Caskets of Pearls Vol. 2 - Casket of Pearls 59

Casket of Pearls 59

Tags: Aural Bounty, Hazrat Dawud, Music, Shukr, Community, Dhurriyyat, Salawat

Q581 If it is possible to have every type of visual bounty in paradise, why should it then not be possible to have every type of aural bounty too? [Or] to be more specific: Is there music in paradise or not?
A581 My view is that music as an aural bounty is always there in paradise. There are numerous proofs in support of this. However here we will be brief and furnish only a small selection of Qur'anic proofs. According to verses (16:31; 25:16; 39:34; 42:22; 50:35), every bounty which the people of paradise desire (yasha'un) is present there. Can there be any reason for not desiring music in paradise? Can there also be any danger from the carnal soul or satan in paradise? No, never!

Q582 As mentioned above, the bounties of paradise are according to the desires of its people. Since some people there may wish to witness the recital of Psalms with music and the miracle of the melodious voice of Hazrat Dawud (May peace be through him), will this bounty be possible or not in paradise?
A582

No bounty is impossible in paradise. There it will be possible to see every Prophet with all his miracles.
A great majority of people in paradise will have undergone resurrection unconsciously. Such people will be made to hear a milder version of sur-i Israfil for the sake of recognition, at which time they will realise whether there is music in the sur or not! They will also come to know whether there is music or not in paradise!

Q583 In view of the law of treasures (15:21) in Surah-yi Hijr, every wise person will accept that like all other things, music is also revealed from the Divine treasures. Furthermore, all of Allah's treasures are in paradise. If this is correct, please verify it and if it is against the wisdom of the Qur'an, please tell us.
A583

This statement is so well-grounded and clear that it has no example.
From among all the worldly bounties music is the only bounty which can prove to be most beneficial for Allah's lovers. We should reflect on why Hazrat Dawud (May peace be through him) needed to use musical instruments to recite the Psalms (Zabur) despite his unique, melodious voice. Is this not a practical example for everybody?

Q584 It is stated in Surah-yi Saba verse (34:13): "'O family of Dawud, act gratefully'. Very few of My servants are grateful." What is the ta'wili wisdom of this?
A584

Among the family of Hazrat Dawud (May peace be through him) the first and the foremost was Hazrat Sulayman (May peace be through him), who was an Imam. He was commanded by Allah to grant spirituality, knowledge and wisdom step by step to the mu'mins of the first rank. This is the practical gratitude of the Imams.
Showing gratitude is of two kinds: Verbal and practical. Those who perform verbal gratitude are in great numbers, whereas those who are practically grateful are very few indeed.

Q585 In Surah-yi Baqarah verse (2:56) it is said: "Then We raised you up after your death, so that you may haply give thanks." Who is addressed in this? Which death is this? Is this verbal or practical thanks?
A585

Those who are addressed here are the hujjats of Bani Isra'il. This death is not physical rather it is spiritual, that is, merging in the Imam, in which there are great treasures of knowledge and recognition. This is why they have been given the guidance to show practical thanks.
It is my experience and complete certainty that there are many such words in whose final meanings there is the mention of knowledge and recognition. For instance there is the word 'shukr' (thanks), the first meaning of which is appreciation of the Benefactor's (mun`im) bounty, the second meaning being gratitude for the real Benefactor's bounty and the third meaning being to give knowledge as practical gratitude for the True Benefactor's real bounty, that is, knowledge and recognition. This type of gratitude to Allah is shown only by the Prophets and Imams.

Q586 In Surah-yi Nahl verses (16:120-121) it is said: "Verily Ibrahim was a community (ummat), devoutly obedient to Allah, upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Allah's bounties. Allah chose him and guided him to the right path." Please explain how Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) was a complete community in his own person? And his other attributes?
A586

This example relates to every Prophet and every Imam in whom all people merge through the resurrection, and [as a result] he becomes the Single Soul, that is, a complete community.
Real obedience (qunut) means that the Single Soul makes people merge in God.
Upright means that in the state of annihilation, he is overpowered by Divine love.
He was not of the polytheists means that the `arif is merged in Allah and is a monotheist.
Gratitude for Allah's bounties means that the Prophet and the Imam enrich people with the spiritual bounties of Allah.
Allah chose Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) for Imamat and made him the guide on the straight path.

Q587 It is stated in Surah-yi Bani Isra'il verse (17:3): "O you, the offspring (spiritual particles) of those whom We bore (in the ark) with Nuh; verily he (Nuh) was a grateful servant." What ta'wili wisdom is in this sacred teaching?
A587

Just as God enfolds the universe He also enfolds the verses.
Thus, this verse, in fact all the verses are enfolded in verse (11:7) of Surah-yi Hud: "And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth (of the personal world) in six days – and His throne manifested on the water (of knowledge) – that He may try you, which of you is best in (knowledge) and action".
A great secret amongst the secrets of the Qur'an is in the word "dhurriyyat", whose special meaning is 'spiritual particles'. Thus, the luminous dream of the "laden ark" (36:41) is such that there is only a Single Person in the ark and the rest are as his "dhurriyyat" or spiritual particles which are invisible.
This same person is Allah's throne on the ocean of knowledge mentioned above.
Hazrat Nuh (May peace be through him) represents all the Prophets and Imams in this extremely important example of knowledge and recognition.

Q588 Verse (48:10) of Surah-yi Fath says: "Verily (O Prophet) those who give bay`at (oath of allegiance) to you indeed give bay`at to Allah; Allah's hand is above their hands." According to the law of this verse, it was as if the companions of the Prophet had attained the supreme bliss of giving bay`at to Allah Himself and this action was the covenant of religious obedience to Him. However, a very important and necessary question is that when the Seal of Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) passed away, who received the great rank of representing Allah's bay`at?
A588 According to the verses of the wise Qur'an and the true Ahadith the reality is brighter than the sun that it was the exalted Imam `Ali (May peace be through him) who was appointed by Allah and His Prophet.

Q589 According to a hadith the Prophet was asked: "O the Prophet of Allah! We have come to know how to greet you, but how should we send salawat (sing. salat = blessing) upon you?" The Prophet replied: Recite thus Allahumma salli `ala Muhammadin wa `ala al-i Muhammadin kama sallayta `ala Ibrahima wa `ala al-i Ibrahim. Innaka hamidun majid. Allahumma barik `ala Muhammadin wa `ala al-i Muhammadin kama barakta `ala Ibrahima wa `ala al-i Ibrahim. Innaka hamidun majid.¹¹ You have previously explained the various wisdoms of the salawat, could you please tell us a particular ta'wil here.
A589

Salawat refers to the luminous and spiritual rain, that is, the rain of mercy and knowledge, which pours from the presence of Allah.
Allah and His angels send salawat on Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and his progeny in the way commanded by Allah and the angels pour it on the holy Prophet and his progeny just as they did on Prophet Ibrahim (May peace be through him) and his progeny, and they in turn continue to send it on the people of faith.

Q590 Since Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) is the Chief of the Prophets, what is the secret in equating him with Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) in sending the heavenly salawat?
A590

There can be many more secrets in this, however one great secret is that in the example of Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him)'s progeny there is an allusion to all the Qur'anic virtues of Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny)'s progeny.
Another reason is that the biggest problem for people is the recognition of Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny)'s progeny;
Despite the fact that from beginning to end the holy Qur'an is full of the beautiful mention of the Imams from Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny)'s progeny and this reality is described in many different types of examples.
Amongst these examples one is salawat, which in reality is mercy and knowledge. Mercy comes from the fountainhead of the Universal Soul and knowledge comes from the treasure of the Universal Intellect.
The holy Qur'an says in Surah-yi al-Mu'min verse (40:7): "O Our Lord, You encompass everything in mercy and knowledge."

¹¹Al-Bukhari, p. 1104, hadith 6357.

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