Page 158 - The Truth of the Life of This World

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 Allah 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 hardness 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 speed-
boat 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 appeal-
ing 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 silver; horses branded [for blood and excel-
lence]; and [wealth of] cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of
this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals [to return to].
(Surah Al 'Imran: 14)
Most people cast away religion for the lure of property, heaped-up wealth,
hoards of gold and silver, jewels, bank accounts, credit cards, designer
clothes, late-model cars - in short, all the forms of prosperity they either pos-
sess or strive to. They concentrate on this world only, forgetting the Hereafter.
They are deceived by the fair and alluring face of the world, and fail to keep
up prayer, give charity to the poor, and perform worship that will make them
prosper in the Hereafter. They make excuses, saying, "I have things to do," "I
have ideals," "I have responsibilities," "I haven't enough time," "I have tasks
to complete," "I will do them in the future." They devote their entire lives to
trying to prosper in this world only. In the verse, "They know but the outer
[things] in the life of this world: but of the End of things they are heed-

156 The Secret Beyond Matter