When religion emphasizes belief in the unseen, does this mean it is based solely on this belief? Does it mean there is nothing beyond the unseen at the core of faith? Does it mean the unseen alone explains social and cosmic phenomena? Some people think and explain things this way. They subject all or most natural phenomena to metaphysical interpretations. These interpretations are beyond human perception. This approach has historically led the human mind to seek causes for natural phenomena in the wrong places. It has done so for health and illness, defeat and victory, and economic and political problems. It looks outside practical reality. It settles for attributing everything to metaphysical factors or directly to Allah. It ignores the natural laws Allah has set in the universe. These laws form the basis of the cosmic system and the system of life. They operate on the natural principle of cause and effect.
Indeed, some naïve believers have fallen prey to this misunderstanding. They rejected many scientific results simply because they clashed with their metaphysical mentality. Some went to the extreme. They accused those who believe in natural laws governing phenomena of unbelief. They believe there is a difference between belief and unbelief. Believing in metaphysical causes signifies belief. Believing in realistic, concrete causes signifies unbelief.
In this atmosphere, for a long time, a certain idea prevailed. It focused preaching on metaphysical aspects in all life's fields. It failed to elucidate the natural laws Allah set in the universe. This led to linking all natural phenomena directly to Allah. This was likely one reason Muslims in past ages failed to understand the universe through its governing laws. It also helped form a metaphysical personality. This personality has a metaphysical mind and emotions. It digs into the past and present searching for the unseen. It anticipates the future with metaphysical expectations. This allows soothsayers and foretellers to manipulate people's feelings. They do this by predicting futures and similar things. We have even noted that many politicians and others head to astrologers. These astrologers claim to know the unseen. They go to get their future events "foretold."
We do not believe the unseen covers such a vast area of people's lives. We believe in the unseen that links us to Allah in a limited scope. This is why we notice Islam fiercely rejects foretelling and astrology. It aims to keep this metaphysical mentality away from realistic thought and life. It aims to keep belief in the unseen in the realm of faith. This faith lives inside the soul. It enables the human being to avoid being overwhelmed by blind materialism. This materialism does not open up to the wide horizons of living with Allah. It ensures he is not imprisoned by the constraints of narrow hope. This hope is limited by his personal circumstances.
We might daringly believe in the unseen in many cases we cannot understand. We might rebel in our awareness against some natural laws. These laws might have a metaphysical aspect. We believe that not everything in life has materialistic interpretations. Unexplainable things might happen in everyone's life. This pertains to sustenance, health, and the like. Some patients might be healed after imploring Allah for a prophet’s intercession. Others are healed by reciting a supplication or performing an act of worship. This happens amidst a certain psychological state. This state might not conform to a practical psychological explanation.
We do not deny the existence of a spiritual aspect. It guards and interferes in life in one way or another. Yet, the main principle in life, from an Islamic perspective, is that all life's secrets are subjected to natural laws. Allah has set these laws in the universe. This is manifested in the Quran in several Ayahs. He mentions His course in this universe. He says: "That has been the way of Allah already with those who passed on before." Surah Al-Ahzab (33:62)
And: "For you will not find in the way of Allah any change, and you will not find in the way of Allah any alteration." Surah Fatir (35:43)
Therefore, our belief in the unseen should not stand in the way of understanding causes and secrets. This applies to every cosmic or life phenomenon. The Holy Quran calls on us, in all the Ayahs of contemplation, to look into the universe and history. We are to learn about their causes and secrets. Consequently, we learn the magnificence of Allah. We conclude that Islamic thought embodies all the sciences of life and man. These sciences try to find the scientific laws that govern the universe, behavior, and thinking. They do so within a poised, integrated entity. The same thought addresses reality to explain it. This explanation conforms to the great role Allah has charged man within life.
Source: [(Interpretations) inspired from the Quran]
When religion emphasizes belief in the unseen, does this mean it is based solely on this belief? Does it mean there is nothing beyond the unseen at the core of faith? Does it mean the unseen alone explains social and cosmic phenomena? Some people think and explain things this way. They subject all or most natural phenomena to metaphysical interpretations. These interpretations are beyond human perception. This approach has historically led the human mind to seek causes for natural phenomena in the wrong places. It has done so for health and illness, defeat and victory, and economic and political problems. It looks outside practical reality. It settles for attributing everything to metaphysical factors or directly to Allah. It ignores the natural laws Allah has set in the universe. These laws form the basis of the cosmic system and the system of life. They operate on the natural principle of cause and effect.
Indeed, some naïve believers have fallen prey to this misunderstanding. They rejected many scientific results simply because they clashed with their metaphysical mentality. Some went to the extreme. They accused those who believe in natural laws governing phenomena of unbelief. They believe there is a difference between belief and unbelief. Believing in metaphysical causes signifies belief. Believing in realistic, concrete causes signifies unbelief.
In this atmosphere, for a long time, a certain idea prevailed. It focused preaching on metaphysical aspects in all life's fields. It failed to elucidate the natural laws Allah set in the universe. This led to linking all natural phenomena directly to Allah. This was likely one reason Muslims in past ages failed to understand the universe through its governing laws. It also helped form a metaphysical personality. This personality has a metaphysical mind and emotions. It digs into the past and present searching for the unseen. It anticipates the future with metaphysical expectations. This allows soothsayers and foretellers to manipulate people's feelings. They do this by predicting futures and similar things. We have even noted that many politicians and others head to astrologers. These astrologers claim to know the unseen. They go to get their future events "foretold."
We do not believe the unseen covers such a vast area of people's lives. We believe in the unseen that links us to Allah in a limited scope. This is why we notice Islam fiercely rejects foretelling and astrology. It aims to keep this metaphysical mentality away from realistic thought and life. It aims to keep belief in the unseen in the realm of faith. This faith lives inside the soul. It enables the human being to avoid being overwhelmed by blind materialism. This materialism does not open up to the wide horizons of living with Allah. It ensures he is not imprisoned by the constraints of narrow hope. This hope is limited by his personal circumstances.
We might daringly believe in the unseen in many cases we cannot understand. We might rebel in our awareness against some natural laws. These laws might have a metaphysical aspect. We believe that not everything in life has materialistic interpretations. Unexplainable things might happen in everyone's life. This pertains to sustenance, health, and the like. Some patients might be healed after imploring Allah for a prophet’s intercession. Others are healed by reciting a supplication or performing an act of worship. This happens amidst a certain psychological state. This state might not conform to a practical psychological explanation.
We do not deny the existence of a spiritual aspect. It guards and interferes in life in one way or another. Yet, the main principle in life, from an Islamic perspective, is that all life's secrets are subjected to natural laws. Allah has set these laws in the universe. This is manifested in the Quran in several Ayahs. He mentions His course in this universe. He says: "That has been the way of Allah already with those who passed on before." Surah Al-Ahzab (33:62)
And: "For you will not find in the way of Allah any change, and you will not find in the way of Allah any alteration." Surah Fatir (35:43)
Therefore, our belief in the unseen should not stand in the way of understanding causes and secrets. This applies to every cosmic or life phenomenon. The Holy Quran calls on us, in all the Ayahs of contemplation, to look into the universe and history. We are to learn about their causes and secrets. Consequently, we learn the magnificence of Allah. We conclude that Islamic thought embodies all the sciences of life and man. These sciences try to find the scientific laws that govern the universe, behavior, and thinking. They do so within a poised, integrated entity. The same thought addresses reality to explain it. This explanation conforms to the great role Allah has charged man within life.
Source: [(Interpretations) inspired from the Quran]