Caskets of Pearls Vol. 1 - Casket of Pearls 6
Casket of Pearls 6
Tags: Sabiqun, Wildan mukhalladun, Eternal Youths, Houris, Ar-Raqim
Q51 Each and every verse of the Qur'an has an exoteric and an esoteric aspect, and hence there is no place in it in which a door of wonders and marvels of knowledge and wisdom does not open to the people of insight. In the light of this, please explain some points about the amazing subtle life of the people of paradise, known as the sabiqun (those who excel others). What are the characteristics of the sabiqun? Do they excel in everything? Or primarily in knowledge and action? Are they the closest ones [to God] according to the Qur'an? Is there a command to excel in everything?
A51 The characteristics of the sabiqun are described in verses (56:10-26, 56:88-89). They excel in everything, primarily in `ilm (knowledge) and `amal (action). According to the Qur'an, the sabiqun are the muqarrabun (those who are near God). Yes, in the Qur'an there is a command to excel in everything in verses (57:21; 2:148).
Q52 In verse (56:17) eternal youths (wildanum-mukhalladun) are mentioned. Who are they? Since when do they exist? Whence have they come? Do they belong to the world of ibda` or to the world of creation? Are they subtle or dense?
A52 These eternal youths are the people of paradise and they are the symbol and wisdom of "eternal life" (50:34). The people of paradise are initially the people of this world. When they die, they are renewed in the subtle body and are ushered into paradise. Initially they are related to the world of creation. Later on when they receive the subtle body, they become ibda`i. They are in paradise eternally and they also come to this world and are born. Therefore they have two "I's", the higher "I" and the lower "I" (6:99; 56:17).14
Q53 Who are the houris mentioned in verses (56:22-23): "And houris with wide, beautiful eyes, like unto hidden pearls." Are they not intellectual houris? Are their beautiful eyes not an example of the inner eye, which can see the secrets of the world of oneness (sacred Sanctuary)? Is there not an allusion to the Pearl of Intellect (hidden Book) in their being preserved like hidden pearls? Are the houris not extremely wonderful and marvellous, and due to their being in the sacred Sanctuary, are they not merged in God and in the surat-i Rahman? Is it not a revolutionary concept, in fact a bright proof that men and women can both progress spiritually up to merging in the surat-i Rahman?
A53 They are the intellectual houris. The beautiful eyes are the examples of the inner eye, which can see the secrets of the world of oneness (sacred Sanctuary). In their being preserved like hidden pearls there is an allusion to the Pearl of Intellect (hidden Book). Such houris are extremely miraculous because they are of intellect and knowledge and due to being in the sacred Sanctuary they are merged in God and in the surat-i Rahman (Image of the Compassionate). This is a very revolutionary concept, in fact, a bright reality that both men and women can progress up to surat-i Rahman.
Q54 Are the houris of the second rank also mentioned in surah (56)?
A54 Yes, they are also mentioned in verses (56:35-38): "We created them (houris) a [specially new] creation [i.e. in the luminous body], and we made them virgins, loving [their husbands] equal in age, for the people of the right." In paradise both men and women will have the luminous body (subtle body). Since they are born simultaneously in the personal world (paradise), they will be equal in age, and since they will leave the dense body and enter the subtle one, the women will be virgins.
Q55 What is the ta'wil of verses (55:72-74): "Houris, cloistered in pavilions, then which of the bounties of your Lord will both of you belie? Whom neither man nor jinn did touch before them."
A55 The ta'wil of these verses is that these are the untouched secrets of the hidden treasure. It is true that in every example a pearl of knowledge is hidden and the supreme realities and recognitions are hidden in the beautiful examples of the houris of paradise.
Q56 In verse (7:189), the Qur'an says: "He it is Who created you from a single soul, and from it made his spouse that he may rest in her (li-yaskuna ilayha)". Is this the mention of physical creation of the people or their spiritual creation (in the form of particles)?
A56 This is the spiritual creation of the people. You may remember the wisdom search in which this truly great secret was mentioned that in the stage of Hazrat `Izra'il, countless subtle copies of the Perfect Man are created. These copies are man, jinn, pari, houris and ghilman (youth) of paradise as well, and they have many names.
Q57 Is it true that the intellectual and real spouse of the Perfect Man is not created before reaching the place of Intellect and the sacred Sanctuary?
A57 Yes, it is true, because the purpose of "he may rest in her" is the marriage of knowledge. If you want to know about the marriage of the kamils (Perfect Men) and the muttaqin (those who do taqwa), see verse (44:54): "So will it be, and We will marry them with houris with big and beautiful eyes."
Q58 Why are such questions and answers necessary?
A58 They are necessary because spiritual progress is not possible unless someone attains `ilmu'l-yaqin (knowledge of certainty) about the spiritual and intellectual favours and bounties of paradise. It is `ilmu'l-yaqin through which you can recognise hell and paradise as mentioned in verses (102:5-6): "Nay, if you knew the knowledge of certainty, you would certainly have seen hell." If hell can be seen through the knowledge of certainty, then paradise too, can be seen.
Q59 What is human existence?
A59 Human existence is a compendium of three things: body, soul and intellect. Accordingly, a human being needs three kinds of nourishment, pleasure and happiness, i.e. physical, spiritual and intellectual. Thus, those who confine themselves only to physical nourishment, pleasure and happiness are doing great injustice to their souls and intellects.
Q60 What is our sacred duty?
A60 O my dear! Our sacred duty is wisdom search, because our spiritual and intellectual happiness as well as the happiness of all our companions is hidden in this blessed work. Therefore, let us do our best to recognise a great, pleasant and nourishing secret of the holy Qur'an, which is "ar-raqim" (18:9). Ar-raqim is a glimpse of a spiritual and esoteric writing for the saliks and `arifs so that they may believe in spiritual miracles.
14 See A Thousand Wisdoms, wisdoms 932-937, pp. 484-486.
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