A030
Surah: 021 - Ayah: 030
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21:30
Example 8: Like other great things of this world, water too is adorned with and full of the signs of wisdom. It is like a great, moving and wisdom-filled book on the subject of soul and also a superb pattern and representative of knowledge, for in reality, soul and the light of knowledge which is living are the same reality. One Qur'anic proof of this fact is: "And We made all living things from water" (21:30). The ta'wil of the verse is: And We (at the place of spirituality) have made alive everything with the water (of knowledge). This shows that water is a symbol and spiritual knowledge, which is the source of real life is its meaning (mamthul). You see that in this verse making everything alive is mentioned, therefore, its actuality and reality are hidden in ta 'wil. In short, water is a symbol for spiritual knowledge and all its movements and characteristics, are allusions to this knowledge.
Togetherness and Separation of the Heavens and the Earth: It is said in verse (21:30): "Indeed the heavens and the earth were together, then We separated them and from water We made every living thing." This means that the sun of the Intellect was immersed in the west of the Universal Soul. It rose from there by the command of God. And everything in the world of Intellect becomes alive by the water of knowledge.
Mizan (Balance): God separated the heaven of the Universal Intellect from the earth of the Universal Soul (21:30) and raised it high and placed the balance therein (55:7). That is, the balance of Intellect is placed in the intellectual heaven. Then God sent His Messengers with clear miracles and sent with them the Book and the balance of Intellect (57:25). It is vitally important to know that the balance which is revealed with every heavenly Book is specifically linked to the Holy Qur’an. Thus this balance is the Light of Intellect and the Light of Knowledge, which after the Holy Prophet is in the exalted Imam. And this is the same Light mentioned in verse (5:15).
Ratq 1 (Closed up, joined together, sewn up)
It is mentioned in verse (21:30): "Have not those who disbelieved seen that the heavens and the earth were closed up, and that We clove them asunder? And out of water We made all things alive." That is, man was once on the heaven of the Intellect and Soul, then God brought him into this material world, and made it imperative for him to be saturated with the water of knowledge, so that he may be truly revived and return to the higher world.
Ratq 2 (Closed up, joined together, sewn up)
"Have not those who disbelieve seen that the heavens and the earth were closed up, and that We clove them asunder." (21:30) The secret that the angel Universal Intellect is the heaven and the angel Universal Soul is the earth is extremely great. These two, by the command of God, are one as well as separate and there are countless wisdoms in this decree of God.
Rahman (The Beneficent)
Another ta'wil of separating the heaven from the earth and raising it is that God raises every Prophet and Imam from the earth of dacwat and makes him the heaven of knowledge and wisdom, as God says: "Have not those who disbelieve seen that the heavens and the earth were joined together and then We clove them asunder?" (21:30).
It is said in verse (21:30): "Have not those who disbelieve seen that the heavens and the earth were joined together, and then We clove them asunder?" This wisdom-filled example is first related to the personal world, in which in the beginning, the heaven of the intellect and the earth of the soul are joined together. Then God exalts the heaven of the intellect from the earth of the soul. The same example in the Sacred Sanctuary is related to the heaven of the Universal Intellect and the earth of the Universal Soul, which are joined together, but the sign of the pearl of intellect shows the exaltedness of the heaven. Our earth is also a world in which the same example applies to the intellect and the soul and the same applies to the intellect and the soul of the world of religion as well.
Q364 It appears that these magnificent proofs are not your own, but they are from the presence of the holy Imam. Therefore, kindly tell us more wisdoms concerning the vicegerency of Hazrat Adam(c).
A364
- The Universal Intellect is the heaven and the Universal Soul, the earth. However, the carifs have come to know the great secret that these two greatest angels together have become one reality (hasti). Therefore, with respect to individuality they are separate and with respect to unity they are one. Reflect on the words ratq and fatq in verse (21:30).
- From this you may have realised that the vicegerency of God’s vicegerent is not confined to the planet earth, but extended to the seven heavens and their like, the seven earths, and to the Universal Intellect and the Universal Soul.
- If the entire universe is subjugated to the children of Adam(c) (31:20; 45:13), God’s elect, how can His vicegerency be limited to the planet earth only?
This verse has been referred 8 times.