Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 51

Casket of Pearls 51

Tags: Taskhir, Subjugation, Freewill, Khiyarah, Tawakkul, Remembrance, Shiver

Q491 It is said in verse (24:41): "Everyone knows its salat and its tasbih." See also verse (13:15): "And whoever is in the heavens and the earth prostrates to God willingly or unwillingly." That is, there is nothing without salat, tasbih and prostration. If according to this universal formula, all rational and irrational beings serve God, why are punishment and reward related only to the rational beings?
A491

Servitude or `ibadat of God is of two kinds: Subjugative (taskhiri) and willing (ikhtiyari). Will is granted only to rational beings.
The holy Qur'an speaks of taw`an (willingly) and karhan (unwillingly). Thus, when a mu'min prostrates to God, it is a willing prostration therefore it is rewarded, but the prostration of a tree is natural and subjugative, therefore it is not rewarded.

Q492 Please explain what taskhir (subjugation) is and in what form is it?
A492

Taskhir means to subjugate, make subservient, obedient. Several verses of the wise Qur'an show that God by His infinite mercy has subjugated the entire universe externally and internally to humankind. Verse (31:20) is one such great, blessed verse filled with knowledge and wisdom: "Do you not see that God has subjugated to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and has completed His favours, both apparently and in a hidden way."

Q493 Please establish in the light of Qur'anic proof that man possesses freewill (ikhtiyar).
A493

The word for ikhtiyar or freewill in the holy Qur'an is al-khiyarah (28:68; 33:36). Study these two verses carefully.
Study also the subject of tawakkul in the wise Qur'an, for it means to submit the ikhtiyar to the real wakil (agent), who casts the illumination of the light of guidance on you and limits your freewill. This shows that human beings possess freewill.

Q494 Please tell us what was the trust (amanat) mentioned in verse (33:72): "Verily We offered the [burden of] trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it; but man undertook it; verily he was unjust and arrogant."
A494

This is the trust of freewill given to man. That is, freewill is given to human beings as a trust so that they may return it through the stages of tawakkul.
You know the story of dying before death, that as soon as the salik enters the destination of `Izra'il, he no longer has freewill. A subtle allusion to this fact is in verse (33:36).

Q495 One new and useful way of teaching in this invaluable book "Caskets of Pearls" is that sometimes you place magnificent key words in front of the students so that they may assess their own treasure-trove of knowledge. Please make a questionnaire of key words for us.
A495

- Single Soul?
- Six days of the world of religion?
- Imam-i mustaqarr and Imam-i mustawda`?
- Asas?

Wasi?
- Wasi of Adam (May peace be through him)?
- Wasi of Moses (May peace be through him)?
- Bab?
- Kawthar?
- Speaking Prophet?
- Endless resurrections?
- Spiritual death/death of the carnal soul?
- Physical death?
- Wazir?
- Hijab (veil)?
- Kafil (guardian)?
- Hujjat?
- Ma'dhun?
- Da`i-yi mutlaq?
- Mustajib?
- Hujjat-i jazirah?
- Pir?

Q496 Key words mean old and new technical terms, including important titles. Just as every locked treasure has a door, which has a key, or a locked chest of pearls has a key, the treasures of knowledge and wisdom also have keys. Kindly make a questionnaire of some more key words.
A496

- Resurrection of resurrections?
- Gathering (hashr)?
- Scattering (nashr)?
- The day of Reckoning?
- Major hajj?
- Major jihad?
- Martyr?
- Mortal (fani)?
- New (jadid)?
- Manna and quails?
- I`tikaf?
- Forty days (arba`in)?
- Salih's she-camel?
- Duldul?
- Qanbar?
- Salman?
- Abu Dharr?
- Dhu'l-faqar?
- Ayat of innama?
- Mi`raj?
- La fata?

Q497 Has a list of key words been prepared already?
A497

Yes, a good list of key words has already been prepared and published in Karnamah-yi Zarrin, II, pp. 56-59. God willing, with our students' help we will prepare a dictionary of old and new technical terms together with their explanation.
In the course of this great feat we will give preference to those students who are capable and industrious and, in addition to attending classes, are also interested in private study. For this process it is necessary that students know the correct meaning of the technical terms and other important vocabulary, so that a list may be prepared from each book and a dictionary compiled from the lists collected.

Q498 What is the thing praised in verse (39:23)? Would you kindly explain some of its beauties?
A498

This verse first praises the holy Qur'an and then it praises the ism-i a`zam (supreme Name). The beauties and miracles of the wise Qur'an are open to everybody, but it is extremely difficult to have access to the miracles of ism-i a`zam.
Ism-i a`zam is the excellent speech of God, which is equivocal and it is repeated as a remembrance. The skins of those dhakirin who fear God shiver by its remembrance, then their skins and their hearts become tender and incline to the remembrance of God.

Q499 Perhaps it is a question of spiritual science or spiritual healing that, under the influence of the recitation of the Qur'an and the ism-i a`zam, the skin of a mu'min shivers. Could you explain appropriately how this happens?
A499

God willing. A human body is a compendium of countless living cells in which, according to wisdom, a huge universe of souls is asleep.
When a sincere mu'min is absorbed in the dhikr of the heart with fear of God, the luminosity of ism-i a`zam permeates the souls in the cells, due to which they wake up with zeal and fervour for a while.

Q500 One of the purposes of Qur'anic teachings is to reflect on the marvels and wonders of Divine power. Alas! Most people are subject to pride and look down upon many things and do not reflect upon them. The question here is related to an instance in nature, when a fly sits on the ear of a donkey to bite it, the ear moves instantly and causes the fly to fly away. Please tell us how the donkey knows the fly is sitting on its ear and how does it command its ear to repel the fly, which has come to suck its blood?
A500

Whether it is a human being or an animal, the animal soul with its system of sensory communication is spread throughout the cells of its entire body.
When the fly sits on the ear of the donkey to suck blood, the local cells send a sensory signal to the brain, which immediately commands the ear to repel the fly.

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