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Hundred Questions - Imam and Sacrifice
Imam and Sacrifice:
Q 100 You have mentioned the sacrifice of the Imam in an answer to a question, but how can sacrifice be applicable to the Imam while he is the mazhar of Divine light? Is the Divine light not free from such a sacrifice? Is there room in the Divine light for progress and increase?
A 100
- It should be understood that in the Imam and Imamat two things are special, and they are personality and light. Now, you should understand well that the personality has two aspects, the external (zahir) and the internal (batin) or physical and spiritual. Similarly, the light also has two aspects: one is linked with azal (pre- eternity) and the other is linked with the internal aspect (batin) of the personality. Thus, the real meanings of sacrifice continue to be applied to both the zahir and batin (aspects) of the Imam's personality. Although from one aspect sacrifice is not applicable to the light, but from another aspect, the light also continues to make sacrifice.
- We have numerous examples of the physical sacrifices of the Prophets and Imams in front of us. By the proof of these examples we can be sure that the blessed personality of the Prophet and the Imam is the fountainhead of physical and spiritual sacrifices.
- For the sake of upholding the true and truth, the chief of martyrs Hazrat-i Imam Husayn (May peace be through him) sacrificed his holy personality. From this, two realities become crystal clear in front of us: one is that Hazrat-i Isma`il's (May peace be through him) sacrifice was not a show rather it was possible for him to be sacrificed decisively. The other is that the Imam, with respect to the physical and spiritual aspects of his personality, is not free from sacrifices, but no doubt with respect to light he is free from them.
- The azali (pre-eternal) aspect of the light is not active (fa``al), it is silent, but the aspect which is linked to the inner aspect (batin) of the Perfect Man is absolutely active, just as the rising flame of a bright lamp is moving and active, which continues to spread light upon light, yet the light which is seen on the clean and clear wall of the house is silent and immobile. In this example the active shining flame represents the moving aspect of the light which is in the spirituality of the guide of the time (hadi-yi zaman) and the light which is silent on the surface of the wall shows the immobile aspect of the light which is towards the azal, (pre-eternity).
- A clear and vivid concept of azal is also possible only in the light of the Imam of the time therefore, in this example I have compared the active light of the Imam with the flame of the lamp and that of his azali (pre-eternal) light with the silent light on the wall.
- We had said that from one aspect, even the light continues to sacrifice. Truly speaking, the sacrifices of the light are the greatest. Think clearly about the sun, since when has it existed and how long will it continue to subsist. Try to assess with what speed every moment this fountainhead of material light fills the infinite expanses of this universe with its fresh light! This is an example of the sacrifices of the material light, but the sacrifices of the spiritual light are immensely greater than this.
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