Hz. Ali said, "If the veil that covers ghayb (the unknown/unseen) were opened, my belief in Allah would not increase. Is it possible for man to have such a belief? Would the belief of a person not be different if he saw Allah?

Dear Brother / Sister,

As it can be noticed, Hz. Ali says, “My belief would not increase.” No increase in belief is not contrary to noticing the details when one sees with his eyes. Belief means to believe. There is no doubt that Hz. Ali’s belief is at that level.

Suppose that our belief in the existence of the city of Makkah is full. When we go and see it, our belief about it will not change. However, seeing it more clearly with its details does not contradict our previous knowledge.

Hz. Ali’s statement is about his unhesitant belief at the level of absolute certainty. It is normal for us not to understand a level of belief like that, which we cannot even perceive.

On the other hand, when Hz. Ali said,

“If the veil that covers ghayb (the unknown/unseen) were opened, my belief would not increase",

he indicates the clarity and certainty of the embroidery of oneness beyond the universe and material world. Allah has placed such signatures and seals on His art of the universe that man can believe in both oneness and the other principles of belief unhesitatingly. Furthermore, it means he can believe as if he sees them.

Besides, it is not appropriate to understand Hz. Ali’s statement “If the veil that covers ghayb (the unknown/unseen) were opened, my belief would not increase,” as he believed at the last level of belief. For, even when the Prophet (pbuh) ascended in Miraj, he said,

“I have not been able to know You (Allah) fully.”

Accordingly, Hz. Ali believed in everything that is necessary to believe fully and learned those realities fully. That is, what is meant is how he knows that reality, not how much he believed in it.

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