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Matrix: Teachings of Sufism
Matrix: Do you know what IT is? Here I am
offering you the red pill, so you can open your eyes to the reality “ So
what does Matrix and Sufism has anything in common? The concept of
computer network that has entrapped humanity in artificial reality; To a
Sufi the idea that the physical world is a veil for an ever-present GOD
who is manifested in all things is no different than the story line of the
movie. At one time or the
other we heard or read that what ever we do in this world think of the
hereafter. The following Hadith sheds the light on not to get attached to
this world but live in the world as a traveler. Narrated
Mujahid (Radi Allah Anhu): 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) said,
"Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)
took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be
in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler."
{Sahih
Bukhari : Volume 8, Book 76, Number 425] As I mentioned in my previous article of
“Star wars” the concept of master/guide and pupil that exist in Sufism
here is the same concept of Morpheus the master Neo the pupil. The conversation between Morpheaus and Neo
is similar to that of a Sufi master giving to the pupil. Morpheus:
What
are you waiting for? You're faster than this. Don't think you are, know
you are..... The lesson being taught here is to believe
in thyself. There are various things that we know that if our mind and
heart knows and set that we can do it, then the actual act does not take
much effort, for eg: If you are going to run/jog you know in my mind and
heart that you can run x number of miles/distance or if you are lifting
something you think and concentrate and even visualize that you can lift
certain amount of weight. One of the practices of Sufism is to learn to
Meditate, the training varies depending on teacher, Mostly we are to
meditate so that we may increase remembrance of Allah, and be aware that
Allah is watching and especially in the prayer time our concentration
should be good enough that we put the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) on IHSAN
to practice; The Hadith where Jibril Explained The
Essentials of Islam, Iman & Ihsan. Below is the part of the
Hadith that talks about the Ihsan. Narrated
by 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, there is that he said,
"While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
with him and grant him peace, one day a man came up to us whose clothes
were extremely white………………….What is Ihsan? He said: "It
is to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him
not yet truly He sees you"……………
Then he asked, 'Umar, do you know
who the questioner was?' I said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He
said, 'He was Jibril who came to you to teach you your deen'."... Narrated by Muslim(8) If one attains this spiritual state through
meditation then every prayer is considered as a meeting with Allah or
presenting thyself in the mere presence of Allah’s courtyard. Morpheus:
I'm trying to free your mind, Neo, but I can only show you the door,
you're the one that has to walk through it. This applies in any field of training where
one is asked to come in to the training with an open mind, accept the
teachings and understand the wisdom (Hikmah) behind it, some of the
training requires to experience it. As some of the great Ulema have said
you know you have Khushu (the ultimate joy, the tranquility and peace of
mind) in a prayer, it is a feeling that can not be described but merely
felt. This is one of those spiritual teachings it’s understood only by
doing it (walking the path) similarly the expression “only you know when
you are in love, love explained in mere words does not justify the feeling
of being in love it has to be experienced.” When a student walks the
path of meditating and enjoying the spiritual state of mind it’s just a
state of Drunkenness with the love of Allah and his Prophet (pbuh) yet
again only understood by walking this path. The movie matrix suggests that the matrix
could send electronic signals to the brains of its captives, creating a
false reality. According to some Sufi, consciousness is a function of the
spirit. What we find in the Quran is that the spirit is the connection,
which makes human beings a manifestation of the Divine Name. Here Divine
names are used in reference to the various attributes of Allah. The dialogs by 2 of the characters in the
movie “Oracle” and” the Architect” show the importance of being
connected to the source. Oracle:
"The power of the One extends beyond this world. It reaches from here
all the way back to where it came from:” The Source." Oracle
is advising Neo to understand & realize if he is the one then his
power need to reach the source. The ONE is referred to the pupil who is
working towards understanding the whole creation of this Matrix (universe)
and the Source is to be
understood as Allah. The
Ultimate goal of a Sufi is to reach the point to understand the oneness of
Allah and Allah is with in us, to elaborate the earlier statement, the
Sufi scholars have said “the
heart of a Mumin is the house of Allah (swt) and is the place for
virtues.” Furthermore Quran described the pure heart in: ‘My
earth and my heaven contain me not, but the heart of My faithful servant
contains Me.” At
the end of the day, we all have to return to Allah, (return to the
source), How we return to the Source is up to us, I suggest take the red
pill and learn how deep the rabbit hole goes (how enriching the spiritual
life is and can be), after all the a teacher can only show you the path
ultimately you have to walk the path. The
movie constantly revolves around the humans who has become a slave to the
machines and given up the understanding that the real world is somewhere
else. Until next time ponder reason, contemplate, and reflect upon the matrix of this universe. About
the Author: azmi.tariq@gmail.com
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