What is existence?
The universe is given existence. You and I are given existence. If we were not given existence, would we realize existence? No.
- Human consciousness is given to us to make us realize existence.
- Hence, there is no such thing as non-existence.
Lack of awareness of existence is ‘ignorance’. Ignorance is needed to be used as a fictitious option for human freewill in order to realize the existence of knowledge and to choose it. Knowledge is an existent quality. Ignorance is not an existent quality but rather a perception from my end when I am not choosing knowledge. However, when I experience ignorance, my choice of not learning is given existence because I choose such. (recap from previous notes: whatever you choose through freewill is given existence.)
Life is from the Creator. Knowledge is from the Creator.
- When revelation starts coming, it diminishes darkness.
- Night refers to darkness in its physical senses but meaning wise, it refers to a period in time when we are not in light..
- Revelations was sent at the darkest part of the world.
- We need to wake up by using our consciousness and search for the truth when we do not know it.
When I am in absolute darkness, do I know that I am in darkness?
- No.
- That is why I need light to know that this is what I am missing. Quran says that if we do not send any messengers to a people, we do not take them into account.
If there is no light, human kind cannot know that they are in darkness.
- If there is no appearance of light in a darkroom, people cannot know that they are in darkness.
If I am not introduced to knowledge, I would not know about knowledge.
- Make light for yourself i.e. make a comparison between what I did not know and what revelation brings to me.
- Quran encourages people to wake up i.e. Get out of ignorance.
Human beings are given innate instincts, which probes them to search for light i.e. revelation. Human concerns look for satisfaction.
74:1 “O you enfolded one!”
If anyone is not enlightened by the revelation, they are bound to stay enfolded.
- What enfolds you?
- Materialism? Ignorance? Meaninglessness?
- You cannot get enlightened with revelation unless you feel suffocated.
- Suffocation has to do with the inability to find answers to human inquisition within this universe. When you ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the purpose of my existence here?
- Why am I here?
- Every day I am dying, youth is gone, what is going on here?
- When you have the questions and feel the need for answers, it must come to you in the form of revelation i.e. light.
- Renew yourself with the new understanding of revelation i.e. make the comparison from what you knew and what you are now learning.
- What does glorifying God (allahuakbar) mean?
- The Creator of the universe cannot be thought of within the qualities of this universe. It is the Creator and thus cannot be imagined at all. But Its existence can easily be acknowledged by examining Its work within the universe.
74:2 “Arise and Warn!”
Get out of this close circle (meaninglessness) and then call others to get out of this circle as well.
- Hey we are not confined to this universe only. It is so large, yes but it is still finite and our lifespan here is finite as well. However, we are made with the qualities to desire infinite existence. Nothing in this universe guarantees the infinite existence (lailaha). That is why we search for It in the universe through our intellect and human qualities where we come to a conclusion:
- (Illallah) (there must be a Source of existence of all the qualities and desires that I experience here).
74:3 “And glorify your Lord,”
Does your being shiver when you say or hear “God is great”?
- Does God only mean the One that nourishes you or provides you with shelter i.e. takes care of your material needs only?
- If yes, then you need to re-evaluate your understanding of God.
- That is, start from establishing the foundations of belief. Look into your human qualities and listen to them. When you listen to them carefully, you will realize that they yearn for an Eternal existence. Hence, the search from within begins and you are able to get out of the close circle when you see light or get answers to your questions.
The universe in itself is finite to satisfy our human needs. Looking to satisfy our human needs within this universe leads one to despair (or closed circle) because nothing here can satisfy us. By shutting our human qualities, we get stuck in a circular pattern within this universe which leads to hopelessness and all sorts of negative emotions. But if we pay heed to revelation and try to get the meaning from what this universe points to, then we shall be on the way to eternal happiness. As a result, we shall realize that our material needs are merely insignificant; however, these material needs are means to get to the Absolute Eternal Source.
- What does Absolute Eternal Source means?
- Think about it: Can you find the Source of existence of things within the universe?
- When you search for the Source of existence of things, you will find that It cannot be bound to this universe at all but It must exist.
- We experience “lailaha” here which prompts us to search for or conclude “illallah.”
74:4 “And purify your garments,”
What are your garments?
- That which engulfs you needs to be purified. That is, when you see light, clear out your past misconception or misunderstandings of existence.
- Example: Instead of being grateful for being given a roof while comparing yourself to a homeless person, use this event as a means of acknowledging the Source of existence of your property and your overall being.
- STOP being grateful through comparing yourself to others! Example: S/he makes x dollars per year and I make y dollars per year. What are you going to do with more wealth?
- Making comparison with transient objects/events is not religion. It is IGNORANCE!
74:5 “And shun all defilements,”
Now, that you understand and see reality, solve your problems accordingly. That is, reject or get out of the vicious materialist (dark) circle and look for the Source of existence of light.
- Searching for the source of existence of light is religion.
- Concluding the Source of existence of light within yourself is belief.
- There must be an Absolute Eternal Source bringing the universe into existence. And, that is what my human qualities truly desire to be with.