A021
Surah: 033 - Ayah: 021
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33:21
Merging with the origin and annihilation with respect to physical existence mean spiritual elevation which in turn is Devine proximity and closeness. Such an annihilation is attainable not only after death but also in this life. Further, this status is attained not only by the prophets and imams but also by the mumins who follow them. In this sense it is said in the Quran: “VERILY IN THE MESSENGER OF Allah you have a paragon example for him who looks unto Allah and the Last day, and remembers Allah abundantly “ (33:21). The gist of the tawil of this verse is that he who looks unto God and to the Imam (for the last day stands for Imam), and remembers God abundantly, he will be able to follow the Prophet in spiritualism and be merged with the origin.
Perfect Man - Personal World: In the wisdom filled and blessed verse (33:21) in which the excellent example of the Holy Prophet is mentioned, the righteous servants are given the great hope of God's vision and annihilation in Him on the condition that they must perfectly follow the Holy Prophet by knowledge, good deeds and abundant remembrance of God (33:21). In the same verse the people of wisdom are invited to think that even before the revelation of the Qur'an and advent of Islam, the Holy Prophet's heart was illumined with the light of guidance by the command of God and that this light was the straight path and the heavenly rope and that this same light was later to be erected as the ladder to the Supreme Throne (miraj). This means that in the holy light of the True Guide there is everything in a luminous form. Thus from the beginning to the end of the straight path (i.e. desired destination) there are the stages of the excellent example of the Holy Prophet. Therefore, let us pray that may every mumin follow the light perfectly, both externally and internally!
One of the characteristics of Qur’anic wisdom is that it explains and describes the same reality through different examples and words. For instance, if Hazrat musa is called Kalimullah (God’s interlocutor), it does not mean that this honour of talking to God was confined only to him. The fact is that just as hazrat Musa is praised for talking with God, so many other Prophets are also praised in the same way, but as mentioned above, the same reality is exoterically described through different examples and words, and therefore ordinary people cannot understand it. The purpose of this explanation is that although the highest mir’aj is attained by the Holy prophet, its subsidiary ranks, in the form of spirituality, are attainable not only by all Prophets and awliya (sig. wali), but also by those mu’mins who follow the pure character and excellent example of the Holy Prophet in religion, as can be seen in verse (33:21).
Uswah hasanah (Excellent pattern)
In verse (33:21) God says: "Verily in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent pattern for him who has hope in Allah and the last day and remembers Allah abundantly." The wisdom of this verse shows that following the Prophet’s excellent example continues upto micraj, where it comes to an end and therefore this is a special good news for the people of recognition.
Worship in Paradise is indeed miraculous, and an example of it in this world is the worship practised by the Prophets and Imams, for as it says in the Holy Qur’an: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for him who has hope in Allah and the Last Day (i.e. the Imam), and remembers Allah abundantly." (33:21). The clear meaning of this Divine teaching is that those who obey God, the Prophet and the Imam of the time and are in constant remembrance, it is certain that the excellent example of the Holy Prophet becomes clear to them. Had this not been so, God would not have invited them to follow the excellent example of the Prophet.
Part 97
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
It is mentioned in verse (33:21): “Verily in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent pattern for the one who has hope in Allah and the last day and remembers Allah abundantly.”
Another translation of the same verse: “Verily, there was/is a pattern of spiritual progress for the one who hopes for the didar of Allah and the last day, i.e. the Imam (in this world) and remembers God abundantly [by His supreme Name].” Such an individual can reach micraj, following the Prophet, God willing.
It is mentioned in verses (53:1-2): “By the star when it sets, your companion does not go astray, nor is he deceived.”
Ta’wili purport: The holy Prophet apparently went to micraj all alone, but spiritually he entered the sacred Sanctuary with all those souls to whom he was sent by God as a mercy. God, therefore, swears by the light that rises and sets in the sacred Sanctuary and praises the successful guidance of his beloved Prophet.
Further, there is a deep wisdom in the use of “companion (sahib)” that Allah says that all souls were with the Prophet spiritually on his journey of micraj . Try to analyse the wisdom of every word [of this verse] and reflect upon it.
Q324 What is the most significant wisdom of the excellent example of the holy Prophet and where is it mentioned in the Qur’an?
A324
- It is mentioned in verse (33:21): “Verily, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for the one who has hope in Allah and the last day and remembers Allah abundantly.”
- It is not hidden from the wise people that the holy Prophet had experienced and observed the resurrection, the hereafter and paradise in this very life and had the holy didar of Allah during his spiritual micraj.
- Thus, the above-mentioned verse addresses the people of faith in the language of wisdom and encourages them to come forward, because there is no obstacle in following the true guide in order to attain the rank of fana’ fi’llah. This is the main purpose of drawing attention to the excellent example of the holy Prophet.
This verse has been referred 13 times.