Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 43

Casket of Pearls 43

Tags: Giryah-u Zari, Spiritual Science, Birds, Single Soul, Nafs-i Wahidah,, Najwa, Majma`u'l-bahrayn, Confluence of two rivers, Dharr, Particles, Gog Magog

Q411 What is the reason that you consider giryah-u zari the foundation of spiritual science?
A411

Because it brings a pleasant change in the soul and it is from here that the experiment of spiritual science begins.
The path of spiritual science is not different from that of the recognition of one's soul. Thus the thing that is beneficial for the recognition of the soul is also beneficial for spiritual science.
Just as butter is in milk, although it does not appear until it is churned, similarly the potential subtle body in (the cells of) the physical body cannot be actualised without shaking it with giryah-u zari, knowledge and `ibadat.

Q412 Verse (12:105) reads: "And how many a sign (ayat) there is in the heavens and the earth they pass by, yet they turn away [their faces]". Could you tell us some of its wisdoms.
A412

God willing! If He helps.
There are countless signs (ayat) of the book of the universe, each one of which glorifies and sanctifies God and reflects His power. Every sign (thing) is a wonder of its own kind.
Is there anything in this universe that is not amazing, wonderful and astonishing in front of the inner eye?
Let us take one of these things as an example - the moth, which is created from the silkworm.
How amazing and worth pondering upon is the fact that the moth is created from the silkworm and the moth again produces the silkworm. Is there not a great secret of nature hidden in this?
Certainly, there is the secret of the supreme circle hidden in it, which is ordained for human beings.

Q413 This question is with reference to verse (67:19): Is the flying of birds not among the special signs of God's power? Which movements of birds are miraculous? Why do domestic birds not fly?
A413

Why not? Particularly since the holy Qur'an specifically mentions it.
Birds flying upwards by cleaving the ocean of air is truly amazing.
It is very astonishing to see heavy birds flying with their wings spread. The characteristic of flight, in fact, is hidden in the soul of birds.
The domestic cock and duck have lost the capacity of flight, because they have been brought from the freedom of the wild to the home of human beings and imprisoned there. This is an allusion to humankind that they used to fly in paradise, but this power has vanished after coming to this world.

Q414 Who is the Single Soul (nafs-i wahidah)? Is there a Single Soul in every age? What useful deeds does he accomplish for people?
A414

First of all the Single Soul was Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him). Every Prophet and Imam holds this rank, therefore in every time the Imam is the Single Soul.
The spiritual birth and spiritual resurrection of people takes place in the Single Soul, because they themselves are neither able to be born spiritually, nor to bear the difficulties of resurrection. Therefore, God has kept their spiritual birth and spiritual resurrection (ba`th) in the Single Soul.

Q415 In which surah is the ayat of najwa (private discourse)? What particular act does it enjoin?
A415

It is in the surah of Mujadilah (She that disputes, 58).
The verse (58:12) is: "O you who believe! When you [wish to] confer with the Messenger in private, offer sadaqah before you go to confer. This is better for and purer …".
There may indeed be a great secret in this sacred farman of God, but other than Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him), nobody acted upon it, because the sadaqah used to appear to be heavy (58:13). I believe that the purpose of a private meeting or discourse with the Messenger can also be the secret of the supreme Name.
For, the chosen words "This is better for you and purer" have very far-reaching meanings.

Q416 You had said: The angel or the soul is both one as well as many, an individual of the spiritual army and the army itself, as well as the fortress filled with the army. Please explain these important points of how these marvels and wonders are possible in an angel or the soul.
A416

It is because the perfect soul or angel is the same thing, which is from the world of command. That is, it is under the word of command (Be!), and therefore it has the capacity of becoming everything according to the command of "Be!"
The example of this can be seen in the human personality. When you say: "I am a person", apparently it is correct, but the spiritual reality is different from this, because spiritually you are a universe that potentially contains everything.

Q417 Would you kindly explain a great wisdom of the Qur'an in the light of the above-mentioned statement?
A417

It is mentioned in verse (89:22): "And your Lord will come and the angels will be row upon row."
This noble verse is related to two places of the personal world. First is the place of the soul where this miracle occurs according to the world of multiplicity. The second is the place of the intellect (sacred Sanctuary) where this miracle appears according to the world of oneness, that is, everything will appear in the mazhar of the same one light.
It is an extremely delightful matter that our wise friends know the secrets of the place of oneness. For instance, Allah is light, Prophets and Imams are light, angels are light and eventually mu'mins (male and female) also become light (57:12, 57:19; 66:8), while this, in reality, is the light of God, the One, in which all become merged.

Q418 What is the majma`u'l-bahrayn exoterically and esoterically, in the Qur'anic story of Hazrat Moses (May peace be through him) (18:60)? Why was that chosen servant of God, who had a great treasure of given knowledge, living at the confluence of two rivers? By which name is he known in the popular traditions?
A418

Exoterically it means the confluence of two rivers. Esoterically it means the confluence of two rivers of knowledge, which is at many places:
- The confluence of the particle of matter and soul.
- The confluence of zahir and batin.
- The confluence of tanzil and ta'wil.
- The confluence of evil and good or jinn and angel.
- The confluence of natiq and asas.
- The confluence of the Universal Intellect and the Universal Soul, etc.
That chosen servant of God continues to guide at every confluence of knowledge.
In the popular traditions, he is known by the name of Khizr or Khazir, meaning green or verdant. That is, evergreen and ever living, by which is meant the Imam of the time.

Q419 Where is the world of dharr? What does dharr mean? Please define the world of dharr.
A419

The world of dharr is in the world of religion, the recognition of which can be attained in the personal world.
Dharr literally means small ants, dust in the air, motes, by which are meant the souls of people in the form of particles.
The definition of the world of dharr is that each and every thing of it is in the shape of a particle, which is so minute that no human eye can see it, nor has any scientist been able to see it as yet. However, the `arifs have seen and recognised it. A brief description of this world is that its people, angels, jinns, beasts, birds, fruits, etc. are all in the form of particles.

Q420 By the grace of God, with the help of your unprecedented spiritual teacher (the Imam from the progeny of the holy Prophet), you have written in your books that Gog and Magog are in the form of particles. Would you kindly explain this subject further with Qur'anic references?
A420

God willing! It is mentioned in verses (21:95-96): "And there is a ban upon [the people of] any town that We have destroyed; they shall not return until when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they shall hasten out of every elevated place."
In every age the great majority of people are destroyed spiritually due to deviation and cannot return until the resurrection starts through the Imam of the time (17:71) and Gog and Magog come out from all the hudud-i din (hadab) and start to work as the army of resurrection. Only then, very few willingly, and the majority by force will return.

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