Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 45

Casket of Pearls 45

Tags: Hazrat Maryam, Blind, Malakut, Kingdom, Hazrat Zachariah, Kawthar

Q431 The question is related to verse (21:91) according to which God made Hazrat Maryam (May peace be through him) and her son Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him)) an ayat (sign, miracle) for all the worlds. What is its wisdom? What is the secret in considering both of them together as one ayat? What rank of people can see or hear the spiritual miracles of Hazrat Maryam (May peace be through him) and Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him)? Are they the people of this world or the `arifs of the personal world?
A431

There are many wisdoms in this example.
Hazrat Maryam (May peace be through him) was a siddiqah (truthful one) and a waliyyah (friend of God), therefore she is an example of the different ranks of awliya', as well as that of the spiritual progress of women. In Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him) there is an example of the Prophets, thus God considering both of them as one ayat alludes that the spiritual journey of the Prophets and the awliya' is alike and that their intended destination is also the same.
The spiritual miracles of Hazrat Maryam (May peace be through him) and Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him) are in the personal world, therefore, they are related to the [people of the] three levels of certainty (yaqin).

Q432 What is meant by the "greater pilgrimage (hajj-i akbar)" mentioned in verse (9:3)?
A432 The exoteric explanation of the greater pilgrimage is in the exegeses of the Qur'an, but its esoteric ta'wil is different. In ta'wil, by this pilgrimage is meant the spiritual pilgrimage, which is in the personal resurrection of the `arif.

Q433 There are countless wisdom-filled examples, including comparative ones in the wise Qur'an. One such example is in verse (11:24): "The similitude of the two parties of (disbelievers and believers) is like the blind and the deaf, and the seer and the hearer. Can they be equal in similitude? Will you not then take heed?" Please tell us one significant wisdom of this similitude.
A433

There is no doubt that all mu'mins cannot be equal in knowledge and deeds, rather they are on different levels.
However, when it is the time of comparison, God, may He be exalted, gathers them all in the highest level and considers them all equally the "seer" and the "hearer". How amazing is His mercy!

Q434 Please also explain the comparative similitude mentioned in verse (39:9): "Say (O Muhammad): Can those who know and those who do not know be equal? But only those who have intellect pay heed."
A434

If we study all the comparative similitudes carefully, we find that they are all related to the one mentioned in verse (11:24): "The similitude of the two parties".
In this comparative similitude, on the one side are those who know and on the other those who do not know and are ignorant.
It is well known that ignorance is because of disbelief, thus disbelief is the first and foremost ignorance and belief is the foundational knowledge. Thus, according to this comparative similitude among those who have knowledge, there are many who have belief or foundational knowledge.

Q435 Please also explain the comparative similitude mentioned in verse (13:16): "Say: Are the blind and the seer equal to one another? Or are the darknesses and the light equal?"
A435

A darwish saw in the world of imagination that a dignitary (buzurg) was giving him many pairs of spectacles, one after the other. Its ta'wili allusion became known that many eyes can come into existence in an individual's external eye.
Thus, if someone has not attained the eye of certainty, in reality, he is blind.
The seer is the one who can see all the external and internal miracles of the true religion.
By darknesses are meant [levels of] ignorance.
The fountainhead of knowledge is living. He has several streams and the greatest of them is related to knowledge.

Q436 A brief, very necessary and extremely difficult question in reference to verse (6:75) is: Where did God show Hazrat Abraham (May peace be through him) the kingdom (malakut) of the entire universe?
A436

It was in the personal world, because the universe and its kingdom are brought to the personal world for the purpose of observation and recognition.
Particularly in the sacred Sanctuary where there is not only everything, but also God's beatific vision and kingdom.
Study the four verses (6:76; 7:185; 23:88; 36:83) concerning kingdom (malakut), and reflect upon them carefully.

Q437 Hazrat Zachariah (May peace be through him)'s prayer is mentioned in verse (3:38) as: "He said: O Lord! Grant me a pure offspring from near You." Is it only physical offspring that is sought in such a prayer of a Prophet, or is there any other great purpose?
A437

Apparently it is physical offspring that is sought in such a prayer of the Prophet, not for the sake of this world, but for the sake of religion.
However, their inner prayer is for the sake of a pure child from the special presence of God, i.e. at the place of intellect.
For, the offspring of the Perfect Men are both at the level of soul, as well as at the level of intellect.

Q438 Your above-mentioned explanation is revolutionary in that every Perfect Man not only has spiritual offspring, but also intellectual ones. Please explain this further with reference to other verses of the holy Qur'an.
A438

The household of Hazrat Job (May peace be through him) perished due to the falling of a ceiling, but God gave them back to him by His mercy, adding to them at the level of soul and intellect.
As God says in verse (38:43): "And We gave him back his household and the like of them with them, as a mercy from us, and a reminder unto those who have pure intellect."
Finally, the allusion is that this great bounty can be attained by mu'mins as well.

Q439 Please tell us what is the meaning of kawthar in verse (108:1): "(O Muhammad!) We have given you kawthar"?
A439

Kawthar is the name of a spring in paradise. It also means abundant good and he who has abundant offspring, that is, Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him), who has abundant offspring both physically as well as spiritually.
God had granted him to the holy Prophet as a child. Thus, Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him) is like the offspring of the holy Prophet, both at the level of the soul and the level of the forehead [i.e. the level of the intellect] and all the meanings of kawthar are applicable to Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him). Al-hamdu li'llah!

Q440 Please explain the wisdom of verse (13:38): "And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and We gave them wives and offspring."
A440

The special relationship of this blessed verse is to the spiritual and intellectual levels of the Prophets, where they have wives and offspring as well, otherwise physically Hazrat John (May peace be through him) [the Baptist] and Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him) did not get married [let alone have children].
This shows that the offspring of the Prophets and Imams are both at the level of soul as well as at the rank of intellect.

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