Preface

The subject of 'the secret behind matter' that we have treated in detail in some of our works has attracted the attention of a wide range of readers and has been the occasion for them to notice an important truth that they had never considered before in their lives. This is no new philosophy or ideology; it is a truth that is within every person whether he wills it or not; a reality that everyone has experienced; it is easy to understand and various branches of science have proved it many years ago.

It is possible to summarize this truth is this way: Matter that Allah has created exists outside, yet we only face the version of the matter in our brain. We never know the original of the matter that is outside. Everything that constitutes our life is totality of perceptions received by our soul. The things, people, places and events that make our world and our lives meaningful are like a dream; we perceive them only in our brain and we have nothing to do with their truth or reality. If this subject is explained to a thinking person who will consider it with an open mind and without prejudice, he will easily and in a short time comprehend this great reality and adopt it into his own life.

But some people may have probably been influenced by habits of thought and prejudices arising from what they have been taught to believe since childhood as well as from negative suggestions gleaned from the world around them. With this in mind, we have arranged this book as a kind of conversation with three enquirers who ask various questions. In this way, those areas that the participants have difficulty in understanding or accepting have been explained with actual examples taken from the various events we encounter in our daily lives. In this way, the readers will have the opportunity to think about what they have learned and apply it whether it be at home, at work, at school, in front of the television- in short, in every aspect of their lives.

This conversation examines some ideas about life which probably come to the mind of every enquirer: that Allah puts into human soul a totality of perceptions; that it is experienced in the brain like a kind of dream; that this world, the original of which we can never have direct contact with, has a purpose, and provides some answers to the questions that arise from these ideas. Readers who want to learn the truth will find here what they want to know about these ideas.

Besides the many who openly and without prejudice approach the truth, there will also be those who, although they have come to know and understand it, are unwilling to accept it or avoid the responsibility that learning this truth will entail. When those who have adopted such a faulty point of view read this book, they will understand it better how degrading it is for a sensible person to live in a world based on lies and fantasy by running away from the truth.

It must not be forgotten that what is beautiful is what is true; therefore, it makes no sense to fear the truth or run away from it. A renewed life of ease and contentment takes only some serious open-minded thinking. When people put forth the effort to learn and understand the truth, instead of deceiving themselves and running after fantasy, they will experience the beauty of a real and endless happiness as opposed to the false happiness of a deceitful world.

The Secret Beyond Matter

The Secret Beyond Matter is Not Wahdatul Wujood

The topic called "The Real Essence of Matter" has been criticized by some people. Having misunderstood the essence of the subject, these people claim that what is explained as the secret beyond matter is identical to the teaching of Wahdatul Wujood. Let us state, before all else, that the author of this book is a believer strictly abiding by the doctrine of Ahlus Sunnah and does not defend the view of Wahdatul Wujood.

However, it should also be remembered that Wahdatul Wujood was defended by some leading Islamic scholars including Muhyiddin Ibn al-'Arabi. It is true that numerous significant Islamic scholars who described the concept of Wahdatul Wujood in the past did so by considering some subjects found in these books. Still, what is explained in these books is not the same as Wahdatul Wujood.

Some of those who defended the view of Wahdatul Wujood were engrossed by some erroneous opinions and made some claims contrary to the Qur'an and the doctrine of Ahlus Sunnah. They, for example, completely rejected the Creation of Allah. When the subject of the secret beyond matter is told, however, there is definitely no such claim. This section explains that all beings are created by Allah, and that the originals of these beings are seen by Him whereas people merely see the images of these beings formed in their brains.

Mountains, plains, flowers, people, seas—briefly everything we see and everything that Allah informs us in the Qur'an that exists and that He created out of nothing is created and does indeed exist. However, people cannot see, feel or hear the real nature of these beings through their sense organs. What they see and feel are only the copies that appear in their brains. This is a scientific fact taught at all schools primarily in medicine. The same applies to the article you are reading now; you can not see nor touch the real nature of it. The light coming from the original article is converted by some cells in your eyes into electrical signals, which are then conveyed to the sight center in the back of your brain. This is where the view of this article is created. In other words, you are not reading an article which is before your eyes through your eyes; in fact, this article is created in the sight center in the back of your brain. The article you are reading right now is a "copy of the article" within your brain. The original article is seen by Allah.

In conclusion, the fact that the matter is an illusion formed in our brains does not "reject" the matter, but provides us information about the real nature of the matter: that no person can have connection with its original.

There is Matter Outside of Us, But We Cannot Reach It

… [S]aying that matter is an illusion does not mean it does not exist. Quite the contrary: whether we perceive the physical world or not, it does exist. But we see it as a copy in our brain or, in other words, as an interpretation of our senses. For us, therefore, the physical world of matter is an illusion.

The matter outside is seen not just by us, but by other beings too. The angels Allah delegated to be watchers witness this world as well:

And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left. He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand! (Surah Qaf: 17-18)

Most importantly, Allah sees everything. He created this world with all its details and sees it in all its states. As He informs us in the Qur'an:

… Heed Allah and know that Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Baqara: 233)

Say: "Allah is a sufficient witness between me and you. He is certainly aware of and sees His servants." (Surat al-Isra': 96)

It must not be forgotten that Allah keeps the records of everything in the book called Lawh Mahfuz (Preserved Tablet). Even if we don't see all things, they are in the Lawh Mahfuz. Allah reveals that He keeps everything's record in the "Mother of the Book" called Lawh Mahfuz with the following verses:

It is in the Source Book with Us, high-exalted, full of wisdom. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 4)

… We possess an all-preserving Book. (Surah Qaf: 4)

Certainly there is no hidden thing in either heaven or earth which is not in a Clear Book. (Surat an-Naml: 75)