Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 33

Casket of Pearls 33

Tags: Recognition, Inner Eye, Luminous lamp, Light, Treasures, Hazrat David

Q321 Please explain the wisdom of the blessed verse (33:46): "And as one who invites to Allah by His permission and as a luminous lamp."
A321

The light of this lamp includes not only the spiritual light but also the inner eye.
Where the light and the inner eye are together, there is only recognition.
The meanings of all Qur'anic words directly or indirectly are condensed in the meaning of recognition.
This is because the essence of shari`at is tariqat, the essence of tariqat is haqiqat and the essence of haqiqat is ma`rifat (recognition).
When God enfolds the universe of knowledge and its countless words, in this state all words and meanings appear to be together in one place. This is the place of ma`rifat or recognition.

Q322 Please explain one more cogent example about recognition.
A322

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth (24:35), i.e. He is the light of knowledge, the light of guidance and the light of recognition.
Therefore, the inner aspect of the universe, the personal world and the Qur'an shine with the light of God.
Allah's light is in His mazhar's lamp, the burning lamp is transparent and resplendent like a star.
In short, wherever light is extolled, there is also an allusion to the inner eye, because light is in the sense of both to see and to show. Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

Q323 Would you kindly shed more light on the law of treasures, to which you have repeatedly drawn our attention. It seems that some key wisdoms are hidden in it. The verse relating to it is (15:21): "And there is not a thing but its treasures are with Us, and We do not reveal it but according to known measure."
A323

"Known measure" alludes to knowledge, `ibadat and recognition.
That is, ethical and spiritual progress is a pre-requisite to benefit from the treasures of Allah.
The doors of the treasures of God are within your heart. If you are a darwish, you will definitely realise when the door of the heart opens and also why it closes.
A wise person understands allusions. The heart also always speaks to you about essential matters in a symbolic language.

Q324 What is the most significant wisdom of the excellent example of the holy Prophet and where is it mentioned in the Qur'an?
A324

It is mentioned in verse (33:21): "Verily, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for the one who has hope in Allah and the last day and remembers Allah abundantly."
It is not hidden from the wise people that the holy Prophet had experienced and observed the resurrection, the hereafter and paradise in this very life and had the holy didar of Allah during his spiritual mi`raj.
Thus, the above-mentioned verse addresses the people of faith in the language of wisdom and encourages them to come forward, because there is no obstacle in following the true guide in order to attain the rank of fana' fi'llah. This is the main purpose of drawing attention to the excellent example of the holy Prophet.

Q325 Verses (57:12; 66:8) mention the light of the people of faith, [indicating] that the inner and spiritual resurrection takes place in this very life, in which their light runs in the sacred Sanctuary. Whose light, in reality, is this?
A325

This sacred light in which the people of faith have merged through obedience, love and affection belongs to God, the Prophet and the Imam. Through being merged, the light now also belongs to them.
This is such a spiritual reality that it is renewed in every resurrection.
It is such a great secret that God has kept it in a veil, as mentioned in verse (32:17): "No soul knows what delight of the eyes are kept hidden for them, as a recompense for what (good) they had been doing."

Q326 It is mentioned in verse (57:19): "And those who believe in Allah and His Messenger are the truthful (siddiqun) and the witnesses (shuhada') with their Lord. They have their recompense and their light." Please explain who these people are and what is the level of their faith?
A326

They are the asas, Imam, bab, hujjat and da`i to whom all the mu'mins are linked. Siddiq is the asas and shahid is the Imam.
Many ranks of mu'mins (male and female) are received through the higher hudud.
According to Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him), this verse is about the mu'mins.⁷⁹

Q327 Please tell us some comforting words about the illness and death of a mu'min.
A327

It is a part of the above-mentioned narration that Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him) said: "The one who is ill is in the prison of God, as long as he does not complain to his visitors, his sins are erased."
"Whoever dies in the state of illness, dies a martyr. Every mu'min is a martyr and every mu'minah is a hawra'."
"Whatever [type of] death a mu'min dies, he or she dies a martyr." The Imam then recited the above-mentioned verse (57:19).

Q328 Verse (34:13) reads as follows: "O descendants of David! Act (righteously) and give thanks. Verily few of My servants are grateful." The practical gratitude of what kind of bounties is commanded in this verse? Since the descendants of David (May peace be through him) no longer exist, to which family is this command addressed?
A328

The extremely great bounties of the spiritual kingdom, which were granted to the physical and spiritual children of Hazrat David (May peace be through him), are alluded to in this verse.
The heir to the throne and crown of Imamat and his true murids are in the place of the descendants of Hazrat David (May peace be through him).

Q329 Who are the people to whom patience (sabr) is applicable? Where is the special place of gratitude? Which comes first: tawakkul (trust in Allah) or iman (faith)? For which disease is certainty (yaqin) a cure? What is the real taqwa (righteousness)? What is beyond knowledge?
A329

Patience is the attribute of those who undergo resurrection and spiritual war.
The special place of gratitude is where the spiritual bounties abound.
Tawakkul comes after perfect faith.
Certainty is the cure for doubts.
The real taqwa is fear of God and [acquisition] of knowledge.
Nothing is beyond knowledge.

Q330 The subject of both the verses (9:32; 61:8) is the same. Translation of verse (9:32): "They intend to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths; and Allah disdains save that He perfects His light, even though the infidels may detest it." Whose was the first unsuccessful attempt to put out the light of Allah? What is the wisdom of "Allah perfects His light"?
A330

Cain was the first to attempt to extinguish the light of Allah.
In azal, the light is perfect and complete, i.e. there is no deficiency in the light itself, but when it rises in the person of the Prophet or the Imam, its feat is not completed in a single day. Rather it is a process in which the bearer of light advances from one stage to the next until it eventually becomes complete.
The perfection of light is also with respect to a cycle in the sense that seven Imams constitute a minor cycle and there is a great cycle of seven times seven Imams.

⁷⁹ Qazi Nu`man, Da`a'imu'l-Islam, ed. A.A.A. Fyzee (Cairo, 1963), I, 218.

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