Uselesssluethplease - Enigma

Shimofuri-tan and Sweets Musume

Unknown, Arabic Script in shape of lion: "In the name of the lion of God, the face of God, the victorious Ali." from Turkey 19th C

"naan bread is a redundancy" is the "pineapple on pizza is gross" of linguistics

Western alchemical texts often resembled mystical riddles. Now, we all love some mystical books of alchemical riddles, it’s half the fun of early alchemy, but Arabic alchemical works are written more like teaching materials. This is because they were often used as teaching materials. Where earlier alchemists needed to encode their works as a form of proto-copyright, Islamic alchemists were trying to efficiently collect and distribute information. Though be warned, “easier to read” by the standards of medieval alchemists is still pretty dense. Hope you like neoplatonism, because in terms of density, Islamic alchemy is a neoplatonic pound cake, with nuts. (The nuts are hermeticism in this metaphor.)

“But who cares?” I hear you ask “Isn’t this supposed to be a book about magic? Why are we talking about these dead Arab philosophers?” Remember, dear reader, that some of the first esotericists in western history were Plato and Aristotle, but their ideas didn’t mesh all that well. 

Many a wizard-philosopher tried and failed to glue them together. Most failed. Some resorted to pretending to be Aristotle, publishing books under his name. For the Byzantines, the idea of reconciling Plato and Aristotle was almost laughable. The neoplatonists said they could do it, but few took them seriously.

By the time the Baghdad House of Wisdom, neoplatonism had time to mature. For the Muslims, it was damn near philosophy 101. The idea that Plato and Aristotle conflicted at all was laughable. “What do you mean Plato and Aristotle don’t fit together? Everyone knows they fit together.” And thus, one of the greatest roadblocks to early magic was smoothed over. The twin cities of early magic were separated by a river, the neoplatonists would cross it, and the Baghdad House of Wisdom would build a bridge. 

Islamic Alchemy, today on da Patreon

Can Allah Defy Logic?

In Islamic theology, understanding why Allah cannot defy logic involves recognizing the nature of divine omnipotence and the essence of Tawhid, the oneness of God. Allah's omnipotence is immense and unmatched, but it's interpreted within the bounds of what is logically coherent. This perspective ensures that His power is in harmony with the principles of logic and rationality. This approach preserves the consistency and reliability of both the divine nature and the universe He has created.

Central to Islamic belief is the concept of Tawhid, which emphasizes the oneness and uniqueness of Allah. This principle asserts that Allah is the singular, supreme being, whose essence and attributes are incomparable and unparalleled. If Allah were to perform actions that defy logic, such as creating a stone He cannot lift or making contradictory statements true, it would imply limitations or internal contradictions within His nature. This would be at odds with the concept of Tawhid, as it would suggest imperfections in His divine nature.

Furthermore, defying logic would also imply a changeability or inconsistency in the divine nature of Allah, which contradicts the Islamic understanding of God as absolute, unchanging, and consistent. Logic and rationality are seen as inherent aspects of the universe created by Allah, and His actions and will are believed to be in perfect alignment with this rational structure. Therefore, the impossibility for Allah to defy logic is not a limitation, but rather a reflection of His perfection and the orderly nature of the universe He has created. This perspective allows for a coherent understanding of the divine, where Allah's actions and decrees are both omnipotent and logically consistent, maintaining the fundamental principles of Islamic theology.

In the world of logical thinking, where reason shapes all that exists, there are things that simply cannot be. This is true for Allah, the Creator of everything. His power is not limited by inability, but rather by the unbreakable rules of logic that form the foundation of the universe. Allah is unique, the sole ruler of His realm. Sharing His power with another would go against His very nature. He cannot make a stone so heavy that He can't lift it, nor can He change truths like turning 1+1 into 4. These impossibilities belong to the realm of 'nothing', a concept that is beyond definition and creation, for creating 'nothing' itself is a contradiction.

However, this doesn't mean Allah is limited. His ability to create extends to everything that can logically exist, separate from the emptiness of nonexistence. His will is boundless, yet it always aligns with the natural order He has established. It is unthinkable for Him to act against His own creation because this would contradict His attribute of "Rahma", or infinite Mercy. Allah's mercy is central to His power, not to destroy or confuse the world's natural order, but to maintain the beauty and structure of the universe He has so perfectly set in place.