Forty Questions - Questions 1 to 10
Questions 1 to 10
Tags: Black Stone, White Stone, Sacrifice, Supreme Name, ism-i a`zam, People of the Cave, Ashab Al-kahf, Olive tree, Odd numbers, Stranger Islam, Hazrat Yusuf
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
These questions were sent to me for solution, by a fortunate and intelligent student in Karachi, on 28th June, 1983. I hope that the people of knowledge will appreciate her taste for religious knowledge and her superb intelligence.
Q.1. What is the Black Stone? Where did it come from and what is the wisdom in it?
ANS. The Black Stone is an extremely holy stone in the wall of the house of God (the Ka`bah), which was brought by Hazrat Jibril spiritually. The wisdom in it is that, it is the similitude and the symbol of the Pearl of Intellect (gawhar-i `aql), where the spiritual pilgrimage comes to an end. It is said that the Black Stone was, in fact, the White Stone in paradise, but became black after coming to this world. This is an allusion that the Pearl of Intellect, whose symbol the Black Stone is, is white. It should be remembered that the coming of something from the higher world or paradise does not mean that it has come here in a corporeal and material state; rather, in the world of spiritualism or paradise, everything is in a subtle, spiritual form and its coming to this world or its manifestation means that a secondary and physical existence of it is being created here. Thus the Pearl of Intellect or the White Stone, in the construction of the House of God, has come to this world in the sense that, in the external world, it is compared to a black stone, while it is always in the exalted position of the construction of the House of spiritualism in paradise.
Q.2. "O Ibrahim, you fulfilled the vision and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice which is 'going to come'". What is its ta'wil?
ANS. This relates to the verses (37:104-108) and the translation needs improvement. However, according to its correct purport, its ta'wil is that, the great spiritual events and miracles through which the prophets go, are generally the same, for, all of them are on the straight path and all of them have to pass through it. Nonetheless, the examples of these events and miracles are different, so that the people may be tried by them. Thus in this event, the physical sacrifice of Hazrat Isma`il was an example (mithal) and the spiritual one was its object (mamthul). The physical sacrifice of Hazrat Isma`il was limited but his spiritual sacrifice was ever-reaching and great. Thus the physical sacrifice is ransomed with the spiritual sacrifice. And this sacrifice in the language of ta'wil is called "Taking the Covenant". This covenant was also taken from Hazrat Ishaq and thus he was raised to the rank of Veil (hijab) and thus the spiritual sacrifice of Hazrat Isma`il became still greater. "Taking the Covenant" is a spiritual and luminous, miraculous act, which will be discussed elsewhere. In a time when there is imam-i mustawda` or Entrusted Imam, in addition to the Imam-i mustaqarr or the Permanent Imam, then the Entrusted Imam acts as the Veil of the Permanent Imam. (See for the concept of Veil, the verse 42:51).
Q.3. God has a hundred names. Ninety-nine of them are known but one is not known. Is ism-i a`zam or the Supreme Name, the one which is not known, or do all of them have the status of the Supreme Name? Further, is it necessary to keep the Supreme Name secret? If so, why?
ANS. All the external and verbal or vocal names of God are apparent and none of them is hidden. However, if it is accepted that the Supreme Name is one of these names, then we have to say that it is not possible to recognize which of them is the Supreme Name. This is in exoteric sense. But listen to the real and esoteric answer. From the esoteric point of view, the prophets and Imams in their respective times, are the Supreme Names of God. Thus the Imam of the time is the Supreme Name of God, the Exalted. And it is he who selects one of the names of God for the special `ibadat of the mu'mins. Yes to keep the Supreme Name secret is necessary. For it is established by the Divine habit (sunnat) that the Supreme Name should be kept in secrecy, so that its link may remain with the selected ones. And it is also said in the Qur'an: "And leave those who do not know His names" (7:180).
Q.4. Who are the people of Cave (ashab al-kahf) and what is their ta'wil?
ANS. For the exoteric aspect of the story of the people of the Cave see the Qur'an. Here we will explain only its esoteric aspect: The ta'wil of the people of Cave is the people of spiritualism. For, the Cave is one of the numerous examples of spiritualism. That is to say, as people take refuge in the cave in the time of difficulty, in the same way, the mu'mins afflicted by the enemies of the religion, go to and take refuge in the cave of spiritualism. For further details, read my article on the "People of Cave".
Q.5. What is the difference between the Universal Intellect and the Universal Soul and how do they help in connection with the guidance of the Imam?
ANS. The difference between these two supreme angels is like that of the Throne and Pedestal, Adam and Eve, the Pen and the Guarded Tablet, the Prophet and the Imam. As for their help, since they are spiritual, therefore, they spiritually help the mu'mins indirectly.
Q.6. What is the ta'wil of the blessed Olive Tree and its oil?
ANS. It has many ta'wils which have the same aim and intent. One of them, which is easier to understand, is that it stands for the personality of the Imam of the time, and by its blessings are meant the benefits which, not only the mu'mins, but the entire mankind receive from the Imam. By the oil is meant his holy spirit, which transforms into the flame of his Universal Intellect. The tree of this subtle personality belongs neither to the east nor to the west. That is to say, it has neither a beginning nor an end, but it continues from eternity.
Q.7. God says: "And indeed We created, then fashioned you, then told the angels: Fall you prostrate before Adam!" (7:11). What is the explanation of the translation of this verse?
ANS. The explanation is that in the world of particles (`alam-i dharr) first, God created all human beings in the form of physical particles, then they were fashioned spiritually, then the potential (jamali) angels were ordered to prostrate to Adam. By this concept a revolutionary door of the secrets of creation opens. For more details read my book "What is Soul?"
Q.8. Why are the tasbihs recited in odd numbers?
ANS. For God is one and unique. He has no pair, but is the Pure One.
Q.9. Referring to a Prophetic Tradition, you had said: "Islam started as a stranger and in future will also be a stranger". What does this mean? What is the meaning of 'stranger' in this context?
ANS. When a prophet came to this world with the true religion of God, then in the eyes of disbelievers, not only the Prophet, but the religion also seemed to be a stranger. For those who have deviated from the true guide, they think that the true religion is the one to which they cling, despite the fact that the true religion is with the vicegerent of God. Thus Islam's being a stranger in the eyes of ignorant ones, is not specific to a particular time. That is to say, not to recognize the Imam, is to consider Islam a stranger, for the truth is with the Imam.
Q.10. What is the ta'wil hidden in the background of the story of Hazrat Yusuf and Hazrat Zulaykha in the Qur'an? Is the name of Hazrat Zulaykha not mentioned in the Qur'an?
ANS. In the Qur'anic story of Hazrat Yusuf, an entire world of ta'wils is hidden, the detail of which is beyond these pages. For Hazrat Yusuf himself is the subject of all kinds of ta'wils. Thus this story, which is full of wisdom, contains the mention of the Permanent Imam and the Entrusted Imam; the Hujjats of day and night; the transference of the light of Imamat. And the meaning (mamthul) of the example (mithal) of Zulaykha is that the supreme Hujjat of the Permanent Imam wanted to be subordinate to Hazrat Yusuf (Entrusted Imam). For, principally, it was necessary for Hazrat Yusuf, to excel all ranks of religion and reach the rank next to the Permanent Imam.
Regarding the name Zulaykha, it is true that it does not exist in the Qur'an.
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