Is matter completely made of energy and electromagnetic fields?

[shadow_of_light]

It is said that 99.9999% of atoms is made of space and not mass and this space is made of electromagnetic and quantum fields, energy, ... . But since it is condensed, we dont feel this space when we see or touch solid things.

Now, if we assume that quarks are divisible and they are 99% space and 1% mass and this mass again 99% consists of space and it continues for ever, then can we conclude that matter is nothing other than condensed energy?!

[notme]

E = mc^2

So yes, basically matter and energy are believed by physicists to be the same thing, analogous to ice and water, different states of the same components.  

[Abu Nur]

On 6/4/2026 at 9:43 PM, shadow_of_light said:

It is said that 99.9999% of atoms is made of space and not mass and this space is made of electromagnetic and quantum fields, energy, ... . But since it is condensed, we dont feel this space when we see or touch solid things.

Now, if we assume that quarks are divisible and they are 99% space and 1% mass and this mass again 99% consists of space and it continues for ever, then can we conclude that matter is nothing other than condensed energy?!

I never really understood what is energy, they say it is "ability", "make things happen", "Energy is not a physical thing, it's a concept", the whole universe is made of concept?

[Ashvazdanghe]

 

Abstract
Matter is related to nature, and alongside the theoretical research of philosophers, scientists of experimental sciences have also studied matter and understood the structure of the natural world. The concept of matter or body has undergone many changes in the history of human thought, and each of the different philosophical systems has presented a specific image and explanation of matter. In all these explanations, the issue of variability and the possibility of accepting different forms for matter has been considered. From the perspective of physics, matter or body is composed of fundamental, indivisible, and moving particles that take the form of matter or energy, depending on the amount of movement and motion of these particles. In philosophical thought, although most Muslim philosophers consider matter as a purely potential matter, part of the essence of the body, and believe in the duality of matter and form, at the same time they have different views on the actual connection or separation of bodies. Of course, the issue of the relationship between body and matter is not a purely philosophical issue, and we must first consider it a subject of empirical science and accept empirical perceptions as axioms, and then, based on these perceptions, engage in a philosophical analysis of body and matter. On this basis, in [Mullah] Sadra'i's thought, matter is no longer a part of the body and has no actuality, and the bodies around us are composed of very small fundamental particles that have constant movement and motion, and because they have the property of being constantly changing, the word matter is applied to them. In this way, we arrive at a philosophical analysis of matter that is in harmony with the empirical perceptions of physics.

https://ap.isu.ac.ir/article_67957.html

https://ap.isu.ac.ir/article_67957_fa3b1dcf5749cca895518b9a5cdffebb.pdf   (PDF in Farsi/persian)

A- The empirical epistemological basis of this article is "realism", not "'imposed on the mind by experience'" (positivism) or "instrumentalism" (instratorism and mentalism) or "formalism" or "originality of mind" (idealism). According to this basis, laws, theories and empirical data are a reflection of the external world and indicate them, and despite the influence that the mind has in obtaining, selecting, analyzing and deducing these data, theories are rooted in reality and originate from it. In any case, without sensory perception being the criterion of existence, existence precedes knowledge (the negation of the theory of "sensory reality", the weakness and violation of which will be clear from the perspective of empirical scientists in the discussion of the nature of the electron and some other topics). This insight considers the role of theories in predicting events and human welfare with the help of technology and other scientific achievements, as well as their usefulness. (*)

The work done in this field in Islamic philosophy is not extensive and is mostly in the works of The later philosophers are visible; works such as: Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism by Allameh Tabataba'i on the discussion of power and action, Martyr Motahari's footnotes on the fourth volume of Principles of Philosophy, the book "Our Philosophy"(Falasafatona) by Martyr Sadr on the discussion of matter, and the first volume of the book Education and Philosophy by Master Misbah. In the author's opinion, the discussion that Professor Motahari has presented on the reality of matter (Philosophical Essays, Vol. 3, Hekmat Publications) is more accurate and sober. He does not reject, but considers the main and important aspect of science to be the discovery and demonstration of reality. Among physicists, Einstein, Planck, Born, and Boehm have believed in this basis.

https://ensani.ir/fa/article/105531/ماده-از-دیدگاه-فیزیک-و-فلسفه-1-

Matter in the terminology of physics

[It should also be noted that] matter in the terminology of philosophy differs from matter in the terminology of natural sciences and physics. Matter in the terminology of physics is the sum of matter and form in the terminology of philosophy. Because matter in the terminology of physics is that which has mass, has dimensions. However, from the point of view of philosophers, everything that has mass and dimensions is analyzed in such a way that it is the same mass and has extension, and its name is the form of corporeality, [and matter is the same as the first monster هیولا(Hayula) ].

That is, this form of corporeality is imposed on a truth that it is impossible for that truth to exist alone, it always exists in a form, it is impossible for that truth to be felt and it is impossible for that truth to be touched.

Its existence can be discovered by the power of reasoning. Therefore, philosophical matter is not tangible and cannot be felt, it is something that only discovers the proof of its existence, without us being able to separate it [from the form]. It cannot exist separately from the form itself, so that it can be felt separately.

Can we, for example, reach that philosophical monster هیولی(Hayula) in the laboratory? Such a thing is impossible.

https://lib.eshia.ir/50005/1/50

1.1 - The first meaning
It means "receptive of the ability of an object"; that is, receptive to the possibility of transforming into something else, and what is meant by it is the same previous substance of the object. In this sense, in the world of nature, there is a process of "transformation" and at every moment objects transform into other objects and change. In other words, there is an inward and internal state in the object, due to which the object rushes towards perfection. For example, a grain of wheat has the possibility of transforming into an ear of wheat. In fact, a "grain" has the ability and possibility of transforming into an ear.
A substance that carries the "ability" or "possibility of transformation" and is receptive to multiple forms is called "matter" or "substance". This matter exists in all transformations and conversions of a type. In fact, matter itself has no actuality, and all its actuality is that it is receptive to different forms. For example, in a table there is a raw material that is common to wood, trees, ashes, and other changes that this table may have. Explain that every object (such as a grain of wheat, a grain of barley, an egg, and a sparrow's egg) has the potential and the possibility of becoming a specific thing. Therefore, a grain of wheat does not have the potential to become barley, or a chicken, or a sparrow, and so on.

 

 

Therefore, matter is a substance that carries the potential to transform into one object and not into other objects.[2] (The term "potential" means that every material object has the potential to transform into all other objects, but the degree of this potential is different and has different strengths, weaknesses, proximity, and distance for different objects. For example, a grain of wheat has the potential to transform into an ear of wheat, but it has a long way to go to transform into an egg. Therefore, it has a potential that is unlikely.)

According to this term, matter is used in two senses:
a) Primary matter: which accepts a physical form, which is also called monster هیولی(Hayula) or primary matter;
b) Secondary matter: refers to a monster along with one or more other forms that can together become the material for a new form.[3]

Imam Khomeini also has analyzed (monster) matter in his works,

Quote

The monster هیولی(Hayula) is the weakest level of existence and is merely a power and nothing [more][7][8] Of course, it should not be thought that the monster was the first and had no form; because this thought is wrong because the monster هیولی(Hayula)is pure power (energy) and cannot exist independently; therefore, it has been a form from eternity and the monster has been associated with those forms; however, these forms, which the monster carries, acquire different states through the movement of the heavens.[9]

 

Quote

1.2 - The second meaning
The second meaning of "matter" is "the place of form"; that is, that which the form is currently considered to be its clothing and its determination.[10] For example, in a table, the wood that takes the form of a table is considered the material of the table (matter in this second meaning).
(It is important to note that according to those such as Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra, what is called the material cause of a real compound is matter in this second meaning, and those such as Haji Sabzevari who considered matter in the sense of the carrier of the potential of an object and matter in the sense of the carrier of form to be the same thing are mistaken.) [11]
 

2 - Reasons for accepting the first meaning (monster) هیولی(Hayula)
[edit]
Despite the opposition of some philosophers, the famous and consequently the famous Islamic philosophers have accepted matter in the first meaning (monster) and have provided two reasons for it:

2.1 - Argument from potentiality and action
Argument from potentiality and action: Physical beings have the ability to transform into one or more other things

Quote

For example, "water", which is a body, is itself composed of two essences: one is the form of being water, which is its actuality, and the other is the status of power and its transformation into vapor, which is the "matter".

..........................................................................................................................................

 

2.2 - Argument of Separation and Connection
Argument of Separation and Connection: There are changes in objects such as connection, separation, transformation and substantial changes. For example, a unified and continuous object becomes two separate and distinct objects. Without a doubt, in such transformations, it is not the case that the first entity is completely destroyed and one or more other things come into being from nothingness, but rather something of the previous entity remains in the next entity. What remains is definitely not the same actuality of the previous entity........................................................

Quote

Therefore, form always precedes matter and is its agent, meaning that if form does not exist, matter will not be realized.[20] A point that should not be overlooked is that "matter" is different from "material cause" both in terms and in concept. Matter, in the sense of the place where form is, is the material cause of a real compound that, together with form, becomes its cause. Matter is the material cause of a compound and form is its formal cause, but matter, in the sense of the carrier of the potential of an object, is called only matter.[21]

https://fa.wikifeqh.ir/ماده_(فلسفه)

Edited June 17 by Ashvazdanghe

[notme]

On 6/10/2026 at 6:51 AM, Abu Nur said:

I never really understood what is energy, they say it is "ability", "make things happen", "Energy is not a physical thing, it's a concept", the whole universe is made of concept?

I've been thinking about this for over a week. Maybe this definition is wrong. Light has mass. Light is a form of energy. Electricity has mass. I don't know of any mass for gravitational or kinetic energy. And nuclear energy is the source of the equation I quoted above.  

Edit: I forgot spring energy.  I also know of no mass for spring energy. Did I miss any other forms of energy?  Maybe all energy has mass, but we can't measure it yet. 

Edited June 22 by notme
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