Forty Questions - Questions 31 to 40
Questions 31 to 40
Tags: Suhuf, Four Birds of Ibrahim, Birds, Tawrit, Zabur, Injil, Qur'an, Imam-i Muqim
Q.31. What is the difference between Sahifahs and the heavenly Books?
ANS. There is no difference between the Sahifahs and the heavenly Books in their being heavenly. However, Sahifah means a leaf or a spread part of a thing, the plural of which is Suhuf (leaves), and the Book means a complete book. Further, Sahifah or leaf means the leaf of spiritualism, which is not brought in front of the people in written and bookish form, and the Book is the one which has passed through the stage of spiritualism and has come into the form of a book. The reason for using Sahifah for spiritualism is this, that just as Sahifah is a spread part of a thing, spiritualism is spread internally. This concept is necessary to know, that every prophet is the owner of Sahifah, namely, spiritualism, but only a few of them are the owners of the book. That is to say, that every prophet has spiritualism, but the spiritualism of very few of them has come in front of the people in the form of the Book.
Q.32. God commanded Hazrat Ibrahim to sacrifice four birds – cock, peacock, duck and crow – which come under the animal soul. But in the world of spiritualism, the particles of the souls are also compared to the birds. What is its reason?
ANS. The reason is quite obvious that the ta'wili meaning of the birds is souls. As the birds are of two kinds, good and bad, so there are two kinds of souls: good and bad. Thus the ta'wil of the sacrifice of four birds of Hazrat Ibrahim, is that he sacrifices four particles of the soul (which in the language of ta'wil are called four birds), so that God may resurrect them in a better form.
Q.33. What is the etymology of the heavenly Books, such as Tawrit, Zabur, Injil and Qur'an which were revealed to some prophets? Had not all prophets received the Books? How is it possible?
ANS. Tawrit (Tawrat) is derived from the root of 'wary' which means to kindle the fire. Since this Book contained the light of guidance for the children of Israel, therefore, it is called Tawrit. Zabur, which means mazbur (written) is from 'zabr', meaning to write. Injil is derived from the Greek word 'Evangelion' which means glad news. And Qur'an means to read. For it was revealed as a result of the recitation of ism-i a`zam, and even in exoteric sense, it is recited. For the rest of the question, see the article "Heavenly Books" in "Hundred Question", part IV.
Q.34. There have been 124000 prophets……
ANS. This question of yours is vague and obscure. Write it again clearly.
Q.35. Which one is from pre-eternity (azal), the light of Imamat or the light of Prophethood?
ANS. The light is one. There is no question of priority and posteriority. The same light has different manifestations and physical and spiritual aspects. Light is always one in its supreme fountainhead.
Q.36. Who had taught ism-i a`zam to the Holy Prophet?
ANS. The Prophet was taught ism-i a`zam by Imam-i muqim. And the Imam-i Muqim for the Prophet was Hazrat Abu Talib. Imam-i Muqim is the one who gives knowledge to a Natiq prophet. See: "al-Imamat fi al-Islam".
Q.37. What is the reality of the funeral prayer and the prayer of two festivals (`idayn)? Are they mentioned in the Qur'an?
ANS. The reality of a thing means its originality, essence and substance. Thus is addition to these prayers, the essence of all prayers is their ta'wil, for which you should study 'Wajh-i Din'. All the words and actions of the religion of Islam have ta'wils, which show one centre and they depend on this centre. Yes, funeral prayer and the prayer of the two festivals are mentioned in the Qur'an briefly or in allusion.
Q.38. How many kinds of Hadith are there and what is the difference among them?
ANS. Your question requires that a compendium of the science of Hadith should be presented here. But this is very laborious and lengthy work; therefore, for this purpose, you should see a book on the science of Hadith.
Q.39. The Holy Qur'an was completed within the duration of 23 years ……
ANS. Where and when the Holy Qur'an is linked with the Imam of the time and the Imam of the time with the Qur'an, spiritually, then the Qur'an is perfect and complete in all respects, and hence no question arises regarding the perfection and completeness of the Qur'an. And the proof of our this view, is the blessed guidance of the Prophet, in which it is mentioned that the Prophet for the sake of the guidance of the community left behind two important things. Had there not been this Hadith, then there would have arisen any question.
Q.40. In the Ginans and in the Farmans of the Imam……
ANS. You have not given any reference to try to reach its deep wisdom. However, the question is regarding the circle of the soul which requires higher knowledge. For instance, the fountainhead of water which is the ocean, is both resting in its place and rotating on its circle at the same time. This same is the case of the soul, that in its original fountainhead in the world of command (`alam-i amr) it is always there, but, through the particular souls, it always comes to this world. This means that the soul has its own self and also its shadow. The soul itself is permanently in the world of command, but its shadow comes to this world endless times. See the book "What is Soul?" in which you will find that the soul is permanent as well as transitory. The permanent is the real and the transitory is its shadow.
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