Caskets of Pearls Vol. 2 - Casket of Pearls 53

Casket of Pearls 53

Tags: Suratu'r-Rahman, mithl, Jism-i Mithali, Body of Similitude, Adornment of Stars, Maq`adi Sidq, Return to Allah, Satan, Hell Fire

Q521 As human beings we are extremely weak and we seek Allah's help for the sake of Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and his progeny so that He may help us by His infinite mercy. The question is: Could you explain a laudatory wisdom of the surah of Rahman to us?
A521

God willing! Its first laudatory wisdom is that the Bride of the Qur'an is above and beyond our limited intellect. Nonetheless we will try to present a few points in order to seek blessings.
The surah of Rahman is such an all-inclusive Qur'anic subject that it has encompassed the knowledge of the entire domain of existence.
The great secret is unveiled in it that human being, jinn and angel are three forms of the same reality.
It has 31 subsidiary subjects, in each of which the common bounties of human beings and jinn are mentioned, ending with a summary of: "Then which of the bounties of your Lord will you both belie."
Read each of them separately and reflect on how they can be common between jinn and humankind.
Most of the subjects consist of only one ayat (verse), but they are extremely comprehensive. Why not? After all it is the pure and wisdom-filled speech of Allah, the Knowing, the Wise, which has no precedent.

Q522 At the end of most Qur'anic surahs there is an important ayat, which contains great secrets. Would you kindly explain the wisdom of the last ayat of the surah of Rahman?
A522

The last ayat is "Blessed is the name of your Lord, the Majestic, the Generous." (55:78). This is the praise of the supreme Name of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, which is living and speaking in every age.
The people of ma`rifat know that not only does Allah have treasures, but He has the treasure of treasures as well, which is indeed the Imam-i mubin and contains all sublime blessings.

Q523 Although we are absolutely sure that all the treasures of Allah are gathered and preserved in the sacred light of the Imam-i mubin, yet a question related to [greater] knowledge remains as to whether there is a Qur'anic proof which shows that this is also true of every human being?
A523 Yes, there are many proofs. One bright proof is: "And there are signs in the earth for those who have certainty and within yourselves. Do you not then see?" (51:20-21) This is an irrefutable Qur'anic evidence that the signs of the entire universe are in every individual regardless of status, because by the earth is meant the universe. However, the immense difference in this great secret is that in the awliya' and `arifs these signs are in actual form, whereas they are only in a potential form in the common people. Thus, for learned people it becomes evident that everything and all realities and recognitions are gathered together within the Imam-i mubin.

Q524 In the higher world the soul of every individual is like his physical form, but since that is the subtle world it is on the perfect level of beauty and elegance. Is there any wisdom-filled allusion to this fact in the wise Qur'an?
A524

Indeed, there is the explanation of everything in the Qur'an (16:89). Reflect on the wisdom of verses (17:99; 36:81) in which by mithl (like) is meant the soul: "Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like (mithl) of them?" (36:81) That is, Allah is able to create "likes" of them, taking them from their bodies to their homomorphic souls.
See also verses (56:61; 76:28). This is called jism-i mithali (body of similitude) and the same is every individual's homomorphic soul.

Q525 Verses (37:6-8) mention: "We have adorned the nearest heaven (of spirituality) with the adornment of stars, and as a safeguard against every rebellious satan. They cannot listen to the sublime assembly and they are pelted from every side." What is the wisdom of this Divine teaching?
A525

This is a description of the satans trying to steal the heavenly and spiritual secrets in a wrong way. In their failure to do so and being driven away and becoming despondent, the Qur'an alludes that for those who are close to God (muqarrabin), there is no obstacle in spiritual progress.
There are two purposes in adorning the nearest heaven of spirituality with stars: to drive the satans away from the heavenly secrets and to guide the friends of Allah to Him, so that the treasures of knowledge and recognition may be unveiled to them.

Q526 Would you kindly explain the ta'wili wisdom of verses (54:54-55): "Indeed the righteous (muttaqin) are in gardens and rivers, in the assembly of truthfulness (maq`adi sidq) in the presence of an omnipotent King."
A526

First of all, we have to see in which gardens and rivers of the Qur'anic paradise are the righteous! The study of the Qur'an shows that the entire Book is full of the praise of the righteous.
One then comprehends the implication of these blessed verses which is that they are in all the gardens and rivers of paradise. In this regard, it is important to note that law of paradise which states that nothing without intellect and soul exists in it.
Maq`adi sidq means the assembly of extremely sublime knowledge, since sidq means truthfulness, which is the name of true knowledge.
Thus, this assembly of true knowledge and wisdom will be in the presence of the King of both the worlds and the meanings of the 'omnipotent King' are indeed limitless. Therefore, we can also say that although that assembly of knowledge and that great darbar of the King is due to the righteous, yet others will also be present there so that the great excellence of the service of knowledge may be manifest to all of them.

Q527 What is the wisdom in verses (7:43; 15:47), in which Allah says that He removes enmity, rancour and impurity from the hearts of the people of paradise?
A527

These three states are like thorns which continue to prick the heart, due to which the human being is always in pain.
In paradise, Allah's beatific vision is with the eye of the heart therefore it is necessary to keep it pure.
Another wisdom-filled allusion is that the pure heart of Allah's friends is free from any kind of enmity and rancour.
Another great secret in this is that Allah gradually lets all people enter paradise therefore He removes every kind of enmity from the hearts of the people of faith lest they suffer any pain when they behold their adversaries.

Q528 Please explain the wisdoms of the hadith: "Al-khalqu `iyalu'llah = People are [like] God's household".⁵
A528

There are amazing revolutionary wisdoms in this hadith. It shows that Almighty Allah loves His creatures very much.
For the people of insight it is crystal clear that the Creator of the world is never going to allow His creature, known as insan or human being, to go to waste.

Q529 Please explain the gist of verse (23:115): "What! Did you then think that We created you in vain and that you will not be returned to Us?"
A529

Allah did not create people in vain therefore they have to return to Him in every state.
Return to Allah is both willingly and by force (3:83) and the spiritual resurrection which recurs in every time (17:71) is for the purpose of return.
During this event of resurrection Allah enfolds the universe and existents in the personal world. At that time nothing except good is left in the blessed hand of the Enfolder and Unfolder (3:26).

Q530 When Allah enfolds the heaven and the earth, every kind of evil comes to an end. Would you kindly explain what happens to hell and satan in this case?
A530

Answers to every possible question are given in the unique heavenly Book of Allah, the Qur'an. Therefore the answer to this question in it is that when the time comes, Allah by His mercy transforms hell fire into a garden just as He transformed the pyre of Nimrod into a garden for Ibrahim (May peace be through him) (21:69).
Satan is transformed into an angel, because his work was to last only until the resurrection (7:14) and the hell fire where he was undergoing suffering is transformed into a garden. Since there is only good in Allah's hand, evil will also transform into good.

⁵ Da`a'imu'l-Islam, II, 320.

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