Islamic scholars' views of the ''truth of the matter''

Some Muslims suggest that the fact that we only have experience of the
illusion of matter in our minds is not compatible with Islam, and
maintain that religious scholars in the past rejected this fact. That
is not actually the case, however. On the contrary, what we are saying
here is in complete conformity with the verses of the Koran. It is
exceedingly important for a definite understanding of many verses and
subjects revealed in the Koran, such as heaven and hell, timelessness,
infinity, resurrection and the Hereafter.
Unquestionably, even if he is unaware of this subject, a person can
stilllive in complete faith. Hecan have faith, with all his heart and
feeling no doubt, in what God has revealed in the Koran. We must still
make it clear, however, that an awareness of this subject allows such
a person to deepen his faith and certainty. A number of Islamic
scholars of the past looked on the matter from that same point of
view. The only factors that prevented what they had to say from being
widely spread andknown were 1) the fact that the level of science when
they lived was unable to totally clarify the subject and 2) the
existence of trends that were apt to lead to its being misunderstood.
Explanations by Imam Rabbani
The most important ofthose Islamic scholars who explained the
true nature of matter was Imam Rabbani, who has been widely respected
in the Islamic world for hundreds of years and is seen as "the
greatest reformer of the 10th century according to theMuslim
calendar." In his book Letters, Imam Rabbani provides a detailed
commentary on this very subject. In one of his letters, Imam Rabbani
says that God created the entire universe at the level of perception:
… The Glorious God assigned an appearance from all appearances for
names from all names in the sphere of non-existence with his Perfect
Might. And He created it at the sphere of sensations and perceptions.
At the time He willed and in the wayHe willed … Even in the exterior
level, there is nothing permanent and existing other than the being
and attributes of Almighty God... 1
In another letter, Imam Rabbani once again stresses that all
that exists is created only at the level of senses and perceptions:
I have used the following sentence above, "God's creation isat the
level of senses andperceptions." 2
On close examination, Imam Rabbani is careful to emphasize that
the world we see, in other words all that exists, has been created on
the level of perception. Another of his statements on the subject is
as follows:
Nothing but God existson the outside… Perhapsall of Almighty God's
creation finds constancy on the level of perception… It only has
permanency thanks to God's artistry on that one level. In short, it
only has permanency and appearance on one level. It does not have
existence on one plane and appearance on another… 3
Explanations by Muhyiddin Ibn al-'Arabi
The great Islamic scholar Muhyiddin Ibn al-'Arabi also believed
that the only thing that has definitive existence is God, Who has
created the whole universe only on the perceptual level. He is known
as "The Greatest Master" (Shaykhal-Akbar) on account of the depth of
his knowledge, and in his work The Essence of Wisdom (Fusûs al-Hikam),
he reveals that the universe is but ashadow existence consisting of
what is manifested by God:
I say that you must know that apart from God, all that exists, or
everything in the universe, stands in the same relation to God as a
shadow to a man. That being the case, everything apart from God is but
His shadow… There is no doubt that the shadow exists in perception. 4
The Prophet Muhammad said that"people are asleep and wake up when
they die." This is to say that the objects seen in the world when
alive are similar to those seen when asleep while dreaming, meaning
that they exist in the imagination. 5
The Perversion of Philosophers
These explanations regarding the fact that the matter is illusion
are misunderstood by some people and likened to the views of some
ancient Greek philosophers or some other disbelieving philosophers.
Indeed, there have been philosophers who said matter is illusion, yet
these people went astray since they failed to grasp that this
illusionwas created by God. For instance, ancient Greek sophists said,
"Matter is aperception we have created ourselves." This view is
rationally and scientifically flawed, anddeparts from true religion.
As stressed fromthe very beginning, the truth is that matter is
created by God and doesexist, but we don't knowthe actual matter but
merely a version of it weperceive in our minds.
It is a grave error to confuse this false view of those
philosophers with the explanation given here by Islamic scholars about
the"nature of matter." In fact, Imam Rabbani mentions those
philosophers who depart from the truth when discussing the subject of
matter. He stresses that what he says is very different to their
twisted views. He says the following in his Letters:
When I refer to the world as "imaginary," I do not mean that it
is made and shaped by theimagination … Of course,what it really means
is that God has created the world on the perceptual level …
On the other hand, philosophers who are comprise a group of
lunatics actually talk about something else. What they mean is that
the world is the work of imagination and it is shaped by the
imagination. There is a great difference between the two. 6
Having a Grasp of the Truth of the Matter is Essential
As we have seen, the fact that we merely deal wih the version of
matter in our minds is a very important fact also stated by Islamic
scholars. Yet throughout history, this issue has never been accessible
to the masses; only a limited number of people knew about it. Inthis
century, this fact hasnow become explicable, thanks to the evidence
science has provided. The fact that we have noexperience of the actual
material world that exists outside our minds is, for the first time in
history, being clearly and comprehensibly explained. For this reason,
everyone must seriously consider the matter. Muslims in particular
must attach vital importance to it, because comprehendingthe true
facts about matter is important for attaining true faith in God.
Otherwise people will assume matter to be the absolute truth, which
will help the development of materialist philosophies that deny God or
perverted faiths.
Materialists tell the lie,"Matter is all that exists, and there
is no God". We, on the other hand, say, "The only absolute being is
God; matter is created by Him but we merely deal with its version in
our minds." Allpower belongs to God, Who creates matter at every
moment. That is the true meaning of "La Ilaha Illallah", the basis of
Islam, which means"there is no deity other than God". There is no
deity other than God. And in fact, there is nothing other than God.
There is only God and Hismanifestations. Everything we see around are
but His manifestations.
Having a grasp of the true facts about matter is important
because it will help people to comprehend this inner meaning. The fact
that having a grasp of this fact is an attribute peculiar to people of
profound faith and wisdom is stated in a verse:
God bears witness that there is no deity but Him, as do the angels and
the people of knowledge, upholding justice. There is no deity but Him,
the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Koran, 3:18)
1 - Imam Rabbani, Lettersof Rabbani, Vol II, 470. Letter, p. 517-518
2 - Imam Rabbani, Lettersof Rabbani, Vol II, 357. Letter, p. 163
3- Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, Vol II, 470. Letter, p. 519
4- Muhyiddin Ibn al-'Arabi, Fusus al-Hikam,p. 117-18
5- Muhyiddin Ibn al-'Arabi, Fusus al-Hikam,p. 220
6- Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, Vol II, 480. Letter, p. 543, 545