Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (AS) Leaves Atheist Speechless in Debate

One day, an atheist named Abdullah Deesani approached the famous companion of Imam Jafar al Sadiq (as) named Hisham ibn al-Hakam (ra), and asked him: “Do you believe in Allah?”

Hisham: “Yes, I do.”

Deesani: “Is He All-Powerful?”

Hisham: “Yes, indeed. He is Almighty and All-Powerful.”

Deesani: “Then tell me—can your God fit the entire world inside an egg without increasing the size of the egg or decreasing the volume of the world?”

Stunned by the challenge, Hisham replied, “Give me some time to reflect.”

Deesani: “I’ll give you a whole year.”

Guidance from Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as)

Hisham, troubled and seeking clarity, rushed to Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s) and said:

Hisham: “O son of the Prophet (S), Deesani has asked me a question that I cannot answer. I seek guidance from either Allah or you.”

Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s): “What is the question?”

After hearing it, the Imam (a.s) responded with a question of his own:

Imam (a.s): “How many senses do you have, Hisham?”

Hisham: “Five.”

Imam (a.s): “Which is the smallest among them?”

Hisham: “The eye’s pupil.”

Imam (a.s): “And what is its size?”

Hisham: “Roughly the size of a lentil or smaller.”

Imam (a.s): “Now, tell me, what do you see through this tiny pupil?”

Hisham: “I see the sky, the earth, houses, mountains, rivers—vast landscapes.”

The Imam (a.s) smiled and said:

“The One who can place all that you see into such a small space—your eye—can surely fit the entire world into an egg, without enlarging the egg or shrinking the world.”

Overjoyed with this profound insight, Hisham fell in prostration and kissed the hands and feet of the Imam, saying:

Hisham: “This answer is more than enough for me.”

The next day, Deesani visited Hisham and said, “I only came to greet you today, not for an answer.”

But Hisham replied, “Even so, I now have an answer for your question.” He then shared what Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s) had told him. Deeply moved, Deesani went to meet the Imam himself and requested an audience.

Using an Egg to Prove the Existence of God

Deesani: “O Ja‘far, son of Muhammad! Show me the path to my Lord.”

Imam (a.s): “What is your name?”

Deesani abruptly turned and left. His friends asked why he hadn’t responded.

Deesani: “Had I said my name is ‘Abdullah’ (Servant of Allah), he would have asked, ‘Who is this One whose servant you are?’ I wasn’t ready for that.”

Encouraged by his companions, Deesani returned to the Imam, this time requesting:

Deesani: “O Ja‘far, son of Muhammad, guide me to my Creator—but please, do not ask me my name.”

The Imam (a.s) asked him to sit and relax. As they spoke, a child nearby was playing with an egg. The Imam took the egg from the boy and said:

Imam (a.s): “Look at this egg—it is a sealed structure, hard on the outside, with a thinner membrane beneath. Inside are two liquids—one like molten gold, the other like silver. They do not mix, nor do they escape. No air enters, no light reveals its secret. And from this concealed system, a creation emerges—sometimes male, sometimes female—splendid like a peacock in color and form.

Tell me, Deesani—do you not see in this the hand of a Supreme Power?”

Struck by awe and reflection, Deesani finally declared:

Deesani: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, that He is One without a partner, and that Muhammad (S) is His Messenger. I also bear witness that you are His Divinely appointed Imam and a true proof of His existence. I renounce all my previous false beliefs.”

Reference: Al-Kāfī, Book 3, Chapter 1, Hadees 159