This dunya is symbolic

WHAT ARE SYMBOLS?

Lol i like the exMple of maplins

But yeah i have to agree that symbols and names have the problem u stated...namely...once u name something (or categorise it)...it is no longer the same thing...only (at best) a resemblance of it

Its also ironic

Cos we live in the physical dunya which is filled with symbols

And this is actually one way which shaytan misleads mankind...through reinterpreting symbols to invoke hatred...just look at how the term muslim has been relabelled in ppls minds...

So...i agree with u alot on that

However....we do need symbolism (cos even words are symbols)

And its a primary way of communicating....even if it is a risky one (look how often someone is misunderstood when they say something...sometimes its interpreted wrongly)


SO ARENT SYMBOLS THE SAME AS THE REAL THING?

all those names...resemble some part of the true essence it is trying to describe (or symbolise)

CAN SOMEONE KNOW SOMETHING FROM ITS SYMBOLS?
Only if the person is already familiar with the thing being symbolised

Like...if they know (3arif)...and not just know of (3ilm) via symbols

Otherwise
Its like
The mind is trying to grasp what it cannot

Like an ear trying to hear what light is...as being described by someone with eyes

It simply beyond the ears scope

Yeah...its interesting
Try teaching the idea of colour to a blind person

They may "understand"

But they wont truly know it till they see


SO THEN WHY USE SYMBOLS?

and appreciate that a name is only a way to draw attention to something that can be understood quickly.
It's not meant to tell you everything about the thing

There lies the secret of symbols

Why do we use them?

Size

Its quicker to pass on info

But the trade off is..loss of information


DO WE NEED TO USE SYMBOLS?

In fact..just occured to me

Look at the best communicated message we have

The quran

It passes on so much information in the words and also encoded in the structure, order of words, choice of words, etc...whereas most ppl only encode information in words

But then even still...to explain all that "hidden" or embedded information...we must have books of tafsir...and they are huuuge...and not even exhaustive..none of them cover all the info...and we cant know it all

Like alif lam mim?

Or the meaning of 3arsh (throne)

Etc

Thanks again bro
Uve kinda opened my eyes to something deep

That i only see and hear symbols..cos that is the nature of this world

And that the truth..the reality..is something my brain cannot rationalise as it does with symbols