Heart and Reason: Where Do They Diverge?

Some atheists claim that there is no Creator because, they say, there is no physical or logical evidence of His existence. Some believers maintain that the universe does indeed have a Creator, yet agree with atheists that there is no “logical proof” of His existence. They say that faith in God rests solely on a “feeling in the heart”, rather than on reason, or simply on believing the message brought by the prophets.
There is no doubt that the heart nurtures and sustains faith in God, or that the prophets’ messages support that faith. But who said that faith and reason are incompatible, or that faith cannot be supported by logical evidence? That is precisely the fallacy!
True faith rests on knowledge and reason. Otherwise, there would be no difference between someone who believes in one Creator, someone who believes in two, and someone who believes in none. Each could claim that their belief is a matter of the heart, beyond rational discussion. No one could then tell anyone else that their belief was mistaken, whether they worshipped God, the spirits of their ancestors, or even a cow!

Islam: Reconciling Faith and Reason

Treating belief as “solely a matter of the heart” can offer people with unsound beliefs an easy way to shield those beliefs from logical and rational scrutiny.
Yet such an attitude is unworthy of a Muslim who bears a universal message and reads the following in the Book of his Lord:

Then know [O Prophet] that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sins[14] and for the [the sins of] the believing men and women, for Allah knows your movements and your places of rest.[14] See footnote 40:55. Since the Prophet (ﷺ) is urged to seek forgiveness, the believers are far greater in need of seeking Allah’s forgiveness.Quran — Surah Muhammad (47:19)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

And so that those who were given knowledge may know that this [Qur’an] is the truth from your Lord, so they may believe in it and their hearts may become humbled to it. Allah surely guides those who believe to the straight path.Quran — Surah الحج (22:54)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

Knowledge therefore comes first, followed by faith arising from that reasoned knowledge, and then an informed submission to God.

The Quran also contains dozens of verses strongly condemning those who base their beliefs on mere conjecture, describing them as ignorant or even foolish:

And they say, “None will enter Paradise except a Jew or a Christian.” That is their wishful thinking. Say, “Produce your proof, if you are truthful.”Quran — Surah البقرة (2:111)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

Or have they taken other gods besides Him? Say, “Bring your proof. Here is the Book of those who are with me, and the Book of those who came before me[12].” Yet most of them do not know the truth, so they turn away.[12] The Prophet (ﷺ) is addressed to challenge the pagans to produce their proof for the existence of other gods; whereas, the Qur’an, the Torah, and the Gospel are in agreement that there is no god but Allah alone.Quran — Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21:24)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

These [idols] are no more than names you and your forefathers have made up[9], for which Allah has not sent down any authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire, although there has come to them guidance from their Lord.[9] i.e., You have considered them gods while in fact, they are not.Quran — Surah النجم (53:23)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

Here you are! You are those who disputed about that of which you have some knowledge, then why do you dispute about that of which you have no knowledge[27]? Allah knows and you do not know.[27] Regarding the true faith of Abraham.Quran — Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3:66)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

This is how any inquiry into matters of faith should proceed. Knowledge of God’s existence and the truthfulness of the prophets must rest on logical, tangible evidence rather than mere conjecture. The heart matters, but reason comes first: only once a belief has been firmly established can our hearts embrace it.

When Proving the Sun’s Existence Becomes Necessary

Should God’s existence be demonstrated? Some say there is no need, because it is so obvious that attempting to prove it is itself an affront to the great Creator. Our answer is that, when belief in God’s existence was shared by everyone, there was little need to dwell on the question. Today, however, the wave of materialism sweeping our world has left many people confused. Some have gone so far as to deny creation itself. It has therefore become necessary to answer their claims so that the truth remains clear for all to see.

To illustrate the point, imagine that a group of people one day declare themselves “aheliists” (from helios, the Greek word for sun): they do not believe the sun exists. They argue that there is no evidence of its existence and that what we see in the sky is an optical illusion!
How would believers—those who believe the sun exists—respond?
– Some would say that the sun obviously exists, so there is no need to prove anything or enter into debate.
– Others, after hearing so often that there is no evidence for the sun’s existence, would eventually believe this and argue that belief in the sun is “a matter of the heart”.
– The more discerning would debate the aheliists and refute their claims, using logical and scientific evidence to demonstrate that the sun exists. This is the soundest approach, because it establishes the strength of the believers’ reasoning.

Evidence for God’s Existence

“I do not believe God exists. You believe He does, so prove it: give me evidence!” The aggression with which an atheist may ask this question can unsettle a believer, as though atheism were the default position requiring no evidence, while the believer alone must provide proof.

Say, “Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.”

This is how the Quran responds to the claims of those who disbelieve.

But why not reverse the roles and expose the atheist illusion? Before presenting our evidence for God’s existence and the truthfulness of the prophets, let us ask the atheist to substantiate his own belief. In other words: “You believe God does not exist; give us your evidence!” Do not be afraid to ask an atheist this question. You will see just how much atheism rests on blind faith:
After a moment’s silence, he will reply that it is impossible to prove that God does not exist, but that he nevertheless has “arguments” against God’s existence. These consist either of criticisms—sometimes justified—of a particular religion, or of psychological or social questions to which he has not yet found an answer: the problem of evil, the claim that religion has caused wars, and so on. You will find answers to all these supposed arguments on this site. You will then see just how “well founded” atheism is as an ideology…
Once the opponent has been disarmed, has admitted that he has no evidence, and has had his supposed arguments refuted, it will be time to present the evidence for God’s existence. At TheSigns.co, we do not claim to have invented new proofs; there is no need to do so. God has left ample evidence in His creation and in the messages of His prophets. Our work on this site is simply to organise these ideas and present them coherently, clearing up the confusion surrounding this question.
If Evidence Exists, Why Are There So Many Unbelievers?
Some atheists argue that, if God existed, He would have provided enough evidence to ensure that everyone believed in Him. This closely resembles an argument made by unbelievers since the earliest times. The Quran answers it:

Those who associate partners with Allah will say, “If Allah had willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated anything with Him, nor would we have made anything forbidden[53].” Likewise, those who came before them rejected the truth until they tasted Our punishment. Say, “Do you have any knowledge that you can present to us? You follow nothing but assumption and you do nothing but lie.[53] They falsely argue by citing predestination (al-qadar), when they were given the choice of choosing the right or wrong path.Say, “Allah alone has the most conclusive argument. If He had willed, He could have guided you all.”Quran — Surah Al-An'aam (6:148–149)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19

In His wisdom and by His will, God has chosen to make human beings free: free to believe or not to believe. He has given them reason so that they can distinguish truth from falsehood.
God has provided sufficient evidence of His existence and greatness, and of the truthfulness of His Prophet. If some people do not believe, it is not because the evidence is absent, but because they have closed their eyes to the manifest truth.

Faith Means More Than Believing in God
Finally, the word “faith” on this site does not refer solely to God’s existence. A believer believes in God, His messengers, His revealed Books—the Quran, the Torah in its original form, the Gospel in its original form, the Psalms in their original form, and so on—His angels, divine decree, and the Hereafter: Hell, Paradise, resurrection, and so forth. This site therefore addresses not only atheists but also non-Muslims, inviting them to reflect on the truth of the message brought by God’s prophets and on what Allah has revealed in the Quran.

It is not righteousness to turn your faces towards the east or the west, but righteousness is to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scriptures, and the prophets; and to give charity out of one’s cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, beggars, and to free slaves; to establish prayer and give zakah; to fulfill the ratified pledges; to be patient at times of hardship, adversity, and during the battle. Such are the true believers, and such are the righteous.Quran — Surah Al-Baqara (2:177)Source : QuranEnc.com — English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center — v1.0.19