Caskets of Pearls Vol. 2 - Casket of Pearls 94

Casket of Pearls 94

Tags: Hawz, Kawthar, Najmu'th-thaqib, Ayatu'llah, Islam, Hazrat Abu Talib

Q931 What wisdom-filled indications are there in the river of the water of Kawthar and in the hawz (pond)?
A931

Just as the extended water of a river adopts the form of unity when reaching the pond, in the same way all the words, meanings and ta'wils of the wise Qur'an rise to the Sacred Sanctuary to become the ta'wil of the most comprehensive of the comprehensives.
Furthermore, there is also the indication in this that upon entering the Sacred Sanctuary the scattered souls of the entire world become one soul just like the pond's water. Therefore, the most amazing and greatest wisdom is that Kawthar means a very great abundance and if we observe the pond's water, there is nothing but unity.

Q932 There are some questions related to Surah-yi Tariq (86): What is an-najmu'th-thaqib (86:3)? What is meant by "every soul has a guardian over it" (86:4)? Which is the heaven which sends rain (86:11)?
A932

An-najmu'th-thaqib is that shining star of the Higher world, which sometimes becomes the sun, sometimes the moon and sometimes the star.
The angels who record deeds are initially more than one, but at the place of oneness they are gathered into one angel, which is why the word "guardian (hafiz)" is in the singular and is used instead of hafizin.
The heaven which sends the rain of knowledge is in the Higher world.

Q933 There are some questions related to Surah-yi Layl (92): What is meant by 'night' (92:1 ?); 'day' (92:2 ?); 'man', 'woman' (92:3 ?); 'giving to others' (92:5 ?); 'confirming goodness' (92:6 ?); 'giving one's wealth in order to become pure' (92:18 ?)?
A933

Night = batin (esoteric); day = zahir (exoteric), man = teacher, woman = student, giving [to others] = giving knowledge, confirming goodness = confirming the goodness of religious teachings through ta'wil, giving one's wealth in order to become pure = there is greater purity through imparting knowledge.

Q934 There is no example in the wise Qur'an, in which an amazing and marvellous wisdom is not hidden! What is the wisdom hidden in the example mentioned in Surah-yi Jumu`ah (62:5), which is: 'Those who were entrusted with the Tawrat, yet they did not apply it are like the ass who is carrying the burden of books. Wretched is the likeness of those who deny the signs of Allah (i.e., the Imams). And Allah does not guide the wrongdoers?'
A934

The mamthul (meaning), which is in this example is crystal clear, which is that if the people had duly acted upon the heavenly book with knowledge and wisdom, such an abject example would not have been used.
From ancient times there are also such people in this world who deny the existence of God therefore they cannot logically say that His ayat (signs) are false. Therefore, the reality is that if responsible people do not confirm the signs, then it is to belie them.
To reject the Imams from the progeny of Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) is also belying God's signs. There is a blessed farman of Hazrat Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him) mentioned in Kawkab-i durri: "Ana ayatu'llah", that is, 'I am God's signs and miracles'.⁴³ Therefore, to accept the Imam, to obey and love him and to recognise him are indeed to confirm God's signs, otherwise it amounts to perpetrating [the sin of] belying God's signs. There are many verses in the Qur'an, which mention the belying of God's signs and their collective ta'wil is as mentioned above.

Al-hamdu li'llah! All these invaluable gifts are for the Imam (May peace be through him)'s lovers.

Q935 The following farman of Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him) is mentioned in Da`a'imu'l-Islam: "Zahiruhu `amalun mawjubun wa batinuhu `ilmun maknunun mahjubun wa huwa `indana ma`lumun maktubun = Its exoteric aspect is an obligatory action and its esoteric aspect is a veiled hidden knowledge and it is with us known and written."⁴⁴ Please explain this to us.
A935

This is the brightest universal [principle].
'The exoteric of the Qur'an is obligatory and its esoteric is a veiled knowledge, which is with us known and written'.
In its esoteric the Qur'an is hidden knowledge, which means the hidden book, which is veiled in the Imam (May peace be through him)'s personal world, but is with him known and written.

Q936 Is it possible for you to tell us what the definition of Islam and Muslim was according to Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him)?
A936

It is obvious that this question is extremely difficult, however it is possible [to answer] with the Imam (May peace be through him)'s help.
Its foremost condition is the recognition of Prophets and Imams. If this recognition is universal, no question is difficult, otherwise it is.
The word Islam is from the root 's' 'l' 'm', the derivatives of which are numerous.
Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) is the proof of all its meanings.
According to him Islam is the religion of true obedience externally and internally and due to which he merged in God, recognised his soul, recognised God and became the supreme muwahhid. Therefore, his exemplary Islam with all its external and internal beauties is extremely amazing and which has been repeatedly praised by God.
In view of his own recognition Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) was that Muslim whose spiritual face had become the Image of the Compassionate in the Sacred Sanctuary (6:80).
When God's friends undergo qiyamat, only then can they attain the recognition of the spiritual and intellectual beauties of Islam and [being] Muslim.

Q937 This question is related to Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him)'s progeny, which has been praised so greatly in the Qur'an, that one cannot find another such example (4:54). Please explain how the following noble verse can apply to the forefathers of Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him), who were Ibrahim (May peace be through him)'s progeny: "But indeed We gave to Ibrahim's children the book and wisdom and We gave them a great kingdom" (4:54).
A937

They were the mustaqarr Imams and their hudud-i din.
Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him), the son of Ibrahim (May peace be through him) was the Imam-i mustaqarr and asas and Hazrat Ishaq (May peace be through him) was the Imam-i mustawda`. The line of mustaqarr Imams continued in the progeny of Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him) and the line of mustawda` Imams continued in the line of Hazrat Ishaq (May peace be through him).
Therefore three great things: the spirituality of the heavenly book, wisdom and a spiritual kingdom continued as inheritance in the progeny of Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him), who were the forefathers of Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny).

Q938 This question is about Surah-yi Al-i `Imran (3:33-34): "Verily Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of `Imran above (all His) creatures. Offspring, one from the other." In fact, there are several questions here:

Are all of these chosen people Prophets?
Who is Hazrat `Imran (May peace be through him)?
There is no mention of the progeny of Adam and Nuh (May peace be through them) in this Divine choice, is there some secret in this?
Is Islam's perfect system of guidance mentioned in this noble verse?

A938

These chosen ones are the Prophets and Imams.
This `Imran is Hazrat Imam Abu Talib (May peace be through him), whose noble name was `Imran.
These were from one family chain who were descended one from the other and, in these words all the righteous from the progeny of Adam and Nuh (May peace be through them) are included. See also Surah-yi Maryam (19:58) and Surah-yi Hadid (57:26).
Yes indeed the perfect system of guidance in Islam is mentioned in this noble verse.

Q939 We need to have clear proofs about the Imamat of Hazrat Abu Talib (May peace be through him).
A939

The Verse of Istafa (3:33-34 ) shows clearly that the progeny of Ibrahim to whom God had granted the book, wisdom and the great kingdom, were the people of one chain.
This same chain included Hazrat `Abdullah, the father of Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him)'s father, Hazrat Abu Talib (May peace be through him), so how can these two personalities be excluded from the special favours of God?
Those mu'mins who have properly understood the Divine law of "light upon light" (nurun `ala nur, 24:35) know the clear reality that the father of every Prophet and Imam is also light.
Otherwise the logic of "light upon light" cannot be understood.
It is important to realise that the above noble verse praises the holy Prophet more and more by stating that Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) is his progenitor and that Ibrahim's progeny are his forefathers.
Hazrat `Imran (May peace be through him) was his gracious uncle and the Imam-i muqim, just as with Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him) the Imam-i muqim was Hunayd (May peace be through him).
With every natiq there is an Imam-i muqim to nourish him spiritually, thus with Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny), the Imam-i muqim was Hazrat `Imran (May peace be through him) (Abu Talib).

Q940 Please give us more details about Hazrat Abu Talib (May peace be through him).
A940 Please refer to the book "Sara'ir", which mentions Hazrat Abu Talib (May peace be through him) as `Imran.⁴⁵

⁴³ Kawkab-i durri, Chapter 3, manqabat 80, p. 208.
⁴⁴ Da`a'imu'l-Islam, Vol. I, p. 35.
⁴⁵Sara'ir, page 80.

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