Do you believe in what you can’t see?

The modern human being puts a lot of faith in science. But in reality, there are many things that science can only partially explain or cannot explain at all. There are things that remain in the unseen realm even when examined by the newest technologies. The edges of the universe to the reality of life and death (the soul) remains a mystery to us. There are things we just can’t see.

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Are you a person who believes in things even when they cannot be seen? Do you believe in ghosts, angels, the spirit, God, or whether there is even an edge to the universe at all?

In the Quran, believing in the unseen is one of the characteristics owned by believers. This characteristic is related to my previous post about the implication of Alif Lam Mim, where there is skepticism about our own ability to perceive reality. This skepticism in turn causes us to open up ourselves to alternative explanations of reality, which are not solely based on our senses.

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The limitation of our senses

In reality, even with things that we can see, touch, and smell, our experiences are limited to our senses. The true nature of those things remains a mystery, as in addition to the limitation of our senses, we also have limitations in perception toward the sensations we experience. 

Bertrand Russel used a table as an example. The table in front of us may seem to have a certain color, which can change depending on how much light is available, what kind of light is lighting it (natural or artificial), how we’re looking at it (is it with our own bare eyes, by a microscope, or other means). Its table’s texture is also dependent on how we analyze it.

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So, the truth is, our understanding of reality is flawed, and belief in the unseen is fundamental to being human.

Consequences

The moment we accept the notion of believing in the unseen as a part of our being, there will be spiritual openings for us to approach reality. There will be a better acceptance toward Divine Justice, rewards and punishments. This is the consequence of a worldview that promotes the fundamental idea of life being more than what meets the eyes. That there is a deeper purpose to life than what modern society is promoting (wealth, power, and comfort). 

A natural inclination toward prophetic guidance will be nurtured. The guidance from scriptures will make more sense and resonate more with us. In many ways, what the mind cannot comprehend, what the senses cannot feel, what the intellect cannot reach, will make more sense and be answered by the scriptures.

Purpose is so important and fundamental for life. A meaningless life, based on nihilism, is difficult to go through. I also believe that it is a misrepresentation of the true nature of reality.

Experiencing is believing

Believing in the unseen may be easier to say than done. However, there are many people who have experiential belief in the unseen. People who have experienced the unseen first hand. Whether it is through spiritual encounters with non-physical beings (most likely the Jinns) or near death experiences. Not surprisingly, many of the descriptions of near death experiences are very similar if not the same to what has been mentioned in many religious scriptures. Of course, these stories should be viewed with caution, as they are very subjective and cannot be verified.

One thing’s for sure though. Every single one of us has or will experience parts of the unseen, one way or another. Everyone will face death, and only then will we be able to comprehend the true nature of reality. The moment we are unbound and liberated from our physical self we will be able to experience reality as it is. However, we can still experience the unseen in life, if we open our spiritual hearts. There are many examples of people who have been able to know the unseen through experiential knowledge.

In the islamic tradition, the methodologies of tasawwuf are for this purpose.

Allahu a’lam – God knows best.

Reflections of Surah Al Baqarah Verse 2

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