Sultan Bahoo Blog

Concept of Power and Nature: Modern Scientific Debates & H̱aḏrat Sultan Bahoo's Teachings

Dr. Usman Hasan | January 10, 2025

In the current era, scientific progress seems on its climax. From Big Bang to Multiverse, from gravitational waves to the discovery of Higgs particle, from genetic modifications to artificial neural networks, wonders of science are impacting almost every mind around the globe. The nations, which value the scientific studies and critical thinking, have always been the leading nations in the world. On the same time, the understanding of very foundations of science and a balanced approach towards formation of worldview becomes of more importance, particularly in the era of materialism when humanity is in search of global peace and tranquility.

Science is basically the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and evidence-based reasoning. Scientific studies are concerned with the physical world and its phenomena. It is one of the most refined knowledge produced by mankind easily transferable and testable.

Modern scientific discoveries develop on previous knowledge, experiments and reasoning. However, for a theory to become scientific, there is no set pre-requisite. The prime criterion is; it should be falsifiable, both mathematically as well as experimentally.

What Questions Science Deals with?

The scientific inquiry deals primarily with the questions of “how”. However, generally, it does not much care about “what”. Therefore, the scientific inquiry excludes the intangible human experiences like hard problem of consciousness. It is concerned with quantifiable properties. While quantifying, we stress on making a mathematical theory consistent logically and explaining the experiments and predicting new observations.

Science in Classical Sufi Thought

We are well aware that the scientific methodology which we witness today, it was not in such shape around a thousand years ago. The powerful mathematical theories assisting the experimental evidences were not established. Although the importance of science is well established today, however, it was also well respected in the Middle Ages. However, we witness the debates on empirical studies (scientific studies) in classical Sufi Muslim literature. Just to quote an example, on importance of Science, Imam Al-Ghazali says,

“Whoever thinks that to engage in a disputation for refuting such a theory [lunar eclipse] is a religious duty harms religion and weakens it. For these matters rest on demonstrations—geometrical and arithmetical—that leave no room for doubt.”

“The greatest thing in which the atheists rejoice is for the defender of religion to declare that these [astronomical demonstrations] and their like are contrary to religion. Thus, the [atheist's] path for refuting religion becomes easy if the likes [of the above argument for defending religion] are rendered a condition [for its truth].”

These are statements in Al-Ghazali’s famous book which has been targeted to be anti-science. However, anyone can understand, by reading these statements, that Al-Ghazali has never opposed the empirical sciences, rather he questioned the metaphysical discussions by philosophers and so-called scientists.

Describing his metaphysical point of view about natural occurrences in universe, he says,

“Continuous habit of their [observations] occurrence repeatedly, one time after another, fixes unshakably in our minds the belief in their occurrence according to past habit.” [1]

Here the differentiation between power (qudrat) and nature (fitrat) is important, particularly in the paradigm of Sufi thoughts. Al-Ghazali describes the repetition in natural phenomenon as ‘habit’ instead of their power.

Concept of Sultan al-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo

Although Sultan al-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo has not written the books of science, however, when on delving into his books, one can find discussion of cosmological and metaphysical aspects on many places. He has repeatedly described the concept of power in his system of thought. He says,

“…absolute monotheism is state of Magnificence. There were neither six dimensions nor below nor above. It was only Dhāt of Almighty H̱aqq present with His Divine-power [qudrat].” [2]

He describes the concept of power which is beyond the concepts of natural or physical world and its laws. In his book Amir al-Kawnays, he says,

“From power of Almighty Haqq Potent Dhat, the voice of ‘Am I not your Sustainer’ reached the ears of entire spirits, they all replied ‘yes You are.”

These listening and speaking of the soul are based on power, as at that time (pre-eternity), the physical world was non-existent, hence the nature was not yet present. So no one can comprehend these merely by understanding the nature, which deals with the physical universe. On another place in his book Israr al-Qadiri, he notes,

“When someone attains perfect guidance, then he speaks from power of God, hears from power of God’s ear and sees from power of God’s eye.”

This is the synchronization with power or Divine attributes. At this stage, seeing, listening and speaking is beyond measures of nature. These are according to the status described in Exalted Qur’an (2:138),

“(Say that we have taken on the colour from) Allah’s own colour, and whose colour is better than Allah’s?”

When one attains this colour, one gets synchronized with the Divine attributes or the Divine Power.

Sultan Bahoo also narrates a dialogue of a disciple and the master and says that Divine self is ever subsistent due to His Power. However, anything that has a start and an end, that has actually its link with non-existence (adam).

This concept might had been strange for students of science a century ago. However, it is nothing strange for a student of physics in 21st century who understands the Big Bang theory claiming that universe and everything physical can be created from nothingness, based upon principles of quantum mechanics. Although such theories are yet not experimentally tested upto a satisfactory level, however, many theories and evidences do assist such ideas.

Understanding the ‘Nature’

‘Nature’ is created by ‘power’ as described by Sultan Bahoo. Natural or physical world has habit of repetition as it seems to us whereas spiritual affairs are only bound to the boundless and unlimited Power.

Imam Al-Ghazali presents the example of fire burning the cotton. We observe repetitions in this behavior. Although, the fire’s nature is to burn the cotton, yet it does not posses the power (qudrat) to burn the cotton. Which means it is not ‘always’ bound to burn the cotton.

The cause-and-effect relation is based upon observation of the repetitions in the phenomenon of our observations. Therefore, these have limitations to the general behavior of this physical world. The spiritual occurrences are beyond the concept of causality observed in physical world.

Iqbalian Perspective

Allama Muhammad Iqbal says in his lectures on Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam,

“Inner experience is only one source of human knowledge. According to the Qur’an, there are two other sources of knowledge - Nature and History; and it is in tapping these sources of knowledge that the spirit of Islam is seen at its best.”

While calling birth of Islam as birth of inductive reasoning, he reaffirms the importance of observations and empirical evidence. Whereas, inner experience remains the prime source of knowledge. All together realize the true spirit of Islam. In Iqbalian perspective,

“Intuition is linked with “power”.  Inductive reasoning is linked with “nature”.

General Principle

One has to obey the inductive reasoning to live life in the physical plan. However, there are certain areas, where power comes to play its role. For example, one disobedience can cause loses for Muslims in the battle of Uhud. Whereas, following the path of Power can lead to win in the battle of Badr. This is where Iqbal notes,

“Judge not your nation on the criteria of Western nations. Special in composition is the Hashimi Prophet’s nation”

This specification is due to synchronization with ‘Power’.

An analogy can be made by presenting example of Quantum vs Classical Physics.  Though the observations at classical level are well explained by classical mechanics, yet, we know it is actually quantum mechanics which better explains the phenomenon. However, due to missing links at classical scale, we follow the classical physics which works quiet well. Thus, it can be argued that actually it is the power which rules the world. However, due to missing links, we can explain repeating phenomenon by natural or scientific laws.

If one knows the missing link, he can precisely predict those occurrences which seem beyond the realm of nature. And it is where the institution comes in to play the role. Thus, the exceptions are analog to the fact that we can observe some exceptional quantum phenomenon at classical scales like in Super-conductors. One, who knows the quantum mechanics very well, can predict these large scale behaviors apparently unexplainable by classical physics.

By the power of Prophet Ismael’s feet, spring of Zamzam emerges,  Fire becomes cold payer for Prophet Abraham,  these are manifestation of power in natural world.

In short, as quantum mechanics has the authority to interfere in classical world but converse doesn’t hold, same is the case with power and nature.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal says,

“To Islam, matter is spirit realising itself in space and time.”

i.e., matter is sub-system of a large Divine design.

The argument can be put forward that the Power encompasses everything. There is no concept of nature (habits) before the creation of universe (before commands ‘kun’).

Those who are bestowed with knowledge of missing links, can predict the occurrences that are beyond knowledge of habit based knowledge.

Science claims to answer “how”, not the “why”.

The way forward is in answering the self-imposed question of science i.e., how the laws or habits, whatever one calls, came into work?

The day science searches the answer of “how” for the creation of scientific laws, it would be able to understand the link between nature and power.

Another argument is,

There is constraint on the methodology of science that restricts it from studying itself.

In conclusion, one has to live the life according to laws of science and increase the understanding to comprehend the ‘habits’ of physical universe. This is the path towards progress in this world. However, while delving into the spiritual realm, one needs to gets synchronization with Divine Power in order to observe the reality beyond this physical universe as well as to understand the exceptions to those phenomena which are beyond comprehension of causality.

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[1]Al-Ghazali, A. H. M. (2000). The incoherence of the philosophers. (Tr. Michael E. Marmura) Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press.

[2]Ayn al-Faqr