Question : Explain Alam Zar (the world of particles)

Answer :

There are many narrations about the existence of Alam Zar (the world of particles) which are accepted by some people and denied by others. According to the narrations mentioned in Osoul Kafi, volume 3 (book: Kofr o Iman) Almighty God created the systems of humane being, before creation of Adam, in the form of particles and ants and gave to them a comprehension and intuition suitable to their prestige, so that they might know their creator.

In another narration from Imam Bagher (p.b.u.h.) it has been narrated that since Almighty God extracted essence of man to make him conclude a contract for His divinity and prophecy of His prophets, the first one with whom the prophets made a contract was Mohammad son of Abdollah (peace be upon him and his progeny)

So, God prescribed to Adam (p.b.u.h.) look! What do you see! Adam looked at his offspring who looked like the ants and he saw that they had filled the sky. God made the offspring of Adam (p.b.u.h.) to worship Him and not to consider anyone or anything as His partner and be faithful to the prophets and follow them.

In another narration, God prescribes to Adam (p.b.u.h.) “I created you and your offspring, without being in need of you, but I only created you to test you to see whom of you are more righteous in your life and before your death”.

Thus, some of the offspring (the ants) are larger, some are smaller, some distribute more light, some less, some are lightless, because they should be tested in all states. Such differences in the type of creation is because God will test them when they feel fine or bad, when they are happy or not…

Relying on this reasoning, Mu’tazilites (the separatists) which are a large group of Muslim scientists found 12 problems and received answers. The late Allameh Majlesi refers to this fact considering the reasons of Sheikh Mofid and Seyed Mortezat in the second volume of Merat Aloghoul (pages: 12, 13). Some of the Muslim scientists from Vara, only are faithful to the narrations without making justifications or interpretations. Some others, regard the narrations as metaphore and simile.

Anyway, having created the world of particles God has shown His power and policy and this way, He determined our destinies. In some of the books of the narrations the powers and option of choice for the man in the world of particles and the time God shows to each person, his life in the world, have been emphasized. Relying on such narrations, God has shown to every man, his life and has made him aware of all the details. Then God has made all men undertake and acknowledge that God is their creator and he has replied: Yes. If we accept such narrations, we shall admit that before our bodies and physics existed, we had living in the world of particles. Then, God created our bodies and inspired in our bodies the same souls He had kept at world of particles. That’s why, in some places and meeting some people, we feel that we have that person or that place before, several times, while such a meeting goes back to the world of particles. 

What is important in the world of particles, is that God created the men, before their bodies and to show to them the principle of Towhid and Nabovat (mono theism and prophecy). Even if we do not accept that the manner of living in the world have been shown to the people in the world of particles and we doubt existence of option and selection, sure, showing of the principles of Towhid and Nabovat have had some philosophy and God shall not do something without consideration to a cause or a philosophy.

Thus, the philosophy might be seen in awareness of the men and making him informed of his materialistic life. Since, to make some one acknowledge there are required some arrangements and justifications, thus, every man shall acknowledge the affairs having admitted them and shall be justified, thus, God has surely made the men aware of their materialistic life and has reminded them of happiness for admission of principle of Towhid and its benefits, then God has prescribed: Do you acknowledge that I am your creator? The men have answered: Yes. Thus, option and freedom of man in admission of his destiny is clear. It is impossible that man acknowledges existence of God without being aware.

The world of particles, though it is admitted due to slavery of man, indicates to the value God considers for the man to make him aware of his destiny and to conclude a contract with him.