1.0 Introduction: The Unshakeable Pillar of Monotheism
The absolute oneness of God is the bedrock of Islam. It is the first and most fundamental principle, a concept understood as the unshakeable pillar upon which the entire faith rests. This core doctrine of monotheism—that God is a single, indivisible being—is universally accepted and central to Muslim identity. But what if a leading Islamic thinker, navigating the metaphysical tightrope of a high-stakes debate, made an argument that seemed to splinter that divine oneness into dozens of separate realities? This is precisely the scenario that unfolded in a recent discussion concerning the 99 ontologies, leading to a cascade of contradictions that has shocked many observers. This post will explore three key takeaways from a debate that raised profound and uncomfortable questions about the nature of God in Islamic philosophy.
2.0 Takeaway 1: The 99 Ontologies Admission and Multiple Realities
The discussion featured “Jake the Muslim metaphysician” and his interlocutor, Nick. A central point of contention became the definition of “ontology,” established in the debate as something with “an actual reality, it’s not something conceptual that’s merely in the mind.” In philosophy, distinct ontologies imply distinct fundamental beings, so admitting to 99 ontologies within God is a monumental concession—one that borders on polytheism from first principles.
The debate focused on whether Allah’s attributes, often associated with the 99 names, are “ontologically distinct.” Jake initially appeared evasive, feigning ignorance by asking, “when you say ontologies what do you mean by that?” After Nick forced him to commit to the definition they had been using, Jake attempted to deflect the implication, stating, “Well we don’t say 99 those are referring to the names…” But the trap was set. When pressed directly, he made a startling confirmation:
Nick: “so I just want to be clear… god has multiple ontologies right according to you”
Jake: “in that case all ontology means that God has multiple real distinct attributes yes he does”
This admission is jarring because it equates God’s attributes with multiple distinct “beings” or “essences.” This single statement earned Jake the nickname “Iben 99 ontologies,” highlighting a perceived break from monotheism that immediately raised the stakes of the entire discussion.
3.0 Takeaway 2: How the 99 Ontologies Framework Failed Under Pressure
This startling admission regarding 99 ontologies immediately put Jake’s entire philosophical framework to the test. When pressed to define the very terms that would prevent this concept from collapsing into polytheism—specifically, the difference between a “real distinction” and a “formal distinction”—Jake’s argument began to unravel.
This moment proved critical, revealing a fatal weakness in his intellectual armor. Here was a self-styled “metaphysician,” an expert in the nature of being, who seemed incapable of defining the fundamental distinctions within his own argument. According to commentators, Jake appeared flustered, offered a “nervous laugh,” and was accused live on air by Nick of stalling to find the answer: “instead of trying to hurry up and look it up.”
The commentators’ post-debate analysis added damning evidence, noting the audible sound of Jake moving to a different, more “echoey” room—presumably his library—to find a book. This suspicion was confirmed later by what they called a Freudian slip, when Jake admitted, “I actually have the Scholastic dictionary right in front of me,” before offering a farcical excuse: “I happened to have this i was just perusing it earlier and it uh per chance it is here.” One commentator powerfully summarized this intellectual implosion:
“they try to say that Jake the Muslim metaphysician is the top of the mountain when it comes to philosophical arguments this man couldn’t even define the words that he was using in the discussion with Nick”
4.0 Takeaway 3: The 99 Ontologies Problem Reveals a God at War
Jake’s inability to defend his philosophical framework is precisely what allowed the most bizarre theological implications to emerge. His failure to provide a coherent system left his 99 ontologies claim vulnerable to the most literal and damaging interpretations, transforming a metaphysical discussion into a theological crisis. This is the reductio ad absurdum of his position: a depiction of God not as a unified being, but as a collection of warring entities.
The commentators explored this devastating consequence by citing a hadith stating that “Allah’s mercy triumphs over his wrath.” Under Jake’s model, this is no longer a metaphor for the divine nature. It becomes a literal conflict between two distinct ontologies within God, each with its own will. God’s Mercy and God’s Wrath are not aspects of a single consciousness but opposing forces locked in an internal power struggle.
One commentator painted a vivid, almost mythological picture of this divine civil war:
“…it’s like these different ontologies each seem to have a different will like his wrath wants to punish but his mercy says ‘No no no no no let’s just forgive.’ And it’s like and it’s like ‘Ah what are we going to do we’re going to fight over this.’ And it’s like the mercy is like ‘Shut up i’m stronger than you.’ And and defeats him…”
This interpretation transforms the internal harmony of God into a battle for dominance—a deeply counter-intuitive theology that stands in stark opposition to the monotheistic ideal of a single, unified divine will.
5.0 Conclusion: A Crack in the Foundation?
In summary, a single philosophical debate produced a shocking cascade of failure: a surprising metaphysical admission that God has 99 ontologies, an intellectual collapse when asked to define the terms of that philosophy, and the resulting theological absurdity of a God whose attributes are at war with one another. This episode leaves a critical question for theologians and philosophers alike. When we attempt to define the infinite using the finite tools of human language and logic, do our categories inevitably lead us to contradictions? And can a single being truly contain multiple, distinct realities without ultimately ceasing to be single?
SOURCE: TOP Muslims Are ADMITTING They Have OVER 99 GODS?, The Archive