Was there "absolutely" nothing before the universe

[Qasim_Husayn]

Some people tend to argue that God created the universe from nothing, since prior to the universe nothing could exist. However, this can be easily disprove. 

Photons transcend time so they could have easily existed beyond the universe. So could have quantum vacuums. If these two things as well as other things can transcend time; why do philosphers claim there was absolutely nothing prior to the conception of the universe

[6Roman6Catholic6]

I have a controversial opinion about this. I see a Masculine God as being Alpha and Omega. This masculine God has a beginning and an end, just like the universe. I see the greater feminine aspect of God as having no beginning and no end. The feminine aspect of God I see as always existing, while masculine would-be gods battle for the great throne of the masculine God, to become the master of creation and destruction. I see Allah as the great feminine God that has no beginning and no end. 

[yusur317]

Nothing is still something. 

I don't quite understand what you mean by transcend time? If you're talking about the theory of relativity that's all it is- relative. We're using speed of light to compare. But even photons will take time to travel from point A to point B. If light was static it would be absent. We wouldn't experience it (preceive it). 

"Let there be light." Genesis 1:3 

Though I'm not certain photons/light were present at or immediately after the big bang. The quran says the heavens are expanding and that everything was once combined together (in a way) and God ripped it apart. There are many hints that can bd interpereted and used to aruge in support ofthe big bang. Still, I continue to believe the quran is a little ambiguous in meaning and hard to interpret.  I believe only the Awaited (a.s.) has the true and full tafsir. 

As for quantum vacuums, I'm afraid that goes beyond the scope of my former curriculum at school. I will have to read up and either learn about it or remind myself of it.  

I will add my thoughts to this post.  Before I do, I apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors. My phone is on autocorrect and sometimes likes to write words twice, change words or add letters. I believe it is possible to explain the universe both with and without a God. In islam we say God only commanded our world to be and it was. Thus it would make sense for our universe to be governed by laws, creating through it with God's permission without God's direct intervention.  Because there is an absence of continuous observable direct divine influence/intervention some of us choose to use this as proof against the existence of a Higher power. Simply put, yes the universe can be explained with and without a God, but that's  exactly why it takes FAITH to believe in God.  

I do believe he has left traces and signs of His might for us to use and follow. But it is only for those who have faith. You need some faith or at least a little curiosity (something to motivate you)  to pick up and read His book(s) with an open mind. 

Edit: thought I might add, I fished for facts from my memory going back 5 years to respond to this thread.  By no means should you take anything I write as absolute. I may be wrong. You shouldn't do that anyway as I'm sure you already know not to do xD 

Edited June 2, 2016 by yusur317

[Danish14]

On 02/06/2016 at 8:16 AM, Qasim_Husayn said:

Some people tend to argue that God created the universe from nothing, since prior to the universe nothing could exist. However, this can be easily disprove. 

Photons transcend time so they could have easily existed beyond the universe. So could have quantum vacuums. If these two things as well as other things can transcend time; why do philosphers claim there was absolutely nothing prior to the conception of the universe

Qasim_Husayn, those philosophers who say there was nothing before universe are either idiots or are speaking in context of creation. For God was always there to create creation and converting nothingness of creation to somethingness of creation by his power. Nothingness does not apply to God for it is property of things that are born and created just like you and me were nothing but now we are something. But God existed but not from non-existence. So, when there was nothingness of creation, God was there but he did not determined to create anything due to his will. 

[certainclarity]

Salam,

As yusur317 said, nothing is also something , but this some is a definition. Not a tangible thing.

For example take the word " possibility" it is a word , so it's a thing, but a word thing with a definition that is non material.

Similarly, hunger, can you see the feeling of hunger? 

Hunger is a state.It is not a thing in the tangible and material sense.

Yet it is word, which we experience .

The result of that hunger is to seek food.

This topic is best explained in Al- Kafi in the chapter of creation of will and will power, though both are definitions and not tangible things .

 

[eThErEaL]

On June 1, 2016 at 11:16 PM, Qasim_Husayn said:

Some people tend to argue that God created the universe from nothing, since prior to the universe nothing could exist. However, this can be easily disprove. 

Photons transcend time so they could have easily existed beyond the universe. So could have quantum vacuums. If these two things as well as other things can transcend time; why do philosphers claim there was absolutely nothing prior to the conception of the universe

Aren't photons something?

[dawudansari2]

On ۱۳۹۵/۳/۱۳ ه‍.ش. at 7:46 AM, Qasim_Husayn said:

Some people tend to argue that God created the universe from nothing, since prior to the universe nothing could exist. However, this can be easily disprove. 

Photons transcend time so they could have easily existed beyond the universe. So could have quantum vacuums. If these two things as well as other things can transcend time; why do philosphers claim there was absolutely nothing prior to the conception of the univers

Does Universe created from nothing?

There is difference between these two sentence “universe did not create from thing’’   ‘’universe created from nothing’’  the first sentence is true, but the second one is false, in other word, we can’t say the universe created from nothing, instead, we must say  the universe did not originate   from previous materials. For example Al-Imam Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said ‘’ God did not create the universe from thing not he created from nothing’’. In the same way, Tabrasy narrated in his book, Al-Ehtijaj, that Imam Al-sadeq was asked: the universe created from thing? He replied universe did not create from thing, then, he was asked: how God brought in to life from nothing?  He said beings create from material thing or from something other than material substances. In addition, we can explain how God created the universe in the form of this example.  Imagine an engineer who want to build an apartment first he characterize the map in his mind, then, he actualize this plan out of mind, in the same way, God is completely aware of all things before creation then he bring them in to being through will as the holy Quran said “the only words we say to a thing, when we desire it, is that we say to it Be and it is’’ (16-41).

[Mansur Bakhtiari]

Well first let's look at the logic were using. Allah created everything, but since time was a thing, that was created too. Of course this knowledge is of no benefit to us, so these kind of questions aren't the best to ask and won't get you to Jannah.