Qur'anic Minarets - The Most Magnificent Service
The Most Magnificent Service
Tags: Service, Knowledge, Hazrat Asiyah, Hazrat Maryam
There is not the slightest doubt that the greatest, most excellent and most magnificent work is that of knowledge and this is a crystal clear fact. This can neither be refuted nor can anybody differ, because knowledge comprises all things of the universe and existents. That is, knowledge controls everything. It can therefore be said that it is sovereign over everything. Thus, any work or service of knowledge is sovereign over all services and this is correct in many senses. For instance, all people are engaged in different kinds of services and nobody is without some kind of service. That is, some individuals serve their children and families, others serve their neighbourhoods, some do beneficial work for their villages [or towns], some are blessed with the service of their country or nation and for others their circle of service may be even wider. However, since there are countless services, which one is the most essential and most magnificent service, which can truly be called the sovereign of services? The intellect provides the answer that the sovereign of the world of services is the service of knowledge, that is, the service of the Qur'an and religious knowledge, which surpasses all others.
Have certainty that all of our companions are together serving knowledge externally and internally. Externally we all work together in the same organisation and internally there is our representation in the heart and mind of every companion. There is no surprise in the fact that the collective soul of angelic friends comes as a ta'yidi idea, on which if one concentrates attentively, it can become known who it is, otherwise, it continues to do its work silently.
The services of knowledge of the Patron of Khanah-yi Hikmat and his fortunate Begum, Gulshakar, Advisor are manifold and their yearning for knowledge and their golden feats are praiseworthy. When on 6th October 1989, I came to Karachi, they hosted me at their residence until 4th March 1990, when I went to live in Rahim Court. During this long time, their sincere hospitality and the way they rendered other manifold services are unprecedented. Further, for them to request finally with innocence and a torrent of tears: 'Sir, please do not go to an empty house, because at your age you cannot bear difficulties [so] grant us the opportunity to do more service!' How great is their kindness! God willing! We will continue to remember our cordial friend Fath Ali Habib, our heavenly daughter, Gulshakar and their beloved children Nizar, Rahim and Fatimah in our humble prayers. Amin!
I "dust under the feet" of mu'mins, what status do I have and how can I claim to accomplish any feat of knowledge on my own, while a great Prophet like Jesus (May peace be through him) was not able to accomplish the work of religion without helpers (ansar), as mentioned in the Qur'an (3:52): Hazrat-i `Isa (May peace be through him) said: "Who will be my helpers unto Allah? The disciples said: We are the helpers of Allah's [religion]." In this context, you have to reflect in the light of true knowledge.
Asiyah, the wife of Pharoah, was a very fortunate, pure-natured and a hidden religious lady. The unprecedented services which she had rendered to Hazrat-i Musa (May peace be through him) are mentioned in the Qur'an. One special favour of God upon her is that He made her a model of faith (66:11) and purifying her prayer and making it full of wisdom, kept it in the Qur'an as: O Lord! Build for me a house near you in paradise and deliver me from Pharoah and his deeds and deliver me from the unjust people."
[Let us] reflect [on the above] in the form of questions and answers: Is paradise spatial or non-spatial? (Non-spatial) Are not palaces already built in paradise? (Yes, they are but they are reconstructed on the basis of a mu'min's deeds). What is the place of proximity of God in the personal world? (The forehead and its miracles). As this is a human being's prayer, so how can it be wisdom-filled according to the standard of God's speech? (It is wisdom-filled because God raised it from the earth to heaven and merged it in His own speech). If paradise is non-spatial, what is the meaning of building a house near God? (This means the highest rank, that is, merging in God and surviving in Him). Can surviving in God be called proximity (qurb) or unity (wahdat)? (Yes, it is called proximity). Although Allah does not need a house, yet He has a house in this world as an example. Does He also have a house in paradise? (Yes, there He has a house of soul and intellect, i.e., the Prosperous House (baytu'l-ma`mur).
Highly amazing examples of disbelief (kufr) and belief (iman) are mentioned in verses (66:10-12). One of them is how the wives of Hazrat-i Nuh (May peace be through him) and Hazrat-i Lut (May peace be through him) could not enter the fold of faith even though they used to live in the physical proximity of the centre of da`wat and fountainhead of faith! It would not be wrong to say here that it is the humanity of Prophets and Imams that is a talismanic trial on the path of the treasure of recognition (ma`rifat), to successfully cross which is the most difficult task.
The other amazing example is that of Bibi Asiyah (May peace be through her), the wife of Pharoah as mentioned earlier. The Pharoah due to being an extremely unjust and haughty infidel king was the greatest enemy of religion and faith. He had killed thousands of innocent newborn babies of the Children of Israel. Despite being in the midst of such an extremely dangerous deluge of infidelity and injustice, Asiyah (May peace be through her) was that fortunate and courageous lady who secretly believed in Hazrat-i Musa (May peace be through him). However, in order to be granted the perfect faith God's friends had to undergo the final trial. Thus, somehow the Pharoah came to know that she had accepted Hazrat-i Musa (May peace be through him)'s religion, he flew into a passion of fury. First, he tried to make her abandon her belief. However, when she refused to do so, she was laid in the strong sun and a huge stone was placed on her chest and in that state, she attained the rank of martyrdom. The final example is that of Hazrat-i Maryam (May peace be through her). Her exoteric story is very famous, but the esoteric wisdoms are preserved in the treasures of Imamat, such as:
- She is a model of spiritual progress for women.
- She is an example of a hujjat.
- She preserved her private parts, i.e., she did not accept the teachings of other religions through her ears.
- The Divine Spirit was breathed into her through such pure ears, that is, special knowledge, the Supreme Name and their results.
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