Chapter 3 — Ummī and Luh Mahfuz: The Original Source and the Preserved Record

After understanding that RUH = the streaming of the Lord’s affairs and ANGELS = the network of executors of AMR, the next questions are:

Where does the streaming come from?

And where is the data of the self stored?

This brings us to two major concepts:

UMMĪ = original source

LUH MAHFUZ = preserved record

UMMĪ = THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Ummī should not be understood as “illiterate”.

Within this reading, Ummī = origin / mother / original source.

Something that serves as the source is where something comes from, develops from, and returns to for reference.

That is why the simplest analogy is:

UMMĪ = PRIMARY SERVER

From this source, data continues to flow.

Like a mother nursing her child:

love continues to flow,

rahmah continues to flow,

knowledge continues to flow,

attributes continue to flow.

The child may not understand the entire process.

But the flow still reaches the child.

The same applies to the Ummah.

They live, feel, learn, choose and move through the flow that comes from the original source.

LUH MAHFUZ = THE PRESERVED RECORD

Allah says:

بَلْ هُوَ قُرْآنٌ مَّجِيدٌ ۝ فِي لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍ

“Rather, it is a glorious Quran, in a preserved Luh.”

— Al-Burūj 85:21–22

Luh carries the meaning of a tablet, board or place of record.

Mahfuz means preserved.

Therefore:

LUH MAHFUZ = THE PRESERVED RECORD

In the technological analogy:

LUH MAHFUZ = PRIMARY STORAGE / CLOUD MEMORY

This does not mean that it is literally a “memory card”.

It is an analogy of function.

The record does not depend upon a single physical body.

THE PHYSICAL BODY CAN BE DESTROYED, BUT THE DATA DOES NOT NECESSARILY DISAPPEAR

Imagine an iPhone.

If the iPhone is crushed beneath the tyres of a truck, the physical device is destroyed.

But:

the account still exists,

the profile still exists,

the applications still exist,

the settings still exist,

the data still exists.

Because everything is stored at the primary source.

When a new device is activated, the old data can be restored.

Therefore:

DEVICE DESTROYED ≠ DATA DESTROYED

Likewise, within this model:

PHYSICAL BODY DESTROYED ≠ PROFILE OF THE SELF DESTROYED

The physical body is merely a terminal.

The data does not depend entirely upon the old terminal.

THE PROFILE OF THE SELF IS CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED

Throughout life, human beings are constantly:

seeing,

hearing,

feeling,

choosing,

acting,

remembering,

regretting,

forgiving,

changing themselves.

All of these form the profile of the self.

The profile is not static.

It is continuously updated.

Within the analogy:

LIFE = LIVE SYNC

Every change within the self is synchronised with the primary record.

Therefore:

UMMĪ = original source

LUH MAHFUZ = profile storage

RUH = data flow

ANGELS = network of executors

PHYSICAL BODY = active device

FINAL DATA

While the physical body is still alive, the profile can still change.

Human beings can still:

learn,

repent,

forgive,

correct mistakes,

choose another path,

change their own configuration.

But when the connection with the old physical body ends, what remains is:

FINAL DATA

The final data is the state of the profile at the final moment.

It includes:

what is known,

what is believed with certainty,

what is remembered,

what remains unresolved,

what has been forgiven,

what continues to weigh upon the self,

the attributes that have been formed,

and the effects of actions.

THE QURAN AND THE RECORD OF THE SELF

Allah says:

وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ

“And everything We have enumerated in a clear record.”

— Yā-Sīn 36:12

This indicates that things are recorded and accounted for.

Therefore, life is not something that simply disappears.

Every experience forms data.

Every choice leaves an effect.

Every attribute that is formed becomes part of the profile of the self.

THE PROFILE DETERMINES THE MANIFESTATION

Imagine an iCloud profile that is filled almost entirely with:

games,

saved games,

game settings,

game accounts,

game arrangements.

When that profile is restored onto a new device, the appearance and use of that device will return according to the final profile.

Likewise, within this analogy:

NEW PHYSICAL BODY = VESSEL

FINAL DATA = TEMPLATE

RUH = RESTORATION PROCESS

UMMĪ = ORIGINAL SOURCE

LUH MAHFUZ = PRESERVED RECORD

The new physical body does not determine who the self is.

The profile determines what will be manifested.

AFTER THE FINAL SYNC

During life, human beings can still:

install,

delete,

update,

change,

choose.

But after the final sync, the profile has already been formed.

New apps can no longer be installed.

New configurations can no longer be made.

Therefore, the world is the period in which the profile is formed.

After that, what takes place is:

RESTORE BASED ON THE FINAL DATA

THE CONNECTION WITH BARZAKH

If the final profile still contains:

unresolved questions,

guilt,

truth that has not yet been accepted,

unresolved conflicts,

then the functions of Munkar, Nakir and Malik continue to operate upon the state of the self.

But if the profile has already become firm upon the truth:

the questions are resolved,

the record is clear,

the heart is tranquil,

torment does not take control.

Therefore, there is no conflict holding the self back.

SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER

The overall structure is now:

UMMĪ

= original source

LUH MAHFUZ

= preserved record

AMR

= the Lord’s affairs that are continuously taking place

ANGELS

= network of executors

RUH

= streaming of data, knowledge and attributes

PHYSICAL BODY

= terminal of manifestation

LIFE

= period of synchronisation and profile formation

DEATH

= the old terminal ends

FINAL DATA

= finalised profile

NEXT MANIFESTATION

= restoration based on the final profile

Therefore, the great question for human beings is not:

“What happens to the old physical body?”

But:

“WHAT FINAL PROFILE HAVE I FORMED BEFORE THE FINAL SYNC?”