Is a Vacuum a Body (Jism) and Can a Space Be Free of All Substance?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
In theology, is a vacuum a kind of body (jism)? And can a space exist that is entirely free of substances and accidents?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
A vacuum is not a body. According to the soundest view, there is no real, independent empty space at all. To clarify this, let us first define the terms.
In the language of the theologians, a body (jism) is what is made up of indivisible atoms (jawhar).
An accident (arad) is a quality, such as color, motion, or rest, that exists only in a body and never by itself. A vacuum, in this understanding, is neither a body nor an accident.
The established Ash‘ari and Maturidi view is that there is no real, external empty space that exists on its own.
What we call ‘place’ (hayyiz) is only an imagined void (al-faragh al-mutawahham) that we picture an entity as occupying. It is not something that exists on its own. Therefore, a truly empty space, free of all bodies and accidents, does not exist in reality.
If the bodies are removed, no void is left behind.
It is important to note two points. First, the physicist’s ‘vacuum,’ which is full of fields and energy, is not the same as the theologian’s understanding. The two should not be confused.
Second, the deeper purpose of this discussion is to affirm that Allah Most High is completely beyond occupying any space or void.
Questions Like This Are Best Explored with a Qualified Teacher
Delicate questions in kalam are best discussed in a classroom setting, with a teacher who can guide the discussion and keep it within its proper limits. The scholars have cautioned that theology is like a medicine, not a food.
It should be taken with care and under supervision, not approached alone.
And Allah Most High invites the reflection that nourishes certainty: “Verily in the creation of the heavens and earth and the alternation of night and day are a multitude of mighty signs for those of insight and mind.” [Quran 3:190; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
I encourage you to bring this question to a live class in Kalam, so that your certainty can be nurtured in the right way.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
What Do the Technical Terms of the Theologians (Kalam) Mean? — a glossary of jism, jawhar, arad, and the other core terms used above.
Is It Obligatory to Believe in the Kalam Cosmological Argument? — what the believer is and is not required to hold from the theologians’ reasoning.
What Is the Relation Between the Quran and Rational Arguments for the Existence of God? — how revelation and reasoned proof fit together.-
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
