Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 38

Casket of Pearls 38

Tags: Straight Path, Heavens, Earth, Paradise, Hazrat Adam, Jawami`u'l-kalim

Q361 It is mentioned in verse (11:56): "Verily, my Lord is on the straight path". What is its wisdom?
A361

Its wisdom is that Allah has appointed a guide for the people of every time, who is the straight path as well as its guide and His mazhar.
Thus, the meaning of God being on the straight path is that His mazhar guides the people of faith on it.

Q362 Where is the first example of the mazhar of God's light in the noble Qur'an?
A362

This example is in the story of Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him), because God, by making His light appear in his forehead, granted him the vicegerency of the entire universe.
God had breathed His spirit, which means His light, into Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him). Thus, the Perfect Man in whom is His light, is also the mazhar of His attributes.
Just as in the solar system the sun is the fountainhead of all powers, God's light is the source of all His attributes. Thus, the bearer of His light is His mazhar.

Q363 What is the proof that God had granted Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him) the vicegerency of the entire universe?
A363

In verse (65:12), it is mentioned: "It is God Who created seven heavens and of the earth, their like."
That is, there is an earth under every heaven. Thus, there are seven heavens and seven earths in this universe.
Heavens are sometimes used in the plural in the wise Qur'an as samawat and sometimes in singular as sama'. Similarly, the seven earths in the Qur'an are used in singular as arz.
It is because of this that in verses (4:97; 29:56; 39:10) it is mentioned as: "God's earth is spacious". It must be remembered that God's most spacious earth is in spirituality.
It must be noted that the universe from one aspect is the heaven and from the other, it is the earth. The proof of this is that the heaven, the earth and paradise are all equal in spaciousness (3:133; 57:21). This means that there is only one thing, which is the heaven, the earth, as well as paradise both externally and internally. Thus, it is evident that God had made Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him) His vicegerent in the interior and exterior of the universe.

Q364 It appears that these magnificent proofs are not your own, but they are from the presence of the holy Imam. Therefore, kindly tell us more wisdoms concerning the vicegerency of Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him).
A364

The Universal Intellect is the heaven and the Universal Soul, the earth. However, the `arifs have come to know the great secret that these two greatest angels together have become one reality (hasti). Therefore, with respect to individuality they are separate and with respect to unity they are one. Reflect on the words ratq and fatq in verse (21:30).
From this you may have realised that the vicegerency of God's vicegerent is not confined to the planet earth, but extended to the seven heavens and their like, the seven earths, and to the Universal Intellect and the Universal Soul.
If the entire universe is subjugated to the children of Adam (May peace be through him) (31:20; 45:13), God's elect, how can His vicegerency be limited to the planet earth only?

Q365 These secrets, which are from the treasure of the Imam from the progeny of the holy Prophet, are very soul nourishing and faith-illumining. Please tell us more.
A365

The law of renewal always continues, thus new people come into existence in every age. Similarly, in every age, new angels are created from the spiritual progress of human souls, to whom the Adam (May peace be through him) of the time teaches the science of names (`ilmu'l-asma').
The story of Adam (May peace be through him) gives the impression that the angels had a dire need of spiritual knowledge, and therefore they conjectured that Adam (May peace be through him)'s vicegerency would be confined to the planet earth only.
Nonetheless, with the exception of Iblis, the angels of the entire universe had prostrated to him and he had benefited all the new angels of his time.

Q366 It is said that the world of religion also has seven heavens and seven earths. If this is true, please tell us how.
A366

Yes, the world of religion is like the external world and has seven heavens and seven earths too.
They are the six natiqs and the qa'im as the seven heavens and their seven hujjats are the seven earths.
These hudud are also in the personal world so that every kind of recognition should be available.

Q367 Please explain the wisdom of this hadith: "I have been sent with jawami`u'l-kalim (the words which have many meanings)".⁸⁷
A367

These words refer to the words of the wise Qur'an and the sound ahadith, in which wisdom abounds layer upon layer.
Al-kalamu'l-jami` means that speech in which the words are few but the meanings are multiple. There is a miraculous comprehensiveness in the words of the Qur'an and the ahadith.

Q368 What is the wisdom of the hadith: "There is none among you except that God will speak with him on the day of resurrection and there will be no translator between Him and him".⁸⁸
A368 There can be numerous great wisdoms in it:

First, God will speak in the language of the servant, because this is the meaning of not having a translator.
Secondly, there will be a great treasure of knowledge and wisdom, because this is the characteristic of Divine speech.
Thirdly, the `arifs may have this supreme felicity in this very world, because their resurrection takes place before physical death.

Q369 Do the `arifs/saliks who die before physical death, that is, attain the rank of fana' fi'llah (merged in God), have God's vision and does God speak to them?
A369

Yes, an `arif/salik attains the supreme bliss of the Divine vision, and thus he can recognise Him and can be called an `arif. God speaks to him, due to which he has the treasure of knowledge and recognition.
Study verse (42:51) very carefully, in which it is said: "It is not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that God should speak to him save by a sign (of didar) or from behind a veil …".
The holy didar is the great treasure of the silent signs of recognition, in which lies the eternal wealth of the secrets of recognition and wisdom.

Q370 Please explain the hadith: "He among you who recognises more himself/herself, recognises more his/her Lord".⁸⁹
A370

This shows that mu'mins are on different levels of recognition and the perfect level of recognition is haqqu'l-yaqin (the truth of certainty).
It is for the sake of recognition that a human being is sent to this world, because this is the purpose of the creation of the world and the human being. Thus, every mu'min's prudence lies in that he should duly endeavour to attain it.

⁸⁷ Abu `Abdi'llah Muhammad Bukhari, Sahihu'l-Bukhari (Riyaz, 1999), pp. 492, Hadith 2977.
⁸⁸ Abu `Isa Muhammad Tirmidhi, Jami`u't- Tirmidhi, ed. Salih Al al-Shaykh (Riyaz, 1999), p. 550, Hadith 2415.
⁸⁹ Al-Mu'ayyad fi'd-Din Shirazi, al-Majalisu'l-Mu'ayyadiyyah, ed. H. Hamid al-Din (Bombay, 1975), I, pp. 26, 28; Nasir-i Khusraw (Pir), Zadu'l-Musafirin, ed. Badhlu'r-Rahman (Berlin, 1923), p. 287.

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