Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, the Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

Introduction
Among the various arguments for God’s existence, the Kalam Cosmological Argument stands out for its logical rigor and empirical support. Formulated by medieval Islamic philosopher al-Ghazali and popularized by contemporary philosopher William Lane Craig, it bridges philosophy and science to argue for a transcendent Creator.

The Argument’s Structure

1. Premise 1: “Whatever begins to exist has a cause.” (al-Ghazali)
   This principle aligns with the intuitive understanding of causality. Craig emphasizes, “Something cannot come from nothing. If the universe began to exist, it requires a transcendent cause.”
2. Premise 2: “The universe began to exist.”
   Scientific evidence, such as the Big Bang theory, supports this. Cosmologist Alexander Vilenkin states, “All the evidence we have says that the universe had a beginning.” The Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem further concludes that any universe with expanding space must have a finite past.
3. Conclusion: The universe has a cause, identified as God.
   This cause must be timeless, spaceless, immaterial, and personal. Craig argues, “A personal Creator is required to explain the origin of a temporal effect from an eternal cause.”

Supporting Evidence and Quotes

• Philosophical: Leibniz’s Principle of Sufficient Reason asks, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” A necessary being (God) provides the answer.
• Scientific: Stephen Hawking noted, “Almost everyone now believes that the universe, and time itself, had a beginning at the Big Bang.” This aligns with premise 2.
• Theological: Aquinas’ First Way argues for an unmoved mover: “Whatever is moved must be moved by another.”

Addressing Objections

• Quantum Fluctuations: Critics suggest quantum events are uncaused. Craig counters that these occur within a pre-existing framework, unlike the universe’s absolute beginning.
• Natural Cause: Hume questioned, “Why may not the material universe be the necessarily existent being?” The response is that the universe, being contingent and temporal, cannot self-exist.
• Impersonal Cause: J.L. Mackie doubted the cause’s nature. Craig replies only a personal agent can voluntarily initiate time and space.

Conclusion
The Kalam argument’s strength lies in its logical consistency, empirical grounding, and ability to point to a personal, transcendent God. As physicist Freeman Dyson reflected, “The universe knew we were coming,” hinting at purposeful design. By synthesizing philosophy and science, the Kalam Cosmological Argument offers a compelling case for God as the uncaused Cause of all existence.