Precious Treasure - Some Questions and Answers
Some Questions and Answers
Tags: Wisdom, Fasl al-khitab, Subtle body, Spirit of the Qur'an
Q 1. Of the Qur'anic verses related to the subject of wisdom (hikmat), some show that wisdom is taught, while others show that it is given. Is there any difference in the teaching and giving of wisdom, or do they mean the same thing?
A 1. There is a great difference between teaching and giving. Teaching is the tongue's speech and giving is the hand's action. Therefore, in the external world and at the place of spirit, wisdom is taught, but at the rank of intellect the light of wisdom is given by God's hand itself. A careful study of the holy Qur'an evidences the reality that the function of the Prophets is to teach wisdom and to give it is mentioned in relation to God.
Q 2. "And We gave him wisdom and decisive speech" (38:20). Could you kindly explain what fasl al-khitab, other than wisdom, had God given to Hazrat-i Dawud (May peace be through him) in this noble verse?
A 2. God gave Hazrat-i Dawud (May peace be through him) the light of Intellect, namely wisdom and the greatest treasure of the Divine Word (kalimah-yi bari), namely fasl al-khitab (decisive speech). Faslu'l-khitab is among the names of the Divine Word, by which all enquiries (abhath) are completed. It also means that there is no speech above it.
Q 3. Verse (14:34) states that God has given humankind or only the people of faith, all they had asked Him. The verse does not say that He will give everything in the future on the Day of Judgement, rather it says that He has already given everything in this world, but despite this we see that human beings are very poor. What is the secret hidden in this holy verse?
A 3. A human being in the original state of his higher soul (ruh-i `ulwi) is in paradise, but his personality is like a shadow in this world. Therefore, there is no doubt in the Qur'anic reality that man is given everything both today and tomorrow in the life of paradise.
Q 4. The glorious Qur'an says that in paradise, its people will be given every bounty of their desire. Here the question arises: if someone wants the kingdom of this world in paradise how would it be possible to have this world in the next?
A 4. The next world is concealed in this world, but this world exists and appears in the next, for the next world is a living and conscious mirror, in which the picture (`aks) of this world becomes ever living. Therefore, the subtle aspect of this world is also included among the bounties of paradise. Despite being a powerless human being a scientist can create a world of film and its numerous copies. However, the great angels who are appointed by God, the Omnipotent to record the individual and collective deeds of humankind, can create far greater conscious and real worlds (82:10-12).
Q 5. It is said in the surah of Ma`arij: "But no! I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that We are certainly able to transform them in a better state than they [are in]. And We are not powerless" (70:40-41). Where are the more than one east and one west? How does the Lord nourish the east and the west? In what sense will God transform the people into a better state?
A 5. This verse is about the world of Intellect where the same one place serves as the east and the west, but where the sun of light demonstrates a new day of knowledge and a new night of wisdom by each rising and setting, therefore, more than one east and one west are mentioned. The nourishment of the world of Intellect by the Lord is that it constantly receives the favour of Divine help from the Divine Word. God can transform people from the present body into a better state in the sense that He is going to transform them into the subtle body.
Q 6. You have frequently mentioned the subtle body in your writings, but I understand that you have not given a Qur'anic reference for it. Would you kindly give us a Qur'anic reference for it?
A6. "And We are not powerless to change your personality (mithal) and create you in what you know not" (56:60-61). This Qur'anic verse is regarding the subtle body of which people are presently unaware. It is also said: "Indeed, We have created them (huris) as ought to be created and made them virgins" (56:35-36). That is, 'We made them pass through all the stages of a worldly and physical life and then made them virgins', namely, resurrected them in the subtle bodies after death. Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him) says that every mu'minah (faithful woman) becomes a hawra', i.e., every mu'minah in paradise receives the subtle body. This means that the subtle body is a reality.
Q 7. The holy Qur'an has many names and one of them is "ruh (spirit)"(42:52). Please tell us how it is a spirit? Where is it? What is the relation of our soul with that spirit?
A 7. The holy Qur'an was gradually revealed to the blessed heart of the holy Prophet in the form of a great spirit. He preserved it in two ways: Firstly, it was recorded in the form of writing and secondly its spirit was transferred to his successor. Therefore, the Qur'an in the Imam of the time (who is the heir of the Prophet) is in the form of a Holy Spirit and the same Spirit is also called the Light of the Imam. The relation of our soul with that Spirit is that our soul is from it, i.e., our soul is a part of that Spirit.
London,
26th June 1984.
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