The Impact of Belief in the Unseen on the Soul
Belief in the unseen is a characteristic of the pious and carries profound effects on the soul, which include:
- A heightened awareness of God’s presence in every word and action.
- This belief fosters a sense of reverence towards God, as He is all-knowing of every movement made by humans.
- The fulfillment of God’s commands through acts of worship and the avoidance of sins.
- A sense of tranquility and comfort in the heart, as the believer understands that God is always with them, allowing them to endure hardships without despair.
- A consciousness of God’s reverence both in private and public; the righteous soul is linked by God in the Quran with belief in the unseen. A believer accepts realities that cannot be perceived by their senses, such as the story of Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him), which was beyond the grasp of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his community. The attributes of God are also matters of the unseen that can only be comprehended through intellect.
- The purification of the soul, as impure souls often reject belief in the unseen. Some deny the existence of the torment of the grave, resurrection, paradise, and hell. Such an impure soul, which distances itself from the belief in the unseen, edges closer to disbelief than to faith. Purification is bestowed by God upon the believers as a favor and mercy, for the believer is the one who attains purification through faith in God, as stated in the Quran: “And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been purified, but Allah purifies whom He wills.”
Understanding Belief in the Unseen
Belief in the unseen is the firm conviction that Allah is the Knower of the unseen, and that no creature has the ability to know matters of the unseen regardless of their status, except for those whom Allah chooses to reveal such matters to, be they a king or a prophet. It is essential to believe in the unseen truths conveyed by divine law, including the existence of angels, jinn, messengers, the Day of Judgment, and what it entails concerning reckoning and beyond. Allah states: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah—who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.”
The Significance of Belief in the Unseen
Belief in the unseen is among the most distinguishing traits of humanity, setting humans apart from other beings. Allah has granted humans the intellect that differentiates them from animals. While both humans and animals can perceive the tangible, only humans grasp and believe in the unseen.
Heavenly laws have introduced numerous aspects of the unseen, which can only be comprehended through divine revelation found in scripture and the teachings of the Prophet. The Quran addresses matters such as the seven heavens, angels, paradise, and hell, which are comprehensible to humans solely through authentic accounts from Allah’s Book and the teachings of His Messenger.
These truths instill a sense of fear of God in human hearts and encourage constant reflection on God’s blessings in the universe. Each day unveils new insights that fortify one’s faith in God, reminding believers that He is the orchestrator of all creation and there is none other like Him.