Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 8
Casket of Pearls 8
Tags: Resurrection, Qur'an, Ta'wil, Knowledge Of Certainty, Al-kitab, Hazrat Solomon, Kursi, Subtle Body, Queen Of Sheba, Istaqamu, Yaqumu, Yaqumun
Q71 Here we want to ask an important question concerning the relationship between the Qur'an and resurrection. Please tell us what is the relationship between the wise Qur'an and resurrection? Is the answer to this question in the mighty Qur'an itself?
A71 Yes, the answer to this important question is in the holy Qur'an itself, as well as in the book of soul (personal world). That is, resurrection is the living ta'wil of the Qur'an. It is because of this that apart from the Imam, nobody can do even a partial ta'wil of the Qur'an, unless he has undergone the experience of resurrection, which is hidden in dying before death in this very life.
Q72 In which verse is it alluded that resurrection is the ta'wil of the Qur'an? Would you kindly tell us?
A72 Yes, God willing. Study question number 69 in which it is mentioned that when God revives a salik after his spiritual death, it is his resurrection in which there is the ta'wil of the Qur'an. This is because the light of the Imam of the time rises in this resurrection and the ta'wil of the Qur'an can be done in the illumination of this light. Study all the verses of light in this sense.
Q73 It is said that in reality the heavenly Book is testified to in two stages: In the first, by the knowledge of certainty and in the second by its ta'wil. Is this true?
A73 Yes, this is absolutely true and this is mentioned in verse (10:39): "Nay, but they denied that whose knowledge they could not comprehend, and whose ta'wil has not yet come to them. Thus did also those before them deny".
Q74 In verses (7:52-53) God says: "And We have brought to them a Book that we have well distinguished, based on (a special) knowledge, a guidance and a mercy unto a people that believe. Do they look for aught else but its ta'wil (resurrection)? The day its ta'wil comes, those who before forgot it shall say: Indeed, our Lord's Messengers came with the truth". Does this mean that the luminous ta'wil of the Qur'an is itself the resurrection?
A74 Yes, this is absolutely correct.
Q75 What are the two things in the wise Qur'an about which it is said: "There is no doubt in it"? What does this mean, and what is the relationship between the two?
A75 Those two things are the Book (al-kitab, 2:2) and the Day of Resurrection (yawmi'l-qiyamah, 6:12). The meaning of "There is no doubt in it" is that it has `ilmu'l-yaqin (the knowledge of certainty), `aynu'l-yaqin (the eye of certainty) and haqqu'l-yaqin (the truth of certainty). By the Book in which there is no doubt is meant the asas and by the Day of Resurrection in which there is no doubt is Hazrat Qa'im (May peace be through him) and the relationship between the two is crystal clear.
Q76 In the personal world, intellect is the example of the throne and soul is that of the kursi (dais upon which the royal throne is erected). With reference to verse (38:34), please tell us the wisdom of a body that was cast upon the kursi of Hazrat Solomon (May peace be through him) as a trial.
A76 Here by the kursi is meant the soul of Hazrat Solomon (May peace be through him) and by the body, a subtle body of an inferior kind in order to try him, which is painful. This is followed by the manifestation of the miraculous subtle body.16
Q77 According to a hadith, the Qur'an has a zahir (exoteric aspect) and a batin (esoteric aspect). In the light of this hadith, please tell us the ta'wili wisdom of verse (11:52): "He may send upon you the heaven which pours abundant rain."
A77 The ta'wili wisdom of this verse is that on the fulfilment of the conditions mentioned in this verse He will send the heaven that pours the abundant rain of knowledge on your collective and individual personal world.
Q78 It is related in verse (27:23): "And she has a magnificent throne", or "And she has a magnificent kingdom". Is this the story of the Queen of Sheba? What did Hazrat Solomon (May peace be through him) order his chiefs? Did he only want her throne or her entire kingdom? Was this in a material sense or in a spiritual sense?
A78 The magnificent throne or magnificent kingdom is related to the story of the Queen of Sheba. Hazrat Solomon (May peace be through him) ordered his chiefs to present her physical kingdom in a spiritual form. Since Hazrat Solomon (May peace be through him) was the Imam, it was a partial example of how all subtle things gather together in the personal world of the Imam.
Q79 It is certain that the personal resurrection is mentioned in verses (41:30-31), otherwise the descent of angels is not possible. Would you kindly explain the wisdom of these verses: "Those who said Allah is their Lord (in a true sense), then they [died spiritually and] revived, then the angels definitely descend upon them, [and tell them]: Do not fear nor grieve, but hear good tidings of the paradise which you are promised. We are your friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter".
A79 Indeed, it is the personal resurrection that is alluded to in these verses. The word 'resurrection' is hidden in "istaqamu", which means they stood erect (i.e. they died spiritually and were revived).
Q80 Is there the meaning of resurrection (qiyamah) in these words: yaqumu (2:275; 83:6), yaqumun (2:275) and istaqamu (72:16)? How?
A80 The infinitive al-qiyamah, which means to stand up, that is, to revive after death, is from the root letters qaf, waw and mim. The above-mentioned words are derived from this infinitive and thus they are linked to resurrection. However, resurrection is of two kinds: one is caused by spiritual death and the other by physical death, as said in verse (72:16): "If they had remained straight on the Way (i.e. if they would have died and revived in the destination of tariqat), We would have given them to drink of water in abundance (i.e. We would have given them abundant knowledge)". This verse, like verse (41:30) also contains extremely wondrous revolutionary wisdoms.
16 See A Thousand Wisdoms, wisdom 724, p. 384.
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