Creation of the World: Analysis and Criticism of Stephen Hawking's Views Based on the Foundations of the Islamic World

Stephen William Hawking, British astronomer and physicist, published the book "The Grand Design" in 2010 and explained how the universe was created from nothing. In this regard, he believes that there is no need for a creator for the creation of the world and its continuation, and the laws of physics explain how the world of matter is created from nothing and self-made. Therefore, he rejects philosophy and considers the laws of nature and physics to be the only way to know the world. However, Muslim philosophers and theologians addressed the issue of the creation of the world hundreds of years ago and gave a comprehensive and complete answer to this issue by using the Quran and hadiths. Among these philosophers, Mulla Sadra has proved the existence of God and the way of creation of the world with rational reasoning and Quranic evidence. The essence of God is the main goal and the active cause of the creatures and the creator of the whole world. This research first expresses Hawking's arguments with a descriptive-analytical and comparative method, and with a critical view, compares them with the opinions of Islamic philosophers. This study also examines the systematicity of the universe and the role of God in the world of creation with rational and Quranic evidence.