Matter : The Other Name for Illusion by Harun Yahya

Assalamualaikum..

Before we begin, a brief note and warning.

Note: This review requires active participation if you want to truly understand it. So, if I say 'think', think. If I say 'move your hands', move your hands. If I pose a question, answer it.

Warning: Some might think I'm talking about a deviant teaching or something like that. If you do start thinking like this, then stop reading. Understanding the concept of this book is not essential for faith, but if you do understand it, it will let you appreciate or understand your faith more. This is a very very long entry, so, stop now if you don't have the time. Come back and read it later. :)

Okay..let's begin.

Matter: The Other Name for Illusion
By Harun Yahya

Books that influence me usually affects me either through the heart or through the mind. There are academic books and there those books of the heart. This book, particularly, challenged my mind and how I view and perceive things.

For a person to read this book, he has to be completely open and accepting. Of course, no one can guarantee that and no matter how much we convince ourselves that we are completely open, a human being always has a point of view and an own stance. I, personally was interested in the title of the book. And decided to pick it up and read on more.

The concept that the author tries to deliver is a simple basic concept of science. Yet, when one truly realise the applications and implications of that concept, acceptance of it is truly difficult. It took me about 2 weeks to finish reading the book (intermittently) and almost a year to fully comprehend what it means and how can I live with it. The book is for Muslims as it requires the acknowledgement of the Qur'an as the absolute truth to validate all but one of its arguments. This one argument can be accepted fully by any science-educated academic without any support from the Qur'an. So, in this perspective, the book can be read by Non-Muslims too.

Throughout the book, the author tries his best use laymans' terms and simple English and many examples to project the meaning of the concept to his readers. Although his effort was relentless, I think the approach was rather too scientific. And I'm quite sure many still misunderstood what was meant. However, I do believe those who are in any science studies, especially those studying medicine, would have a better comprehension of the concept presented.

Here, I'll share about my personal experience with the book.

Okayh, the concept that was presented is related to how a person see, what he sees, how a person hear, what he hears, how a person feel, what does he actually feels, how a person tastes and smell, and what are they exactly. In science we call this "senses". And the sense organs are the eyes, the ears, the skin, tongue/mouth and the nose. A person sees with his eyes, hear with his ears, feel with his skin, taste with his tongue and smell with his nose.

All the informations for a person to see, hear, feel, taste and smell are taken in by these sense organs and delivered to the brain through the nerves. The brain then, interpret all the data and we can therefore perceive the world. This is as far as science has explained.

Now, let's go a step further...

What is the brain?

It is a piece of meat, right? It is flesh. It is made of atoms consisting of tiny particles of electrons, protons and neutrons. This is the brain. Atoms. Can atoms think? How does atoms interpret data? By chemical reactions? After the chemical reactions, you will get interpretations of the data? Where does these interpretations go? Who perceives these datas? Are human beings actually just a brain?

Let's say, you agree that the brain itself is powerless. And you, as a Muslim or a God-believing persons believes that all the reactions in the brain is controlled by God. You also believe in the existence of physical being and spiritual being. So you believe that this body is our physical body, but inside there is a soul. And you believe that the soul is the one that all the datas are eventually presented to, by the brain which in turn is controlled by Allah, God. This is the essence of Islam and of most religion. So, you have already all the answers to the questions above.

The brain is only a bunch of atoms created by Allah.
Allah controls the brain.
Allah controls how the data is changed in the brain.
Allah sends the data from the brain to our soul.
In the end, Allah makes us see, hear, feel, taste and smell.

In science, we are taught that, everything in this world is matter. Made up of tiny particles call atoms. So, basically everything in this world is something. It is solid, it is something we can hold, it is real and it is there or it is here. If you want to see, light is reflected against something and it goes into your eyes. If you want to taste something, chemicals from food goes into your mouth/tongue and you can taste. If you want to hear, sound waves travel into your ear and you can hear.

So, science teaches us that things from the outside, enters our body so that we can perceive what is on the outside.

Okay, now, hold up your hands in front of you. You see your hands. Move them to the right. Now move them to the left. You see them move to the right and you see them move to the left. Who is moving the hands? You? Or God? Remember, who controls the reactions in the brain? Who controls what you see? Who controls all the data?

Okay, so now, let's think...

Are we actually perceiving the world from the outside to the inside? Or, from the inside to the outside?

Let me rephrase..

Is the world sending us informations for us to perceive the world? Or, is Allah sending us information for us to perceive the world?

Do the hand in front of you exist? You see it, therefore it must be there, it must be real. But, who controls what you see? If Allah decides to make you see only one hand, He can, couldn't He? He definitely can. So, can you be sure that your hands are truly there, or is it only there because God let you see them?

So basically, we can never be sure that everything in this world truly exist. We are limited in our knowledge and we perceive the world only through our senses which is not control by us but is controlled by God. So, anything that we perceive are only things that God wants us to perceive. Whether those things are actually there or not, we can never be sure. Things in this world are only therefore only illusions. Matter is the other name for illusion.

Now, when I understood this, the magic trick is revealed! I have known the secret already. That this world is not real. So, now what's the big challenge? I am no more blinded by these illusions, I have discovered the trick, why am I still alive? Why can't I now go to heaven, the actual real world? Why am I still alive? Why didn't God take my life 'cause I know already the big secret..

Then, it hit me. Was discovering that secret my purpose in life? No! Of course not. Isn't it said in the Qur'an (51:56) : Man and jinn were not made other than to worship Me (Allah). We humans are only created to worship or to serve Allah. This is the essence of our existence.

Now, can you accept this?

Okay, if you can, the next question to ask is..:

What is the essence of worship?

Sincerity right... the first condition of any action is intention (niat). And intention is not complete without sincerity (ikhlas).

What is sincerity?

To do something purely for the sake of Allah. To do something completely for Allah. For no one but Allah.

Now, what happens when you know that everything around you is fake,is an illusion, is not real, is not really there? If everything else is an illusion, the only real thing is the one who is controlling all the illusions. Therefore, the only real, existing thing is Allah. Only Allah exists, and everything else He creates for us. For us to perceive only through our senses. Which He controls.

So. What else can you worship to other than Allah? Allah is the only real thing. Everything else is only illusion. Only nothingness. So, logically, you can only worship Allah.

This is ikhlas!

Think. If nothing else is real in this world except Allah...who are you going to listen to? Who else is there to listen to? No one but Allah. Who are you going to obey? Allah. Who will you turn to in happiness and in sadness? Allah.

This is a servant (habibullah or tauhid uluhiyyah and rububiyyah) !

I know this is hard for many to accept even though they've lived with this belief all their life. I did not understand this in a day. It took me a long time. But as the author said, and I agree :

"Unquestionably, even if he is unaware of this subject, a person can still live in complete faith. He can have faith, with all his heart and feeling no doubt, in what God has revealed in the Qur'an."

the comprehension of this concept is not essential for faith. If you can't, then, don't. I do recommend those who are interested to get the book and read it for yourself. My explaination may be too complicated and another approach might help.

Reading this book and understanding it has been a life-changing experience for me. It has definitely rid me of my love towards this world, money or materialism. I hope for others, it will be the same. InshaAllah. :)

Jazakumullah khairan.

Salam.