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Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 42

Casket of Pearls 42

Tags: Transmutation, Maskh, Mountains, Fasting, Maknun, Mahjub, Giryah-u Zari

Q401 It is said that some personalities, after living an extremely long life of paradise come to this world by God's command. Is this concept correct? If yes, what is its evidence in the wise Qur'an?
A401

• Yes, this concept is correct and there are numerous Qur'anic evidences of it.
• The most famous evidence for it is that Adam (May peace be through him) and Eve (May peace be through him) and their companions came to this world after living the universal life of paradise (2:38), and this is the story of every Adam (May peace be through him).
• It is mentioned in verse (36:68): "And whomsoever We grant long life, We reverse him into [the world of] creation [from the world of command]". In other words, the concept is that a personality, who comes from the higher to the lower world, becomes reversed.
• Everything rotates on a circle and this law is related to humankind as well.

Q402 It is mentioned in verse (36:67): "And had We willed, We verily could have transmuted (masakhna) them in their place, then they would not be able to go forward or turn back." What is transmutation (maskh)? Why and how does God transmute a person?
A402

• Transmutation or maskh means to be transformed from a beautiful form into an ugly one, such as the human form into a monkey or any other animal.
• This maskh is not physical rather it is spiritual. That is, when a human being becomes bereft of religious virtues due to disobedience, the soul of a mean animal begins to live in him.
• Such a soul is according to his mean habits, whereas animals by nature have different habits.

Q403 Could you cite a verse of the Qur'an by which we can easily understand the above-mentioned reality?
A403

• God willing! Study verse (7:179) carefully: "And indeed, We have created for Hell a large number of jinn and men. They have hearts [but] they do not understand therewith; they have eyes [but] they do not see therewith; they have ears [but] they do not hear therewith; they are like cattle; nay, even worse than them. They are the people who are heedless."
• Such people are indeed human-like animals. The cause of this is absence of knowledge and awareness, which is the result of heedlessness and which in turn is the result of not using their external senses.

Q404 It is a bright fact that the magnificent and blessed subjects of the holy Qur'an are separate from one another, yet for the people of insight, it is a great miracle that each subject [is experienced as though it] extends from one end of the Qur'an to the other. In view of this, please tell us with proofs whether the subject of knowledge and wisdom is in each of these subjects or not?
A404

• It is a fact that each subject of the Qur'an exoterically describes a particular thing, but esoterically it is a treasure of knowledge and wisdom.
• The reason for this is that the Qur'an has an exoteric aspect (zahir) and an esoteric aspect (batin).
• Further, every subject of the Qur'an is according to the law of "light upon light". That is, the outer light is the veil for the inner light. People can see the veil, but they are not able to see the veiled.

Q405 According to verses (2:63, 2:93; 4:154; 7:171) God has made the mountain hang above the children of Israel. Please tell us its esoteric wisdom.
A405

• By the infinite providence of Almighty God, all living miracles of the magnificent Qur'an are gathered in the personal world for the sake of ta'wil and recognition, and then they are centred in the sacred Sanctuary.
• Thus, all those examples and descriptions that carry the title of mountain (tur = jabal) are related to the mountain of soul and that of the intellect.
• Those who are aware of the secrets of the personal world can certainly tell you what the demonstrations of the mountain of soul and that of the intellect are and how they hang over the heads. Study the verses of mountains.

Q406 Hazrat Maryam (May peace be through him)'s fasting is mentioned in verse (19:26). What wisdom does this fasting contain and what is its individual and collective benefit?
A406

• The description is: "Then if you see any human being, say: Verily I have vowed a fast to the Rahman (the Beneficent), and I shall not speak to anyone today".
• This fasting means taqiyyah, that is, not to describe the specific and sublime secrets of religion, in which lie the benefit of individual and collective peace and security.

Q407 According to verse (2:140), it is a great injustice to conceal the testimony of truth and veracity, and knowledge and wisdom. What do you say about this?
A407

• If you can explain your testimonies in the language of the wisdom of the Qur'an and the hadith, then this is the best way of explanation and the highest service for knowledge.

Q408 It is related that Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him), said about the holy Qur'an: "Its exoteric aspect (zahir) is an obligatory act, its esoteric aspect is a hidden (maknun) and veiled (mahjub) knowledge and which is with us known and written".⁹⁶ Please make us aware of the wisdom of this farman.
A408

• It is easier to act upon the exoteric aspect of the Qur'an, but its esoteric knowledge is extremely difficult, rather impossible, except through the revealed light (5:15), which is the Imam of the time.
• The word hidden (maknun) implies that the Qur'an is in the hidden Book and the word veiled (mahjub) indicates that God speaks from behind the veil. Therefore the way the ta'wil is veiled by the tanzil has very great significance.

Q409 Hazrat Imam Ja`far as-Sadiq (May peace be through him) relates that the holy Prophet said: "He who dies without recognising the living Imam of his time, dies the death of ignorance".⁹⁷ The question is: Why is there no mention of the recognition of God and the holy Prophet in this hadith? Is the Imam present and living in every time? Why is there the death of ignorance?
A409

• The recognition of the Imam is necessary for the recognition of God and the Prophet.
• The Imam is the light of God, therefore he is always living and present.
• The Imam of the time is the door to the holy Prophet, therefore the one who does not recognise the door to the Prophet, cannot in reality recognise the Prophet.

Q410 The holy Prophet in his testament (wasiyyat) to Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him), said: "The fourth is abundance of weeping for God so that He may build a thousand houses in paradise for every tear drop".⁹⁸ Please describe some wisdoms of the abundance of weeping.
A410

• This blessed testament of the holy Prophet is for the mu'mins through the Commander of the faithful, `Ali (May peace be through him).
• Many meanings of `ibadat are gathered in giryah-u zari.
• It is the treasure of Divine love.
• It purifies the heart and the soul.
• It is true repentance.
• It is the prayer and supplication of the Prophets and awliya'.
• It is called the fear of God.
• The door of spiritual progress opens through it.
• In short, there are countless benefits in giryah-u zari.

⁹⁵ Nasir-i Khusraw (Pir), Diwan-i Ash`ar, ed. Nasru'llah Taqawi (Tehran, 1988), p. 535.
<sup>96</sup> Qazi Nu`man, Da`a'imu'l-Islam, ed. A.A.A. Fyzee (Cairo, 1963), I, 53.
<sup>97</sup> Ibid., I, 25.
<sup>98</sup> Qazi Nu`man, Da`a'imu'l-Islam, ed. A.A.A. Fyzee (Cairo, 1963), II, 320; Ray-Shahri, Mizanu'l-Hikmat, translated into Urdu by M. A. Fazil (Lahore, 1996), II, 347.