!

In the words of the poet: The world is as eye, cheek, mole and brow. Forever thing in its place is good. (Gulshan-i Raz, Shabistari).