Page 226 - Matter: The Other Name for Illusion

One of the examples of stubborn and argumentative people given in the
Koran is Pharoah. Although the prophet Moses (pbuh) explained the whole
truth to him quite clearly, he asked a question that had nothing to do with what
the prophet had been saying, the answer to which could not possibly do him
any good. This is the question he asked the Prophet Moses (pbuh) when told

about the existence of God:
He said, "What about the previous generations?" (Surah Ta Ha: 51)

It is evident that Pharaoh only asked the question to start an argument.
There was no sincere desire to learn in it, and he thought in his own feeble
mind that the Prophet Moses (pbuh) would have no answer. However, the

prophet immediately understood why he asked it, and, as revealed in the
verse, gave him a clear reply:

He said, "Knowledge of them is with my Lord in a Book. My Lord does
not misplace nor does He forget." (Surah Ta Ha: 52)
Naturally, argumentative and denying natures are not restricted to

Pharaoh and similar types who lived in the past. A large part of people today
are always ready to start an argument about subjects that clash with their own
interests, and particularly about religion. They do not really want to
understand a subject that is perfectly obvious if approached with a measure of
honesty. This is immediately clear from their attitudes and the questions they
ask. Subjects such as destiny and the nature of matter in particular, such as we
have been considering in this book, are some that people most often try to

ignore. For that reason, questions asked about these subjects are often inspired
by a wish to convince themselves such things are not true, rather than a sincere
inquiry into the truth. For instance, those who ask, "If everything is an image,
what is the purpose of carrying out our religious duties?" cannot realize what
a meaningless question that is. The only reason they suggest the fact that man
is created as an image should stop him praying, or the fact that food is an
image should stop some things from being unlawful, is simply to raise an
objection, without thinking about the matter at all. Their sole aim, which lacks
any logic, is to refuse to accept the truth.

Believers, however, immediately accept the truth when they see it, and
abide by it. They say, "We have heard and obeyed," as the Koran puts it. When

224 MATTER: THE OTHER NAME FOR ILLUSION