Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 47

Casket of Pearls 47

Tags: Sa`y, Struggle, Supreme Pen, Guarded Tablet, Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum

Q451 In verse (3:55), God said to Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him): "And I will set your followers above the unbelievers till the day of resurrection." This verse raises an extremely difficult question: Had the resurrection not taken place at the end of Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him)' cycle? If the answer is in the negative, his followers still remain above others, but how can this be possible? Kindly give us the correct answer to this question.
A451

The cycle of Jesus (May peace be through him) came to an end due to the resurrection that took place in the beginning of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny)'s prophethood, and the promise that was made to the mu'mins of that cycle was also fulfilled.
Study verse (61:6) of how Hazrat Jesus (May peace be through him) had given the glad tidings of the coming of the Messenger after him (i.e. the holy Prophet) and what the children of Israel said and how they rejected him when the time came.

Q452 It is mentioned in verse (61:8): "They intend to extinguish the light of God with [the blows of] their mouths, but God will perfect His light, however much the disbelievers may be averse." See also verse (9:32). The fundamental question here is: When did the light of God appear in the world of creation? First of all, who was the enemy of His light and why? What is meant by [the blows of] their mouths? How does God perfect His light?
A452

The light of God appeared in the world of creation in the time of Adam (May peace be through him) and in his person.
Iblis was the first to show enmity to the light of God and Cain (Qabil) followed him.
Arrogance and rejection were the root of this enmity.
Blows of their mouths mean the false arguments and abortive attempts.
God continues to perfect His light every time in the chain of the Prophets and Imams. Reflect also upon "light upon light" (24:35).

Q453 It is mentioned in verse (58:21): "God has decreed: I shall conquer, I and My Messengers. Verily, God is strong and mighty." Indeed, God may have decreed such a programme for each of His Messengers that with His help he may conquer the universe for his mu'mins or he may conquer the planet earth and make Islam overwhelm the other religions. However, such a success has never apparently happened, therefore please tell us what is the main secret in this noble verse?
A453

Indeed, you are sure of the fact that the Qur'an has an exoteric aspect (zahir) and an esoteric aspect (batin). Thus, according to the description of this verse, the victory and overpowering of God and His Messengers in every battle is very easy. However, on the whole people are given respite in this world.
But, whenever the spiritual resurrection takes place, no one is given respite. You have understood the secret that for the sake of the true mission (da`wat-i haqq) the spiritual resurrection is also that religious battle in which God, the Messenger of the cycle, the Imam of the time and mu'mins conquer the entire universe [spiritually].

Q454 The wisdom-filled verse (53:39) says: "And that for man there is nothing save what he struggles (ma sa`a) for". This creates the zeal of high ambition and resolve in every pious mu'min, therefore please explain its wisdom to us.
A454

The word "sa`y" (struggle, endeavour) comprises all the exalted meanings of knowledge and action. Struggle according to true guidance, is done through the body, soul and intellect.
It also alludes to the correct and successful spiritual exercise (riyazat). For, the real struggle is the one in which a wise person not only awakens his capabilities and uses them correctly, but also perfects them to the highest degree.

Q455 Please tell us an esoteric wisdom of verse (29:69): "And those who struggle in Our [path], We surely guide them to Our paths."
A455

Although from the very beginning the struggle of a mu'min progresses step by step in the light of guidance, the special luminous guidance starts after the intellectual transformation.
This Divine guidance is the subject of the major jihad, because [constant] struggle and endeavour is indeed against the carnal soul.

Q456 Please explain the farman of Hazrat Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him): "I am that Book in which there is no doubt".¹⁰²
A456

In verses (2:1-2) God says: "Alif, lam, mim. That is the Book wherein there is no doubt." As you read in Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him)'s farman, these verses are about him, for it is he who is the speaking Book (23:62; 45:29).
Thus, this is the praise of the speaking Qur'an, namely the Imam of the time, in whom there is no doubt. That is, there is in him only certainty (yaqin), which is on three levels: the knowledge of certainty, the eye of certainty and the truth of certainty. Doubt and certainty are contrary to each other. Thus, the purpose of the negation of doubt is that the meanings of certainty should come forward from behind the veil.

Q457 The verse that follows the disjointed letters has a link and a connection with them, so please tell us what is the link of the above verse with the disjointed letters Alif, lam, mim?
A457

Alif = awwal (the First, supreme Pen), lam = lawh-i mahfuz (the guarded Tablet), mim = marqum (writing). Thus, God says: By the Pen, the Tablet and the writing, that in this Book (Alif, lam, mim) there is no doubt, rather only certainty, as mentioned above. From the sacred farman of the lord of ta'wil, Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him), it is clear that the book in which all the levels of certainty are to be found is only Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him). Thus, you see that there is a link between the oath and its complement (jawab-i qasam).

Q458 What are the wonders and marvels of verses (32:1-2): "Alif, lam, mim. Tanzilu'l-kitabi la rayba fihi min rabbi'l-`alamin (By the supreme Pen, the guarded Tablet and the writing which is in the guarded Tablet)! The sending down of alif, lam, mim, that is the Book in which there is no doubt, is from the Lord of the personal worlds"?
A458

The supreme Pen means the light of the holy Prophet, which is an archangel by the name of Universal Intellect; the guarded Tablet means the light of Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him), which is the archangel Universal Soul, and the writing means the glorious Qur'an, which is in the guarded Tablet, namely the light of `Ali (May peace be through him) (85:21-22). Take note of how you regard these great secrets.
The tanzil or sending down that is mentioned in this verse is the first tanzil. That is, by God's command the Pen sent down the Qur'an into the guarded Tablet, which preserved it forever.
The guarded Tablet gradually gave a complete copy of the Qur'an to Israfil, who gave it to Mika'il, who gave it to Jibra'il, who revealed it to the holy Prophet's blessed heart.¹⁰³

Q459 The following is also a farman of the Commander of the faithful, Hazrat `Ali (May peace be through him): "I am the guarded Tablet".¹⁰⁴ Please tell us where in the Qur'an it is prominently mentioned? What is its praise? In which world is it?
A459

The prominent mention of the guarded Tablet is in verse (85:22) of the Qur'an.
Its glorification is that the [luminous] holy Qur'an in which there is everything in the form of eternal inscription (naqsh-i azal) is in it.
Since by the guarded Tablet is meant the light of `Ali (May peace be through him)/the Imam-i mubin, the light is in the forehead, whose hidden name is the higher world. Yes, the light of `Ali (May peace be through him)/the Imam-i mubin is the archangel Universal Soul, who is the guarded Tablet.

Q460 Please explain verses (3:1-2): "Alif, lam, mim. Allahu la ilaha illa huwa'l-hayyu'l-qayyum".
A460

"By God's Pen, the guarded Tablet [and] the writing [which is in the guarded Tablet]. God, there is no God but He, the living, the supporter [of each and every world].
This shows that al-hayy and al-qayyum are two special and great names of God and they have extremely great significance. The two blessed and living names of God are hujjat-i qa'im (May peace be through him) and Hazrat qa'im (May peace be through him). They are mentioned in the ayatu'l-kursi (2:255) and also in verse (20:111) and seven times in the Chapters that start with Ha' Mim.

¹⁰² Muhammad Salih Kashfi, Manaqib-i Murtazawi, translated into Urdu by Sharif Husayn as Kawkab-i Durri (Lahore, n.d.), p. 200.
¹⁰³ Nasir-i Khusraw, Khwan al-Ikhwan, ed. `A. Qawim (Tehran, 1959), pp. 199, 204.
¹⁰⁴ Muhammad Salih Kashfi, Manaqib-i Murtazawi, translated into Urdu by Sharif Husayn as Kawkab-i Durri (Lahore, n.d.), p. 199.

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