“If Islam is the most perfect understanding of religion why are Muslims the most under-developed communities?”

This is a question I am frequently asked.

I also receive the following question from certain allegedly enlightened groups:

“The understandings of Unity-Oneness and humanism are present in a perfect form in Taoism, Buddhism and even in Kabbalah - Jewish mysticism. Muslimism, however, is a crude, formalistic, tyrannical and combatant understanding, which is totally devoid of love. All this is quite observable in our world today. How can you still exalt this disputant teaching?” 

First of all, you can’t exalt something that is already exalted. Let us first recognize this…

Islam is the only and most perfect embodiment, the quintessential understanding of “religion”, there is no other religion on earth that can compare with or supersede it! And Muhammad (saw), who brought this understanding to us, is the most magnificent human being and the most sublime Spirit of Infinity to have came to this world. He is the servant, the Rasul, and the final Nabi of Allah, unmatched and exceptional in every sense.

As for why this is so…

For centuries and centuries people worshipped deities. They worshipped idols and totems erected in the name of this or that deity. They worshipped sculptures that apparently symbolized this or that god. They exalted and prayed to a being somewhere beyond and outside them, in space or on earth. Believing that all their attainments and accomplishments come from these gods, they devoted themselves to these assumed external objects.

So here’s the problem.

Could there be a “god” (“ilah” in Arabic) who could really be dwelling on earth or somewhere in space, remotely controlling the world and those who live on it?

(Some claim this ‘heavenly god’ concept came from extraterrestrial societies from outer space (i.e. the sun gods) which has been adapted to our present-day as the idea of a God in space with courier angels who work for him!)

Intellectual minds that question this from a universal point of view realize the irrationality and invalidity of such alleged deities and the contradiction of this notion with the universal reality.

An early representation of an opposition to this understanding was Taoism, which emerged in China during the 4^th to 3^rd centuries BC. According to Taoism, existence comprises an indivisible wholeness despite the seeming multiplicity according to the human eye, and consciousness is the eye of this wholeness observing itself! Consciousness can recognize its essence to the extent that it perceives its true nature, and that recognition will eventually end up in “nothingness”! The end result is the experience of “nothingness” within “nothingness”!

Buddha, on the other hand, proposed that we reach “Nirvana” as a final destination. To those who considered themselves as merely this body and believed they would merely deteriorate after death, he explained that they are in fact conscious beings, that their lives will continue even after their bodies turn to soil, that they are the “ones” created from the “One” and that they are not comprised only of a physical body but also of a sacred spirit, so if they could purify their spirit, they could attain Nirvana and live within that Spirit of Oneness.

Another type of belief currently spreading in America, though not yet known in Turkey, which is said to have more than 100 million followers around the world, is the teachings of Falun Dafa, of Chinese origin again. According to Falun Dafa, whose teaching seems to have roots in Taoism but manifests itself in the likes of Buddhist teachings; consciousness and matter are the same thing. Thoughts affect matter and matter affects thoughts at every given instance. The primary spirit continuously manifests its own qualities through the brain by constantly triggering it. The human brain creates a kind of substance that is not in a waveform. Every living being on earth is created from water. Water is the primary source of life. The founder of this belief, Shifu Li Hongzhi, further claims that the entire universe is made of water. Although it is said to be a type of movement that has no specific links to any political agenda, it is currently the source of great controversy in China against the government. Therefore, its followers are under close surveillance and when they are captured, they are tortured to death. As far as I can tell, the root of this activity is based on the control of information by the unseen forces of the world.

As opposed to the apparent tribalistic and formalistic approach, Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah, which constitutes the intellectual profundity of the understanding of religion taught by Moses, has also spread the idea of oneness and unity of existence, asserting that the spirit of man originates from a single spirit.

Kabbalah constitutes the intellectual depth of the understanding of religion introduced by Moses, asserting that the entire existence is singular and the spirit of people actually come from a single Spirit.

In point of fact, Jesus was the expression and confirmation of this understanding of Oneness and thus the rejection of the idea of an external god. The definition of “My father the Rabb” did not in fact refer to a physical god-son relationship; it was rather pointing to the notion of the single Spirit taught in Kabbalah, manifesting itself as many. Turning toward the sky symbolized turning to the depths of consciousness and experiencing the creative power in one’s essence. Jesus’ statement that “you think like a man not like the Creator, the Rabb” simply meant “evaluate events in the light of the universal realities rather than humanly judgments and social conditionings”. The idea of the Jews being “the chosen ones” did not actually refer to all Israelites but to those whose comprehension was advanced enough to accept and practice the Kabbalistic teachings (the development of this notion has later formed the basis of Masonry).

Despite the belief systems we have discussed so far have certain correct aspects, their biggest deficiency and insufficiency is the lack of information they provide regarding life after death and the practices needed to be performed in this world. None of them give any information about the structure and mechanism of man, the function of the brain and how one should use his brain for optimal performance and what needs to be done for his future life in accordance with the conditions of the afterlife. Nobody has been able to suggest anything on issues concerning the stages of eternal life after death. Needless to say, this is the most important topic concerning man, that is, to be fully aware of what needs to be done in this world so that he may be happy in the eternal life after death.

While the final Nabi explains doomsday as the event of the Sun expanding and engulfing the Earth, the Quran talks about a galactic doomsday in the form of falling stars, some 1400 years ago! Today we know that all the billions of stars in the Milky Way are going to be knocked out of their orbits after a collusion with the Andromeda galaxy, and this event, from the earth, is going to look like falling stars. 

As a matter of fact, the most fundamental issue that needs to be grasped is: Man will indefinitely and forever live on through various transformations (deaths). What he needs for this indefinite journey can only be attained in this world, and in this world alone. The truth is, the only valid information regarding this has been provided by Islam, which is the only religion in the sight of Allah, and the final Nabi Muhammad (saw).

Totemism has been around for a while. Not only among the native Africans and Americans, but among all religions. Owing to their ‘humanoid’ nature, Totemists lack the ability to question and explore the meaning of their existence through contemplation, and therefore, can’t experience their essential selves. They assume the entire existence, including themselves, is comprised of physical matter only. They bear an image of a god out there, either on earth or up in space, somewhere high above or down below, and they do everything they can for the sake of that god. They eat, they drink, they reproduce, they worship and they kill, all for the sake of their god whom they think is watching over them from afar! Or, they don’t believe in anything at all, hence their totem is their own body! If you remove their apparent label or their religious tag, you’ll see no difference between them; they all share the same viewpoint, their only difference is their clothes, appearances and local conditionings. They perform good deeds in the name of their god and obey him in order that they may be granted an eternal life of abundant food, drinks, and sex. Otherwise, their god would simply cast them to his hell and torment them forever.

Since their images of “god” are often at odds with one another, most of them question, judge, criticize and reject each other’s god, and even take up axes against each other. Because, they have either not heard Muhammad’s (saw) message, “La ilaha” i.e. THERE IS NO GOD (or concept of god/godhood)” or have heard of it before but have never really thought on it. Most of them have a voice-recorder-brain. They simply memorize and repeat! Their limited nature does not allow them to contemplate on the meaning of what they say.

Such are the Totemists! They’re also known as the ‘dualists’. And by definition, if duality isn’t removed, oneness/unity (tawhid) cannot emerge. After all, whether veiled or apparent, it’s the same concept: A person and his ‘external’ god far beyond!

As a matter of fact, all the religious beliefs that we have listed above have shortcomings and are incomplete and ineffective in terms of man’s future, in contrast to the teachings of Islam. None of these beliefs give any explanation or make any emphasis to the Sunnatullah (the mechanics of the system) as does Islam. Therefore, the very important offers and teachings regarding the future of man based on Sunnatullah made by the final Nabi, Muhammad (saw), do not exist in any other understanding.

As for Muslims who have actually grasped and embraced the only true understanding of religion, Islam, disclosed by the servant and Rasul of Allah, Muhammad (saw), the most magnificent brain and personality to have ever lived on earth and the most sublime spirit of eternity:

Muslims do not believe in a god out there, far and beyond them or somewhere up in space. They believe in the divine qualities, which are explained in the Quran, pertaining to whom the most eminent Rasul (saw) referred to as “ALLAH”. They try to attain certainty (yaqeen) in faith and strive to achieve certitude (iqaan) in this matter! In addition to the certainty which they have already obtained, they also seek to realize and understand the Sunnatullah and live to fulfill its necessities and requisites.

So now we have come to the most important point of distinction!

Yes, let us now mark the most important point where the Rasul of ALLAH differs from previous Rasuls:

People who seek to become aware of the intellectual fundamentals of the understanding of “religion” presented under the name “Islam” will inevitably enter the field of Sufism. This journey of questioning what lies beyond is the first stage of getting to know the one referenced as “ALLAH”.

During this journey, which is referred to as “fanafillah” (annihilation in Allah) in Sufi terminology, the person will realize that in the sight of the one named “Allah”, the existence of his self and the universe consists of “nothing” and that the only true absolute being that exists is the One called “ALLAH”. This awareness will eventually lead the person to the realization of his nonexistence and nothingness. This is the point where his comprehension and understanding will disappear completely!

However, in the state of “sayrul afaaq” (objective/external observation of the universal realities) based on the understanding of “wahdat” (unity), it is eventually realized that the entire existence is whole and single - not composed of ‘parts’ – and this is known as absolute unity or unity of existence (wahidiyyah). This realization will become consummate at the point of “ahadiyyah” (Absolute Oneness) or in other words “Absolute Nothingness” provided that the person has adequate capacity for it. The end result is the manifestation of living in absolute darkness, which in Sufi terminology is referred to as the state of experiencing "ama” (senselessness) in terms of consciousness. Neither words nor thoughts can come close to articulating this station, as by definition, it is a state of absolute nothingness.

After this, for those who have been granted their share in the experience, the spiritual state of “baqabillah” (eternal life in union with Allah) begins.

The One, who created all perceivable and unperceivable forms in His Divine Knowledge with His Divine Names and Attributes, has willed that they fulfill their servitude at every instance in yet another magnificent way. Thus the infinite universes within the universes comprising existence manifested, each with a particular system and order, and they will continue to subsist in accordance with their creational purpose as long as the Names and Attributes comprising their existence continues to exist.

So, while human consciousness which has become manifest in this world within the scope of “Sunnatullah”, should try to understand the essence of his own existence on one side, on the other side he should question how he can prepare for a positive and beneficial future life.

The answer to this issue has already been answered by Muhammad (saw), the Rasul and the final Nabi of Allah, in the most perfect way. Because the teachings of Muhammad are based on revelation rather than the concept of an external god  it begins with “la ilaha” meaning “there is no God” and continues with “illa ALLAH” meaning “only Allah”. That is, the concept of an external god does not exist at all, only the One referenced as “ALLAH” exists. Therefore spiritual practices within the scope of Sunnatullah are recommended as opposed to deifying and worshiping exterior entities.

“Sunnatullah” is the second most paramount topic that needs to be understood after the One denoted by the name “ALLAH”.

Ones ability or failure to duly evaluate the system of Sunnatullah is what makes all the difference between living a heavenly life or a hell-like life, not just in this world but also in the next. Those whose creation and natural disposition is befitting take the principles of Sunnatullah into account and hence their lives transform into environments of bliss and happiness religiously termed as “paradise”. On the other hand, those who don’t heed the principles of  “Sunnatullah” inevitably spend their lives in various forms of suffering.

In other words, the most significant difference between “ISLAM” and all other belief systems is primarily the reality denoted by the name “Allah” and secondly, the realizations and proper application of the principles of “SunnatAllah”.

This is because, through knowing the One referenced by “ALLAH”, one’s individual existence or individual consciousness doesn’t simply dissolve and disappear as sugar does in water.

Even those who attain the stage of “pure nothingness” in Taoism, or those who reach Nirvana, or find Jehovah, or realize and experience the reality denoted by ‘ALLAH’ as the incomprehensible ahadiyyah and the inexplicable spiritual station of annihilation within one’s origin and essence, everyone is still and will always be in a position of living as an individual soul, now and forever, even after the transformation called “death” - regardless of where they go afterwards.

It is for this reason that no matter how much an individual realizes his essential reality and becomes enlightened, he nevertheless has to carry on living his life and fulfilling the necessary practices in line with the principles of the Sunnatullah (the mechanics of the system and order) as outlined by the final Nabi.

Since the system necessitates that everyone shall live (and is living) the consequences of their own actions it is imperative that we understand the message of the final Nabi, Muhammad Mustafa (saw).

Now we can answer the question above, “Why the majority of Muslim nations comprise the most undeveloped countries on earth?”

Some communities and nations don’t believe in a god and thus they don’t expect anything from a god in space, they rely solely on their own inherent qualities, which lead them to make considerable progress. 

Other communities have been raised with the belief  “power lies within yourself so learn how to utilize what you already have instead of expecting external support” also encouraging personal development.

During the times when the Sufi teaching “one can achieve many things with the power of the Attributes and the Names of the Creator embedded within themselves - if only they could discover these potentials,” was in effect, Muslim communities were the pioneers of many great developments in the world.

Yet unfortunately, over time, the concept of “religion” was reduced to satisfying the desires of a god in space and thus obtaining his approval, which spawned the deviated belief of “expecting everything from the one high above”. This in return commenced a period of regression for Muslim communities.

It is rather inevitable that such communities remain behind if instead of discovering and actualizing the divine qualities inherent within their essence they choose to sit around expecting “the one up there” to build their future for them.

 

AHMED HULUSI

3 May 2006