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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Spiritual Discourses Discourse 12 : Belief in the Unseen Those who believe in the unseen and perform the prayer, and expend of that we have provided them ... (2:3) It is customary for us to call an individual believer a mumin by which is meant that he is a devout person who has faith in that he performs all the obligatory acts of devotion as well as recommended acts. In the same way, another person is said to be without faith.

There is no harm in using those words like this but the Quran, too, uses the same words meaning: Having belief in religion or lack of belief in religion. So we must begin our discussion by considering beliefs as a matter of heart.

The Quran, speaking of a group of nomadic Arabs who came to the Prophet to say, "We believe," says "You believe not, rather say, 'We surrender,' for belief has not yet entered your hearts.” (49:14) Is this a belief in God or His Attributes or in His Prophet and revelation or resurrection?

All these are parts of belief but the Quran sums all these up in the first verse of Sura two: "That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance for the God-fearing who believe in the unseen...” (2:1) Unseen means hidden. Hidden from what? In this enclosed area what is behind these walls is hidden from us but if we feel sure of what is happening behind them, it is faith in the unseen?

No, tomorrow it is hidden from us but if we can predict what is going to happen tomorrow, is this a faith in the unseen? Again, no. What is the unseen then? In this world, there are things which could be understood through the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. We call things perceptible if our senses enable us to know them. Animals, too, possess these senses which are sometimes stronger than man's . Some animals possess a sharper sight than man.

A dog has a very sensitive ear and power of smell. The tiny ant can easily find its way to a piece of meat by its strong power of smell. But these powers are not related to the unseen. Belief in the unseen means admitting that in the world of existence there are certain facts which we cannot distinguish by our senses, even if they are present before us. The senses given to living creatures are only limited means of contact with the world outside each being.

The eyes are given to distinguish form, color and direction. The ears are meant to distinguish waves of sound. The other senses, too, are bestowed for various purposes.