Page 886 - Atlas of Creation Volume 1

The brain is a heap of cells made up of protein and fat molecules. It is formed of nerve cells called neurons. There is no power in
this piece of meat to observe the images, to constitute consciousness, or to create the being we call "myself". The existence of the
soul can clearly be seen from this.

(Surat as-Saffat: 96) shows that everything we experience takes place under God's control. In the Qur'an, this
reality is stated in the verse "When you threw, it was not your act, but God's." (Surat al-Anfal: 17) whereby
it is emphasised that no act is independent of God. Since we humans are shadow beings, we ourselves can-

not be the ones who perform any act. However, God gives us shadow beings the feeling that we act by our-
selves. In reality, it is God Who performs all acts.
A person may not want to concede this reality and may keep thinking of himself as independent of God;

but this changes nothing.

Everything You Possess Is Intrinsically Illusory

It is clear, scientific, and logical that we are not in direct contact with the "external world," only with a
copy of it that God perpetually presents to our soul. Nevertheless, people are unwilling to think of this.
If you consider this issue sincerely and boldly, you'll soon realize that your house, the furniture in it, your
car, your office, jewels, your bank account, wardrobe, spouse, children, your colleagues—in fact, all else that

you possess—resides in your mind. Everything around you that you see, hear, or smell—in short, perceive
with your five senses— is a part of this "replica world," including the voice of your favourite singer, the hard-
ness of the chair you sit on, a perfume whose smell you like, the sun that warms you, a flower's beautiful
colours, a bird flying past your window, a speedboat moving swiftly on the water, your fertile garden, the

computer you use at your job, your hi-fi with the most advanced technology in the world...
This is the reality, because the world is created only to test man. All through our limited lives, we are
tested with perceptions whose original sources we can never reach, which are intentionally presented as ap-
pealing and attractive. This fact is mentioned in the Qur'an:

Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and sil-

884 Atlas of Creation