Abd al-Malik al-Misri was from the atheism of Egypt. He was informed that Imam al-Sadiq (as) possessed a huge amount of knowledge, so he went out to have a debate with him. He departed towards Yathrib and he was informed that the Imam (as) was in Mecca. So he went there, aiming to reach the Imam (as). The Imam (as) knew his intention and asked him the following question: “What is your name?”
“Abd al-Malik” he answered.
“What is your nickname?” Imam asked.
“Abu Abdullah” he replied.
Then Imam (as) forwarded the following confusing question, which he couldn’t find an answer for: “Who is the king (Malik), which you are his slave (Abd)? Is he from the kings of the earth or from that of the sky? Inform me about your son, and his name. Is he the salve (Abd) of the Lord (Allah (SwT)) of the earth or that of the sky?”
The infidel was dumbfounded with astonishment and became silent. Imam (as) gave him some extra time when he was completing the Tawaf, so that he might be able to find an answer. When he completed the Tawaf, the infidel humbly sat in front of the Imam (as) respecting and glorifying him. Then Imam (as) told him: “Do you know that earth has upper and lower parts?”
“Yes!” he replied.
“Did you enter inside?” The Imam (as) asked.
“No!” He answered.
“Do you know what is inside?”
“No, but I guess that there is nothing underneath”
“Guessing is the result of being unable to believe”
“Did you go up to the sky?”
“No!”
“Do you know what there are?”
“No!”
“Have you approached the East and West? And did you see what is behind them?”
“No!”
“It is astonishing that you approach neither the East nor the West. You did not enter inside the earth and you did not go up toward the sky to know what there are, but you are still infidel in them. Is it acceptable for a wise to deny and reject what he does not know?”
Astonishment and surprise surrounded him as Imam (as) had a full coverage of the case and allowed him not to say anything. Then he turned to Imam (as) with all humility saying: “No one had ever talked with me this way”
Imam (as) turned to him to complete his reasoning, saying: “So you are still in doubt? Maybe he is Him or maybe He is not”
“Yes! Maybe” he replied.
Imam (as) set out to present evident reasons for proving the existence of Almighty Allah, saying: “O Man! One who does not know, does not have a reason against the one who knows. And there are no reasons from ignorant against scholar. My Egyptian brother! If you understand that from me, you will not be in doubt anymore.
Do you not see the sun, moon, night and day cycling and no one is exceeding the other one? They go and they are back. They are forced to be in their location. If they were able to go away, then why would they return? And if they are not forced, then why will not night be day and day will not be night?!! My Egyptian brother! I swear by Allah (SwT) that they are forced to be so.
You believe in and think that they move by chance. Then, if they move, why does it (chance) take them back? And if they are back why will they move again? Do not you see the sky elevated and the earth situated? Neither sky falls on the earth nor does the earth fall on what underneath it. I swear by Allah (SwT) that their creator and manager keeps them from falling down”
Doubts and delusion left the Egyptian man and he believed in Almighty Allah, when the Imam (as) presented those scientific conscientious reasons regarding the existence of Allah (SwT). Afterwards, the Imam (as) turned to Husham and said: “Take him and educate him.”
Imam (as) based his reasoning on the most evident and clear reasons when proving the existence of a great creator. He was away from ambiguity and complication and did not base his speech on vague philosophical reasons, but instead he used apparent reasons that left no doubts, delusion and fruitless arguments.
THE LIFE OF IMAM JAF’AR AL-SADIQ (AS) – BAQIR SHARIF AL-QURASHI