Escaping From the Closed Realm of Perception

When ideas modify the mapping of thoughts, a new realm of perception develops through which all the aspects of life are evaluated. They create a sort of “truth” to which everything should abide. The ideologies which have prevailed in the late centuries are evidence of such a fact. Take the examples of communism, capitalism, nihilism, anarchism, etc. Anyone adhering to any of these ideologies, you would see him/her defending it, advocating for it, and often naming the opposers to it enemies, the astray, or the brainwashed ones. They believe themselves to be adhering to the truth, when in reality they follow a fabricated truth the realm of which is produced by the ideas which created that ideology. A careful reflection on the journey of ideas, ending in a realm of perception, would lead one to realize that the minds adoring these ideas, look free and creative. They are as such, in reality, but they cannot transcend the sphere within which they are confined. They believe they are free, but the path they dream to achieve is, in fact, predestined! Dreams of greatness, freedom, independence, success, fulfillment, altered history, have been all instilled in people's minds through education, news and all the various platforms of communication. One grows driven by these dreams, not able to surpass them, not able to conceive anything beyond them. He/she then lives striving to attain them. “Nay! They say: 'We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided'” (43:22).

One should note that most of the ideas which gave birth to such ideologies were, in the beginning, intending welfare for all people. But, the hegemony of overpowering ego and ever-increasing greed made these ideologies to be a tool of bondage of minds and the blinding of souls. For example, in a society marked by the creed of consumerism, the path predesigned for the generations to come is to fuel consumerism with a feeling of pride, while its adherents were made to think they are free. Actually in all fields, one is taught tools that guide/help him/her to understand, evaluate and act. Per consequence, these tools, be they tools of analysis, of criticism, of interpretation, or others, draw the likeness of a narrow window through which one views the world - meaning one is not able to think and perceive outside the realm in which the mind is confined, nor able to use keys of understanding beyond those tools taught. To such a creed, the message of the Quran invites its adherents to look beyond their closed world, to look around them, to think and reflect. “Do they not look into the realm of the heavens and the earth and everything that Allah has created and [think] that perhaps their appointed time has come near? So in what statement [i.e., message] hereafter will they believe?" (7:185). “See they not how Allah originates creation, then repeats it. Truly that is easy for Allah. Say: 'Travel through the earth and see how Allah did originate creation. So will Allah produce a later creation, for Allah has power over all things'” (29:19-20). “We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?” (41:53)

The Quran offers, indeed, the way to true freedom, the freedom which opens the horizons for the heart to find its ultimate assurance and satisfaction, and to the mind to find its ultimate peace. Death in this concept of freedom, can be the most enjoyable vessel, transporting one to eternal bliss. To refute such a reality, one should produce his/her evidences. Indeed, none of the philosophers has provided any answer to metaphysics (i.e: the origin of the universe), and how can existence be conceived if there will not be an eternity? “And they say: 'What is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing but time can destroy us.' But of that, they have no knowledge. They merely speculate” (45:24).

The sincere believer who strives to not fall into absurdity has to work on maintaining/restoring a perception defined in accordance with the divine truth, a perception in which governance is conferred to the heart. Indeed the heart, unlike the mind, which easily gives up to eloquent arguments, when feeling unsettled inside, keeps following its instinct, striving to attain the peace within. Attaining such peace is, indeed, the sign of being free.

Submitting willingly to divine will, embracing wholeheartedly the divine vision of the universe, being contented with one’s fate, celebrating the dignity and the honor of being a human being and glorifying and praising The Bestower of all gifts, opens up to the heart of the believer to the infinite possibilities of life and the vast horizons of existence. It frees him/her from being confined within a closed realm of perception. “O My servants who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship only Me. Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned. And those who have believed and done righteous deeds, We will surely assign to them of Paradise [elevated] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers, who have been patient and upon their Lord rely” (29:56-59).

Indeed, the path to freedom, to peace, to the ultimate fulfillment, is to just be a true servant of Allah. "O My servants, no fear will there be concerning you this Day, nor will you grieve, [You] who believed in Our verses and were Muslims (those who fully submit to Allah)” (43:68-69)