The Unseen World

There is a saying “seeing is believing”, which has lost its value today, since scientific discoveries have opened up to us a reality that is not visible to the naked eye and requires facilitations to view its existence. A microscope helps in seeing microorganisms, while x-rays allow viewing bones. A symbol may represent the existence of an otherwise undetectable element, such as the Wi-Fi. Likewise, there are creations or beings which we are unable to sense at all, as they are beyond our three-dimensional world; they do, however, exist in the spiritual world – a realm which we must be aware of.

Thus, there are two realms or two types of worlds operating around us: the physical and the spiritual. Both are in sync and operating side by side, with the spiritual world hidden behind the curtains of the physical world. Humans and animals are not the only ones present on this earth; Jinns and angels also exist. Likewise, we ourselves consist of two parts: a human body and a Ruh (spirit) within us. Another example: “And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah, ‘They are dead.’ Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not. (Al-Baqarah 2:154) Although physically it is evident that the person is lifeless, but Allah (swt) informs us that in reality they are alive.

For viewing both these worlds, Allah (swt) has endowed a Momin with two eyes: one for the seen world and the other for the unseen. They know that the troubles or the happiness they undergo in their lives may have a different meaning in the world of Allah (swt). On the other hand, a one-eyed person observes only the apparent, seen, and obvious perspective of the world. They lose the ability to perceive the underlying phenomena that operates beyond the apparent experiences. Ultimately, they develop the approach of “the pursuit of resources”, because they equate it with the “pursuit of happiness”.

Such individuals become the followers of the one-eyed being called Dajjal. His name comes from the word ‘dajl’ (دجل) meaning ‘fraud’ and ‘cheat’. Dajjal (دجال) is a man, the biggest fraud the world will ever see – a powerful individual, who will come with an ideology of a great deception wrapped around by a cloth of lies. What is that deception? Materialism, hence, blindness in one eye.

A one-eyed person would easily fall for such lies when Dajjal would show his version of heaven and hell, while a two-eyed person would clearly recognize that Dajjal’s heaven is actually hell and his hell is actually heaven. The disturbing reality is that Dajjal will have both Muslim and non-Muslim followers, which is why Surah Al-Kahf was revealed to present four stories that would differentiate between the approach and the characteristics of a one-eyed and a two-eyed person.

It is strongly recommended that Surah Al-Kahf is deeply understood by all Muslims through Tafseer or, most effectively, lectures of scholars, as it is crucial in this time and age to arm ourselves against Dajjal.