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Coolness of the eye - Paradise and Treasures of Secrets

Paradise and Treasures of Secrets

Tags: Paradise, Treasures, Satisfied Soul, Bounties, Kingdom, Renewal of similitudes, Subtle body

  1. Recognition of Paradise: The light and the Book (the Qur'an) are revealed from God (5:15) so that the people of faith, through knowledge and good deeds, may attain that exalted rank, where the inner eye opens and they attain recognition of every kind in their own selves. For, all recognitions are gathered together and encompassed in the recognition of man himself. Therefore, recognition of Paradise is not excluded from it, rather it is this recognition through which observation and recognition of Paradise is possible. Had this not been possible, the verse (47:6) would not have implied that the prerequisite of entering Paradise is its recognition. For the one who is blind to realities and ma`rifats in this world, also remains blind in the Hereafter (17:72).
  2. Treasures of Paradise: All the treasures of Divine bounties, mentioned in the Qur'an, are in Paradise. These treasures, in addition to being living and speaking, are full of mercy and knowledge. Mercy is for souls and knowledge for intellects. It is from here that everything is granted a form of mercy and knowledge. For, even if enormously great wealth is spread throughout a country, it is not called a treasure. Rather, it is the name of that specific enclosure where the entire capital of the country is gathered in the form of gold, gems (and other precious things). Similarly, the treasures of Paradise are the treasures of Divine secrets.
  3. An Important Question: Can anyone see Paradise whilst in this world? What is the verdict of this Hadith-i qudsi: I have prepared for My righteous servants that which no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it occurred in the heart of any human being (bashar)?" Answer: The verdict of this Hadith-i qudsi is applicable to all human beings, except those who have become earthly angels. Thus Hazrat Adam (May peace be through him), as an earthly angel, had attained the recognition of Paradise. Similarly, every Perfect Man as an earthly angel and also every mu'min-i salik, who has experienced annihilation (fana') and become an earthly angel, recognises Paradise.
  4. 'Satisfied Souls: The greatest prerequisite to become an angel on earth is true satisfaction (itminan) (17:95). The wisdoms of this blessed word can be seen in thirteen places in the Holy Qur'an, particularly verses (89:27-30): "O satisfied soul! Return to your Sustainer, pleased and pleasing, so enter among My (chosen) servants and enter into My Paradise". This command is to every mu'min, who attains the rank of annihilation in the Imam, annihilation in the Prophet and annihilation in God. For, satisfaction is not in physical death, but in spiritual death, which occurs as a result of abundant dhikr-u `ibadat, real knowledge, good deeds and the spiritual ascension and elevation.
  5. Paradise in Perfect Man: When the believing servant duly becomes annihilated in the `Ali of the time, he also becomes annihilated in the other holy Imams and the Holy Prophet. So this is the meaning of entering among the chosen servants of God (89:29), and in this is hidden the supreme rank of annihilation in God. Thus, it becomes evident that the mu'min-i salik can enter Paradise of the highest spirituality (89:30) and the Divine light works for him as his external and internal senses, so that he may attain every kind of recognition mentioned in the Hadith-i qudsi regarding additional prayers (nawafil) and the proximity to God (taqarrub).
  6. Three Kinds of Bounties in Paradise: Human existence comprises of three things: body, soul and intellect. But in this world, these things are initially incomplete. Therefore, the pure life (hayat-i tayyibah, 16:97) of the people of Paradise will be complete in the form of the subtle body, holy spirit and perfect intellect. Similarly, the fruits of Paradise will be in the form of subtle body (such as fragrances), soul and intellect. The spiritual nourishments are in the form of dhikr-u `ibadat, which consists of the glorification and praise of God, eulogies of the Holy Prophet (na`t) and of the exalted Imam (manqabat). And the intellectual bounties are in the form of knowledge, wisdom and (discovery of) the Divine secrets. None of these bounties are exhaustible, nor can man count God's bounties, for it is said in the Holy Qur'an: "And if you would count God's bounties you cannot reckon them". (16:18).
  7. Coolness of Eyes: The unique and everlasting bounties which are related to Divine vision, meeting and observation in every level of Paradise, are called "the coolness of eyes (qurrati a`yun, 32:17)". Among these bounties, Divine manifestations are particularly excellent and special. And it is part of the all-inclusive mercy of Paradise that the light may say to every believer (male or female): I am your child. For, in the coolness of eyes, an allusion is made to every kind of child also. On the other hand, it is common for mankind to forget old relationships. Therefore God, the Blessed, the Exalted, in the world of particles (`alam-i dharr) has created all human beings from the blessed loins of the Adam of the time, so that the people of Paradise, being strung on this luminous thread, can call each other "coolness of the eye (qurratu'l-`ayn)".
  8. How is it possible for all to become Kings?: In this world, in any country where there is a monarchy, only one can be king and the rest are his subjects. It is therefore, logical to ask: How were all the mu'mins of Hazrat Musa (May peace be through him) made kings (5:20)? In answer to this, I would say that the wisdom of this verse is related to the personal world, in which through due annihilation, every mu'min can become a spiritual king. This kingdom is given by God to the progeny of Ibrahim (May peace be through him) and the progeny of Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny), so that the people may annihilate themselves in the embodied light of their time and attain this kingdom for the Hereafter, because in Paradise, it is this kingdom which is called the great kingdom (76:20). Reflect well: What is the kingdom of this world and what will be the kingdom of Paradise!
  9. Sulaymanian Kingdom: No story in the Wise Qur'an is devoid of the endless wealth of secrets and symbols. Accordingly, Hazrat Sulayman's kingdom is an example of the spiritual kingdom, which is in the personal world of the friends of God, and which, tomorrow in Paradise, becomes great and everlasting. It should be remembered well that in the example of the great kingdom of Paradise are hidden many secrets and many wisdoms. This necessitates the understanding of some revolutionary concepts, for instance, that from among those who have gone and those who are going to come, the closest ones (muqarrabin) and the righteous (abrar), will be the kings of the worlds of Paradise and that the people of ignorance in Hell will be transferred to Paradise in order to provide subjects for them. What difficulties can there be for the subjects of Paradise and what lack of bounties can there be for its kings? Reflect well on this matter.
  10. God is always in some Act: It is said in the verse (55:29): "Every day He exercises (universal) power." Every wisdom of the Wise Qur'an begins from the highest point i.e. the Divine Throne and despite descending to earth it eventually returns to it. Thus, by the day here is meant a cycle. Study minutely the verses (11:106-108) for the greatest cycle is the one which together comprises the age of Hell, Paradise and the universe. Thus when God enfolds the universe, Hell and Paradise also cease to exist. But this is only one day of God, therefore, we should believe that such cycles have no beginning and no end. For, God does the same thing in every great cycle so that there may be renewal of the universe, Hell and Paradise.
  11. The Change of the Earth and the Heaven: Renewal of the universe means that instead of this earth, there will be created another earth and also that instead of these heavens, there will be other heavens (14:48), as the pure and blessed personality of the embodied light changes in every age. Thus for the people of Paradise, the Divine gift will be incessant and everlasting (11:108). Thus the chain of the renewal of the similitudes of the earth and the heaven continues forever.
  12. Subtle Body: As has already been mentioned, by the occurrence of two opposite things one after the other, is conceived the circle of creation, which has neither a beginning nor an end. Thus the Benevolent Lord has given man two bodies, the dense and the subtle (56:61), so that the obedient servant may benefit both from this world and the Hereafter. The subtle body has many names: the body of the world of similitude, (jism-i mithali), celestial body, astral body, ibda`i body, Yusuf's shirt, jinn, pari, etc.

Nasir Hunzai, London,
18 Dhu'l-hijjah, 1411/1st July, 1991.

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