The Absolute Truth in Relation to Human Knowledge within this Transient World
Published in January 12, 2019
Translated by: Ahmed Fathy
Firstly: the Absolute Truth cannot be witnessed or experienced fully by the senses of the human beings within this transient world:
1- The human beings cannot reach/experience the whole, absolute truth regarding the physical realm of the visible, let alone reaching the Absolute Truth about the metaphysical realm of the past, the invisible/unknown, and the future; this is possible only to the Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent Lord God. The physical realm of the visible is the physical universe we can discern with or senses (and high-tech machines), but most levels of the metaphysical realm of the unknown cannot be explored by human beings; few levels could be reached. This entails some explanation.
2- There are two types of levels of the metaphysical realm.
2/1: Partial aspects of the unknown/invisible that can be known as per human control of speed and time (for more details, see our book in English, titled "The West and the Miraculous Scientific Indications in the Holy Quran", found on this link: http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=151).
2/1/1: Telecommunications make one see/hear one's relative who is in another continent and time one; one day, human beings may neutralize gravity and this will make transportation be done in unimagined speeds within the physical realm of Planet Earth.
2/1/2: However great may be the human level of technology and science, the metaphysical aspects known to angels, jinn, and devils will exceed the ones known to human beings. These ethereal beings exist in the Barsakh metaphysical levels which overlap the Planet Earth and move at speeds unimagined by us.
2/2: Any advanced machines made by humans will never reach certain aspects of the metaphysical realm; e.g., to examine/study the nature of human souls, to predict the future, to travel through the Barsakh levels of the heavens, or to read the minds of others.
3- Thus, the Omniscient Lord God is the Only One Who knows the Absolute Truth about the (meta)physical realms; human beings know nothing but the outer aspects of existence: "They know an outer aspect of the worldly life..." (30:7). Let us exemplify this.
3/1: One can see a wall with the naked eye but not its atoms or nuclei; one cannot see electrons inside a nucleus.
3/2: One can see the light of stars at night but one cannot see the stars or their locations; the stars move and explode; in many cases, we see their light though they have exploded millions of years ago: "I swear by the locations of the stars. It is an oath, if you only knew, that is tremendous" (56:75-76). We refer readers to this article of ours, in English, about the stars: http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=18080
4- The field of human vision is limited; we need telescopes and microscopes and other apparatuses to allow us to see/examine certain things; yet, there are still unexplored/unseen areas on earth (such as some ocean beds and some unpeopled jungles) and many unobservable realms within outer space, let alone the fact that we cannot see angels and other Barsakh ethereal beings: "Indeed, I swear by what you see. And by what you do not see." (69:38-39).
5- Besides, human senses can be misleading by magic or illusions; we infer this from the story of Moses and the Egyptian magicians: "...And when they threw, they beguiled the eyes of the people, and intimidated them, and produced a mighty magic." (7:116); "...And suddenly, their ropes and sticks appeared to him, because of their magic, to be crawling swiftly." (20:66).
6- The human sense of hearing limited; we cannot hear/understand the languages/tongues of insects, animals, viruses, etc. even if we study how they communicate; it is a miracle granted to Solomon from the Lord God that he understood the tongues of birds: "There is no animal on land, nor a bird flying with its wings, but are communities like you..." (6:38); "There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depends on God. And He knows where it lives and where it rests..." (11:6); "How many a creature there is that does not carry its provision? God provides for them, and for you..." (29:60); "And they will say to their skins, "Why did you testify against us?" They will say, "God, Who made all things speak, made us speak. It is He who created you the first time, and to Him you are returned."" (41:21); "And Solomon succeeded David. He said, "O people, we were taught the language of birds..." (27:16); "..."I have learnt something you did not know. I have come to you from Sheba, with reliable information." (27:22); "He said, "We will see, whether you have spoken the truth, or whether you are a liar." (27:27).
7- The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Praising Him are the seven heavens, and the earth, and everyone in them. There is not a thing that does not glorify Him with praise, but you do not understand their praises..." (17:44); this means there are phenomena on earth which we cannot study or perceive.
Secondly: there is no absolute truth within our limited measure of knowledge of the metaphysical realm of the invisible/unknown in this transient world:
We cannot examine people's souls/hearts to know their secrets or whether they are (dis)believers.
1- This is a general Quranic rule: "...God is well aware of your belief. You are from one another..." (4:25).
2- Muhammad was no mind-reader; he never knew the name of those around him in Yathreb who were adamant in hypocrisy: "Among the Desert-Arabs around you there are some hypocrites, and among the inhabitants of the city too. They have become adamant in hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them..." (9:101).
3- We read here about the conspiracies of the hypocrites inside Yathreb: "And when they come across those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their devils, they say, "We are with you; we were only ridiculing."" (2:14).
4- We read here about the conspiracies of the hypocrites among the People of the Book:
4/1: "And when they come across those who believe, they say, "We believe," but when they come together privately, they say, "Will you inform them of what God has disclosed to you, so that they might dispute with you concerning it before your Lord?" Do you not understand?" (2:76).
4/2: "When they come to you, they say, "We believe," though they have entered with disbelief, and they have departed with it. But God is well aware of what they hide." (5:61).
We cannot know feelings inside hearts of others:
For instance, the Lord God says the following about hypocrites.
1- "There you are, you love them, but they do not love you, and you believe in the entire Book. And when they meet you, they say, "We believe;" but when they are alone, they bite their fingers in rage at you. Say, "Die in your rage; God knows what is within the hearts."" (3:119).
2- "...They satisfy you with lip service, but their hearts refuse, and most of them are sinful." (9:8).
We cannot know/sense or experience anything related to the metaphysical Barsakh levels as long as we exist in the physical realm.
1- These Barsakh levels are mentioned in the Quran; they include the level or dimension of bliss/Paradise where souls of those killed while serving the cause of the Lord God live and enjoy bounties of the Lord; they feel those who are still alive on earth, but the opposite does not happen; we cannot feel them.
1/1: "And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of God, "Dead." Rather, they are alive, but you do not perceive." (2:154).
1/2: "Do not consider those killed in the cause of God as dead. In fact, they are alive, at their Lord, well provided for. Delighting in what God has given them out of His grace, and happy for those who have not yet joined them; that they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. They rejoice in grace from God, and bounty, and that God will not waste the reward of the faithful." (3:169-171).
2- Within another Barsakh level we cannot reach, Moses' Pharaoh and his people are being tormented: "...while a terrible torment besieged Pharaoh's family. The Fire. They will be exposed to it morning and evening. And on the Day the Hour takes place: "Admit the clan of Pharaoh to the severest torment." (40:45-46).
3- The ethereal beings (i.e., angels, jinn, and devils) exist in Barsakh levels and they can see human beings but human beings cannot see them: "O children of Adam! Do not let Satan seduce you, as he drove your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their garments, to show them their nakedness. He sees you, him and his tribe, from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe." (7:27).
4- The misguided ones on earth cannot see the devil-companions who are their allies urging them to commit sins and retain their polytheism while assuming as if they were guided: "Whoever shuns the Remembrance of the Dominant Lord, We assign for him a devil, to be his companion. They hinder them from the Path, though they think they are guided." (43:36-37).
4/1: Such devil-companions will be seen by sinners on the Last Day: "Until, when he comes to Us, he will say, "If only there were between me and you the distance of the two Easts." What an evil companion!" (43:38).
4/2: Sinners will argue with their devil-companions: "And his companion will say, "This is what I have ready with me." "Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever. Preventer of good, aggressor, doubter. Who fabricated another god with Allah; toss him into the severest torment. And his companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him rebel, but he was far astray." He will say, "Do not feud in My presence - I had warned you in advance." (50:23-28).
Between the realm of the known/visible and the realm of the unknown/invisible:
1- The inevitable moment of experiencing the certainty of the Absolute Truth by a person is upon dying; i.e., when the soul is taken by the angels of death from the person's body, while informing the person of the fate (in Hell or in Paradise) awaiting him/her in the Hereafter. People surround the bed of a dying person (whose soul is on the threshold of Barsakh) and they cannot see/hear this and they cannot prevent this person's death. The souls enters into the realm of the Barsakh of the dead, where dead souls remain until the Resurrection Day.
2- The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Those who are in a wholesome state when the angels take them - will say, "Peace be upon you; enter Paradise, for what you used to do."" (16:32); "Unquestionably, God's allies have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. Those who believe and are pious. For them is good news in this life, and in the Hereafter. There is no alteration to the words of God. That is the supreme triumph." (10:62-64); "Surely, those who say: "Our Lord is God," and then go straight, the angels will descend upon them: "Do not fear, and do not grieve, but rejoice in the news of the Garden which you were promised. We are your allies in this life and in the Hereafter, wherein you will have whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you call for. As Hospitality from an All-Forgiving, Merciful One."" (41:30-32); "If only you could see, as the angels take away those who disbelieve, striking their faces and their bottoms: "Taste the torment of the Burning."" (8:50); "How about when the angels take them at death, beating their faces and their bottoms?" (47:27); "Those wronging their souls while the angels are taking them away - they will propose peace: "We did no wrong." Yes you did. God is aware of what you used to do." Enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein forever. Miserable is the residence of the arrogant." (16:28-29). This is about the moment of dying when the dying person is surrounded by people who cannot see the angels of death: "We are nearer to it than you are, but you do not see." (56:85). Certainty here mean death: "And worship your Lord until Certainty reaches you." (15:99).
Lastly:
The Absolute Truth will be realized, sensed, and experienced fully by the human beings in the Hereafter ONLY; nothing among the Lord God's creatures and creations will remain unknown or invisible in the Hereafter.
1- On the Last Day, things we could not see in the earthly, physical life will be seen within the Hereafter: ""You were in neglect of this, so We lifted your screen from you, and your vision today is keen."" (50:22).
2- This begin in the moment of dying: "And worship your Lord until Certainty reaches you." (15:99).
3- Inside Hell, sinners/criminals will hear the following question and will be forced to answer it: ""What drove you into Saqar?" They will say, "We were not of those who prayed. Nor did we feed the destitute. And we used to indulge with those who indulge. And we used to deny the Day of Judgment. Until Certainty came upon us."" (74:42-47). Saqar is one of the Quranic names of Hell; "Certainty" here in this context means death. This means that souls of the dying people sense and experience the Absolute Truth shortly before entering into the Barsakh of the dead.
4- In the Hereafter, all human beings will experience certain levels of the Absolute Truth as follows.
4/1: "This Book of Ours speaks about you in Truth. We have been transcribing what you have been doing."" (45:29).
4/2: "And the book will be placed, and you will see the sinners fearful of its contents. And they will say, "Woe to us! What is with this book that leaves nothing, small or big, but it has enumerated it?" They will find everything they had done present. Your Lord does not wrong anyone." (18:49).
4/3: "On the Day when God resurrects them all, and informs them of what they did. God has kept count of it, but they have forgotten it. God is Witness over everything." (58:6).
4/4: "The Day when God's enemies are herded into the Fire, forcibly. Until, when they have reached it, their hearing, and their sight, and their skins will testify against them regarding what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, "Why did you testify against us?" They will say, "God, Who made all things speak, made us speak. It is He who created you the first time, and to Him you are returned."" (41:19-21).