Borhan-i Imakn wa Wujub

The Structure of the Argument

The Borhan-i Imakn wa Wujub argument is comprehensive and is typically structured in several phases:

• The Principle of Contingency: The first phase asserts that all entities that exist within the universe are contingent. This means that their existence is dependent on something external to them. In analyzing the cosmos, one recognizes that everything that exists is subject to change and, hence, is not self-sufficient.
• The Necessity of Existence: The second phase presents the proposition that there must exist an entity that is fundamentally necessary; an entity that exists by virtue of its own essence, thus serving as the ultimate cause of everything else. This being is identified as God. The absence of such a necessary being would ultimately lead to a logical paradox.
• Implications of Necessity: Following the establishment of God’s existence, the argument elucidates that recognizing God’s necessity engenders a moral obligation upon humanity to acknowledge and worship Him. The relationship between the Creator and creation thus mandates a mutual acknowledgment of the existence of divine authority.

Implications for Shia Morality and Ethics