A012
Surah: 013 - Ayah: 012
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13:12
In the verse (13:12), it is said: "It is He who shows you the lightning, for fear and yearning, and produces the heavy clouds". It is the same miracle of ibda which takes place with lightning. One of its names, as mentioned in the story of Hazrat Sulayman, is the "chief of jinne". Due to the greatness, awesomeness and majesty of this magnificent miracle, there is tremendous fear, and at the same time, due to its wonders and marvels, there is a great yearning to see it again and again and to annihilate in it. And by the heavy clouds are meant the fruits of knowledge which are related to this place, and by lightning is meant the open light and the rapidity of ibda. In this connection, see also the verse (30:24).
Thiqil (Heavy)
It is said in verse (13:12): "He it is Who shows you the lightning to frighten and give hope, and He creates heavy cloud." This address of God is to carifs and kamils who are the representatives of the people of faith. They have the honour of having open luminous vision (zahiri nurani didar), which is like lightning. The sages have called this manifestation mubdic and mubdac and, in reality, this is the manifestation of the name "az-zahir", because this holy name is not only for utterance, but it also has an actual and real manifestation.
Q341 What does the lightning mentioned in verses (13:12; 30:24) mean? Why does it have fear and hope?
A341
- This is the miracle of the manifestation of the Imam of the time in his celestial body.
- In this state there is fear of this supernatural personality of the Imam as well as yearning to be merged in it in order to be liberated from the present sick and helpless body.
- Had it only been physical lightning, fear would be appropriate, but why yearning? One cannot say yearning for rain, because in physical rainfall there is prosperity as well as destruction.
This verse has been referred 4 times.