SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — {With Him are the keys of the unseen (ghayb).
No one knows them other than Him.
He knows what is in land and sea.
No leaf falls but He knows it; nor there is a grain in the darkness of the earth or a green or dry thing but in a manifest Book.}
(Al-An'am 6: 59)
Western education has trained people to believe in only what they can see or prove. That’s why we notice that many scientists have not only rejected the existence of God, but they also rejected the existence of angels, devils, Heaven and Hell. Sadly enough, much of the world population have followed suit.
The very core of Islamic faith is to have an unwavering belief in the unseen. Believing in God and the purpose of our creation is in itself the first part of believing in the unseen. Anyone can see something and believe in it, but the true test of faith is accepting what we cannot see.
Muslims are expected to believe in the unseen. Yet, many are of the false assumption that “Seeing is believing!” Man’s knowledge is very limited and he cannot fathom much of the unseen no matter how much he advances in science and technology. We believe in all that God has revealed to us in the Quran and authentic Sunnah (traditions). Belief in the unseen is among the essentials of Tawheed (Monotheism) as mentioned in this verse:
{Who (those who fear Allah) believe in the unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them…they are upon guidance with their Lord and they are the successful ones.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 3-5)
Just as believing the person standing next to you is real, a Muslim has to believe in the existence of the jinn and angels. Jinn are invisible creatures, made of smokeless fire, and can traverse vast distances in very short periods. Like men and angels, their purpose of creation is to worship God. Unlike angels who are only good, men and jinn have good and evil ones among them and are therefore subject to reward or punishment. Any Muslim who refuses to acknowledge these creatures of the unseen mentioned in the Quran and many authentic hadith (sayings of the Prophet), may put their faith in question, as their denial is tantamount to denying the Quran itself. There are numerous verses in the Quran about jinn and the angels, and their various functions and activities.
Also, there are those to whom certain knowledge is given. Yet, they don’t cease to argue with God about what is not shown to them. God addresses the children of Israel, saying:
{Behold! you are they who disputed about that of which you had knowledge; why then do you dispute about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allah knows while you do not know.} (Al-Imran 3: 66)
Science has discovered that besides 5 major senses, humans have a few others. But there are many animals which have various senses that man does not possess. For example, bats don’t have eyes and so use echolocation to fly. (Scientific American)
.. declaring that something does not exist just because we don’t have any knowledge about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist
Magnetoreception is another sense used by migrating birds to navigate directions when they fly. (Wikipedia) So, even science has proved that man’s perception is limited to the senses he has been endowed with. Hence, many creatures of the unseen are not perceptible to our limited senses in this world. Also, the sensitivity of people’s senses vary. Although most people cannot see the jinn, a few people can. So, the majority cannot deny the existence of jinn only because they cannot see them.
Some uninformed Muslims go to the extremes of denying the signs of the hour, Heaven, Hell or some of the various events mentioned to take place on the Day of Judgment. There is irrefutable evidence in a vast number of hadiths to guide those unaware, towards the truth. Ibn Qudamah and Dr. Bilal Philips clearly refute all those who deny this, in their book "The Radiance of Faith" with authentic proof.
Apart from the proof of using authentic revelation and science, even common sense points to this. This is useful when responding to non-Muslims who may deny the unseen. The absence of proof is not evidence of the absence of any matter or object or idea. In other words, declaring that something does not exist just because we don’t have any knowledge about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. For example, a recently discovered star may have been in existence for millions of years, but just because we did not discover it, does not mean it came into being now. It was there all along, but we did not have the knowledge of it. So, if someone denies the existence of Heaven or Hell, it would be unwise on his part to use this argument, only because he cannot see it.
{And among men there is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge and without guidance and without an illuminating book.} (Al-Hajj 22: 8)
Finally, the different organs, like the heart or brain, within a person’s body can be seen by x-rays. But, there is one element within us, that none of our senses can perceive. That is our spirit. But without this essence of life, man cannot live, even if all the organs of his body functioned perfectly. No matter how advanced medicine is, the deeper knowledge of this area is with God only. We have only superficial knowledge on this subject:
{And they will question you concerning the Spirit. Say: ‘The Spirit is of the command of my Lord. And of knowledge you have not been given except a little.} (Al-Israa 17: 85)
Can anyone deny that they have a soul, when they are alive?
No.
But can they prove it?
No.
All praises are to God, who has made the essence of our lives and our souls within our bodies, among the unseen, yet people dispute over what they cannot see.
{Do you not see that Allah has made what is in the heavens and what is in the earth subservient to you, and made complete to you His favors outwardly and inwardly? And among men is he who disputes in respect of Allah though having no knowledge nor guidance, nor a book giving light.} (Luqman 31: 20) —www.shafaqna.com
