A007
Surah: 011 - Ayah: 007
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11:7
Throne or Soul
Q. 68. Before bringing this world into existence, when the Divine Throne was upon an unfathomable ocean (wa kana 'arshuhu ala'l-ma') (11:7), where was the human soul?
A. At that time, the human soul was in the shape of the Supreme Throne. This Throne was neither square nor rectangular, nor circular in shape. Nor was it made of rubies and pearls, nor of gold and silver, nor of any other lifeless material. Rather, it was the fountainhead of intellect and soul and an endless treasure of knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, it was also called the Light and the Pen. It was the greatest Angel, but in the form of the Perfect Man. And the ocean, upon which the Divine Throne was resting, was not the ocean of material water, but of Divine knowledge.
The teaching of the Wise Qur'an that: "Divine Throne was upon the water" is full of the wisdoms of ta'wil. Therefore, it does not necessitate that before that times the universe (with) the existents (in it), was not manifest in its present form. However, there is no doubt that in this concept there is a great examination of knowledge and gnosis by the Benevolent Lord of the people of religions and the schools of thought, to see if they understand the wisdom of "Throne" and "water", or not.
It should be known that the allusion of the Throne is to the kingdom of God which has neither a beginning nor an end and it is this kingdom, in which there is everything.
The second wisdom is in the word "water". The ta'wil of water is knowledge (ilm) which is in the present form and state of the universe (alam). And without alam, 'ilm (knowledge) does not come into existence. If we accept water in the literal sense without ta'wil. the questions arise: What was that throne made of, if with the exception of the water, there was nothing else? Who had made the Throne, while no king makes his own throne, rather, orders someone to make it?
Arshuhu (His Throne)
Study verse (11:7) carefully: “And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was/became/is on the water, (i.e. the allegorical manifestation of His Throne took place on water), that He may try you, which of you is best in conduct.”
“And His Throne was/became/is on water” shows that the real story is that of the world of religion which can be observed in the personal world in the light of recognition. Thus, the arifs [at the end of their spiritual journey] see in their luminous dream that there is a ship-like throne on the ocean and upon it the manifestation of light. This is an allegorical manifestation of the Lord of the Throne and an indication that now the personal world has become complete and entered the stage of knowledge and recognition.
Part 31
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Verse (11:7) says: “And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days – and His throne was on the water – that He might try which of you is best in conduct.”
Ta’wili purport: Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth of the personal world in six days on the pattern of the world of religion and then His throne appeared on the water. Indeed, it was a ta’wili miracle. It then transformed into a miracle within a miracle and then the throne turned into the form of a ship, in which was Hazrat Imam, peace be upon him, who with his blessed tongue was reciting a hidden ism-i aczam (supreme Name).
This supreme miracle is also mentioned in verse (36:41): “A miracle unto them is that We bore their offspring in the laden ark.”
Ta’wili purport: And a very great miracle unto them is that We bore their offspring (dhurriyyat, i.e. spiritual particles) in the laden ark. The laden ark with souls is the lord of the ark himself, because he is God’s living throne, His living ism-i aczam and the living ark laden with souls. That is, the Imam from the progeny of the holy Prophet (al-i Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny). Had it been a physical ark, there would not have been any room for more people.
cArif Rumi says:
Is this an account of the body or of the soul?
There is a great trial of knowledge and action in this and also an extremely great favour of God, that He has elevated the world of humanity to the throne by making a rope of His miracles. The exalted ImÀm has said: “Try to reach the throne”.22
Allah is the “Exalter of ranks, the Lord of the throne” (40:15).
Part 93
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
It is said in verse (11:7): “And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct.”
As explained in A Thousand Wisdoms, under the term carshuhu (His Throne) in Wisdom 568, let us carefully reflect on the ta’wil of the above-mentioned verse: “And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was/became/is on the water, [i.e. the symbolic manifestation of His Throne took place on water], that He may try you, which of you is best in conduct.”
Q199 Please tell us a special wisdom and depth of this hadith: “The example of my ahl-i bayt among you is like that of Noah’s ark. He who embarked on it is saved and he who lagged behind, drowned”.
A199 Hazrat Noah(c)’s external ark is a parable (mithal) and the internal ark (light of Imamat) is its meaning (mamthul), because the deluge was not only physical, but also spiritual, to deliver from which the light of Imamat acts as an ark. The same light (of Imamat) is also the Throne of God on the water (11:7). Thus, with all these meanings, the ahl-i bayt of the holy Prophet are like Hazrat Noah(c)’s ark.
The Throne of (arsh) on the Ocean of Knowledge: God says: “And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was (kana) on the water” (11:7). Tawili wisdom: God created the heavens and the earth of the personal world in six small cycles of spirituality and the light of Intellect which is its throne, manifested itself on the ocean of knowledge. That is, the book of the recognition (kitab-I marifat) says that spirituality is the world whose first six stages are related to the recognition of the Prophets, particularly the six Natiqs, and the seventh stage which is very long is related to the recognition of the Imam and Imamat and the Qa’im and the Qiyamat (Resurrrection). And the greatest treasuer are kept here.
By the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. In verse (11:7) God, the Exalted, may His glory be glorified and His bounty be universal, says: The first translation of the verse: “And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth (of the World of Religion) in six days (six great cycles) and His throne appeared on the water, that He might test which of you is best in knowledge and deeds”. The second translation: “And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth (of the personal world) in six days (six subsidiary cycles) and His throne (`arsh) appeared on the water so that He might test which of you is best in knowledge and deeds”.
This verse has been referred 12 times.