A183
Surah: 003 - Ayah: 183
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3:183
Heavenly Fire
Q. 97. On page 41of Panj Maqalah III, it is written that: "Thus Habil took a sheep and kept it on the mountain and Qabil took some ears of corn from a field and kept them there. Then, according to the custom (of that time) a flame of fire descended from the heaven and ate the sacrifice of Habil". Was this fire the same material fire which is known to everybody in this world, or a different one? Can there be in spirituality, such a holy and miraculous fire? Does this sacrifice have a ta'wil? If so, what is the ta'wil of sheep? How long did the miracle of this heavenly fire continue?
A. It should be known that the Qur'anic stories are full of the wisdoms of ta'wil. Where is the understanding in the worldly fire to accept only the sacrifice of the righteous and to testify to his truthfulness? Thus, it was not a material fire but the holy and miraculous fire of spirituality, which is among the spiritual miracles of the Prophets and friends of God (3:183). The ta'wil of sheep is the animal soul. Hazrat Habil had offered the sacrifice of the animal soul, which is always done by the friends of God.
A simple example of this great spiritual miracle is that, sometimes you or some other mu'min, burn internally under the pressure of knowledge, Ibadat and good thoughts. In such a case, he neither burns intellectually, nor spiritually (i.e. with respect to the rational soul), but only with respect to his animal soul, whereby he is purified. Thus, the spiritual miracle of the heavenly fire has always been and continues forever.
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