A055
Surah: 024 - Ayah: 055
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24:55
The Spiritual Vicegerency (KhUafat): It is necessary to look carefully and with insight into verse (24:55) regarding "vicegerency (istikhlaf)", so that what is meant by this vicegerency and which is the earth on which many virtuous mu 'mins will be granted vicegerency simultaneously, may be known. Is it this earth on which people live? No. There are many earths. For, every human being is a personal world, in which potentially, the supreme heaven is the Universal Intellect and the most spacious earth is the Universal Soul (29:56; 4:97; 39:10).
In the light of spiritual science it has also been discovered that the angels did the second and last prostration to Hazrat Adam in the world of intellect, where all of them were (in the form of) one great angel. When in the example of angles the spiritual and intellectual faculties prostrated to Hazrat Adam, his vicegerency was actually established in the cosmic earth. It must be mentioned here that the vicegerency which is vouchsafed by God is not confined to planet earth only, rather it is the vicegerency of the entire universe, because the holy Qur’an says that the earth of the Divine vicegerncy is very spacious (24:55; 29:56; 39:10). Thus, the Qur’an indicates that this earth is: (1) the Univesal Soul, (2) the universe and all its stars, and (3) the personal worlds.
See verse (24:55) and reflect upon it. Also think about the people of the Cave and the bearers of the throne. If a mumin can be annihilated in the Imam of the time, then by the grace of God what cannot he be!
When a child is born from the womb of the mother, Divine law instantly teaches him to weep, in which great wisdoms are hidden. Although initially the allusions and meaning of a baby's cry are limited, their circle gradually expands as his needs and requirements increase. From this example you can certainly estimate that the spiritual vastness of the giryah-u zari of a believing mu'min is equal to that of the universe. For the prospering population and progress of the personal world requires the vastness of the entire world (24:55; 39:10).
The known substance is the taste of worship, it is the fruit of the love for Mawla and luminous knowledge. A question that arises from this is, do the people of Paradise worship in Paradise? The answer is yes, but that worship is with greater ease, luminosity, great pleasure and with the unveiling of secrets, for as Almighty Allah says: "They (will succeed to the office of vicegerency in the earth of spirituality and) will worship Me purely and not associate anyone with Me." (24:55). Here by association (shirk) is meant hidden shirk, that is to let a thought of other than God enter the heart during worship. An example is mentioned in verse (29:65) where some mu’mins who, when they are on a ship in a storm, call upon Allah sincerely and without association with anything else, yet when He brings them back safely to land, start to associate other things with Him. Thus, this form of shirk which is in the form of false thoughts, can be committed even by many mu’mins and by which worship is damaged. This form of shirk will not occur in the hearts of the people of Paradise. Thus in Paradise they will be able to worship Him without any kind of shirk.
Although history takes you thousands of years away from the events of Adam, the miracle of the Qur’an and the light of guidance is such that through it you can see very closely the events related to Hazrat Adam. Because the purpose of the creation of the world and of Adam was Divine vicegerency, and according to Divine Will, continues in the chain of the Prophets and the Imams. As it is said in verse (24:55) : "Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good deeds to appoint you vicegerents in the earth, as He had appointed those before you." In this wisdom-filled heavenly teaching is mention of the vicegerency of the Prophets and the Imams, which is the chain of the exalted vicegerency of Hazrat Adam and which will continue as long as the world continues. To benefit more and more from this, it is a prerequisite for Muslims and mu’mins to obey the vicegerent of God of the time more and more, so that ultimately his recognition is attained. In this recognition are centred all recognitions and this is the result of the complete recognition of soul.
By the command of God, every Prophet and every Imam breathes the Spirit, see the example of Hazrat Isa (3:49; 5:110).
Since this book is related to spiritual science, therefore, I deem it necessary to say that wherever in the Qur'an the story of Adam is mentioned, it represents countless Adams, as the word man represents countless men. Similarly, reflect carefully on verse (24:55) which alludes to innumerable vicegerents. Why not, while there is room for many vicegerents on every star and the stars are so many that it is extremely difficult to count them!
Q234 Please tell us some of the wisdoms of verse (24:55): “Allah has promised to appoint those of you who believe and do good deeds, successors in the earth, as He had appointed those before them, and He shall certainly establish their religion (Islam) which He has chosen for them, and He will give them in exchange security after their fear. They shall worship Me and not associate anyone with Me; and whosoever disbelieves after this, then they are the wicked transgressors”.
A234
- This promise of Allah is to the people of recognition.
- This earth on which we are living is not the only earth, rather Allah has countless earths, because every personal world is a universe.
- Every individual is potentially a personal world and a universe. Every potential world that is actualised has numerous copies.
- Divine vicegerency has many sublime meanings.
- The Lord of the worlds bestows the crown of vicegerency on His servants.
- Every Prophet and Imam is a vicegerent, but every vicegerent is not a Prophet or Imam.
- We have already mentioned that in every resurrection the true religion becomes victorious.
- The secret of worshipping without shirk (association with God) is in the recognition of the idea of monoreality.
This verse has been referred 15 times.