Caskets of Pearls Vol. 2 - Casket of Pearls 95

Casket of Pearls 95

Tags: Hazrat Isma`il, Fana' fi'llah, Merging, Mi`raj

Q941 Could you please explain the following noble hadith: "Nuzila'l-Qur'anu `ala sab`ati ahrufin kullu harfin minha shafin kafin" = The Qur'an is revealed upon seven letters, each of which is healing and sufficient."⁴⁶
A941

This noble hadith and its luminous ta'wil is in the book "Sara'ir". The Qur'an means the holy Prophet's asas, that is, Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him), because it is he who does its ta'wil (sahib-i ta'wil) and is the mazhar (locus of manifestation) of its wonders and marvels.
The seven letters stand for the seven Imams from his progeny.
Amongst them each Imam is healing and sufficient for the people of his time.

Q942 Please tell us about the virtues of Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him), the son of Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him).
A942

Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him) was only a baby when, according to God's command, Hazrat Ibrahim (May peace be through him) brought him with his mother Hazrat Hajirah (May peace be through her) to settle down in the valley of Makkah which at that time was barren and unpopulated (14:37).
Who is unaware of the story of Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him)'s sacrifice in the Qur'an (37:107)?
Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him) was with his great father in the sacred work of building the Ka`bah as well as in the special prayer at that time (2:129).
Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him)'s blessed name has occurred in the Qur'an 12 times.
Hazrat Isma`il (May peace be through him) was the Imam-i mustaqarr and asas and his title was dhabihu'llah.
The holy Prophet (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him) are from his progeny, which is his greatest excellence.

Q943 Please tell us for which people is the most exalted law of merging in God (fana' fi'llah) and surviving in Him (baqa' bi'llah) ordained?
A943

First and foremost it is ordained for the Prophets and Imams.
After them it is for the `arifs.
And for those mu'mins who wish to progress on the sirat-i mustaqim.

Q944 In which verse of the Qur'an is merging in God (fana' fi'llah) mentioned?
A944

Many verses have been revealed about this subject.
Amongst them, refer to (2:213) where the phrase "fa-ba`atha'llahu'n-nabiyyin" occurs, the literal translation of which is that 'God sent Prophets'.
Its ta'wil however, is that God made every Prophet undergo the spiritual qiyamat in which there is everything and certainly merging (fana' fi'llah) in God and surviving in Him (baqa' bi'llah) as well.
Everything is in the qiyamat because the universe of knowledge and recognition is enfolded in it. That is, at that time all the miracles of the forehead, which belong to the Imam-i mubin and the Sacred Sanctuary, are observed.

Q945 In which verse of the Qur'an is merging in God (fana' fi'llah) mentioned? [continued]
A945

`Arifs are also granted the rank of merging in God (fana' fi'llah) and surviving in Him (baqa' bi'llah) for the sake of the recognition of Prophets and Imams.
If this was not the case there would have been no trace of real recognition in this world and this sublime bounty would have been impossible for the people of faith.
Furthermore, there would have beeen no mention of recognition in the wise Qur'an, whereas it is mentioned throughout it.
It is for the sake of ma`rifat that God shows His miracles and signs (41:53; 27:93; 2:145).

Q946 The Chief of the Prophets (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) had observed great miracles of his Lord at the place of mi`raj (53:18). Could you tell us what were those miracles?
A946

The greatest miracle of vision (ru'yat, didar).
The most sublime miracle of the Word 'Be' (kun).
The peerless miracle of the enfolding and unfolding of the universe.
The indescribable miracle of the hidden book.
The astonishing secrets of the Pen and the Tablet.
These miracles are in their thousands, therefore they are beyond detailed description. They represent all the bounties of paradise.

Q947 Where is the story of mi`raj in the holy Qur'an?
A947 It is in Surah-yi Bani Isra'il (17:1, 17:60) and in Surah-yi Najm (53:1-18). The enclosure of mi`raj is also called the Sacred Sanctuary, the enclosure of Imam-i mubin, the enclosure of the forehead and the enclosure of the Prophet's house of wisdom. Indeed, the personal world is the holy Prophet's city of knowledge, whose guide and door is `Ali (May peace be through him). Al-hamdu li'llahi rabbi'l-`alamin!

Q948 Where is the mention of the twelve naqibs (chieftains) of Bani Isra'il in the wise Qur'an?
A948 See Surah-yi Ma'idah (5:12).

Q949 What is the difference between subtle human being, jinn and pari?
A949

There is no difference, since these three are all subtle creatures.
When a human being becomes subtle, he becomes a mu'min jinn/pari and an angel.
There are twelve subtle inner (batini) hujjats in the twelve jazirahs of the world.
Read Surah-yi Jinn (72) carefully. It is the story of the Prophet's batini hujjats.
We learn from Surah-yi Rahman (55) that human beings and jinn are together in all the external and internal bounties.

Q950 There is a glorious verse in Surah-yi Zumar (39:22). Please tell us its wisdom by explaining its words.
A950

"God expands the breast, i.e., the heart of a mu'min for the all-embracing soul of Islam through the miracle of merging [in Him] (fana') and, therefore he walks in the luminosity of His Lord's light. Can he be like those who have gone astray? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Such people are in plain error" (39:22).
After this the miraculous book (ahsana'l-hadith) which is highly praised is the glorious Qur'an as well as the ism-i a`zam.
This heavenly teaching contains spiritual science directly, because it is evident that Divine remembrance affects all the cells which are in the entire body.
Why should there not be spiritual healing in Divine remembrance in which goose pimples are experienced, the cells awaken and hearts become tender? However, it is God's fear which causes all these miracles.
Islam is not simply a word, it is an all-embracing soul.

Note that the miracle of merging (fana') means the spiritual qiyamat, in which countless realities and recognitions are hidden. We have mentioned the spiritual qiyamat repeatedly. Spiritual qiyamat = personal qiyamat = representative qiyamat, that is, `arif in whom is everybody's spiritual qiyamat. The benefit of recognition is for the `arif only, whereas the benefit of the everlasting wealth of the knowledge of certainty is attainable by all.

⁴⁶Sara'ir, page 80.

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