Du`a – Essence of `Ibadat Part One - Explanation of Ma`rifat (Divine Recognition)
Explanation of Ma`rifat (Divine Recognition)
Tags: Ma`rifat, Alif-Lam, Al-Hamd
Alif-lam (ال) in the Arabic language is the definite article. Every common noun (nakirah) that is prefixed by it is called definite (ma`rifah). Ma`rifah means 'definite or known', whereas nakirah means 'indefinite or unknown' (which in English are called proper and common nouns respectively). For instance, in Arabic, al-rajul (pronounced ar-rajul) means the man or a person who is known by sight or by writing or verbally, and contrary to this rajulun means a man or a person who is not known by any of these means. Now if somebody looks from a realistic and Islamic point of view and reflects in the light of reason and justice, he cannot deny that for Muslims, the glorification and extollation of God is not left in the unknown form of “hamd”, rather it has been made known in the form of al-hamd prefixing it with alif-lam. This hamd or the glorification and extollation of God was definitely made known by the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and after him in every age, by his wasi (legatee), `Ali (May peace be through him) [and the Imams after him].
In this case if the hamd of God in its meaning, became known in the form of al-hamd by prefixing alif-lam to its unknown form hamd through the Prophet and his wasi, it means that they are the ones who have brought the alif-lam of al-hamd. For, if they had not made the hamd or the praise of God known to the people through their tanzil and ta'wil, then despite their apparently uttering al-hamdu li'llah, in reality it would have remained unknown to them. That is, its real form would have remained indefinite or unknown to them and consequently the alif-lam of their pronunciation would not have existed at all. However, it is not so. In the religion of Islam, the hamd or praise of God has become known now, as the Prophet and his wasi have made it known, [that is, they have made hamd, al-hamd]. Thus, the hamd has now become known both literally and in meaning, as they became the real meaning of alif-lam. For, just as the literal alif-lam has made the indefinite hamd definite, in the same way they, as the real or spiritual alif-lam, have made the indefinite meaning of the hamd definite. Thus, the real meaning of the alif-lam of al-hamd is the holy Prophet (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and Mawlana `Ali (May peace be through him). In the Fatihah, which is like a list of the subjects of the Qur'an, the subject of the recognition of God in the form of alif-lam has come first, which shows the importance of the recognition of God and the necessity of the means (wasilah) through which it can be attained.
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