A014
Surah: 034 - Ayah: 014
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34:14
Dabbah 6 (The worm of the earth, Gog and Magog, living particles)
The spiritual death of every Perfect Man takes place long before the physical death. With this starts the personal or individual resurrection. Study verse (34:14) in which there is the mention of dabbatu'l-arz, which in reality is the name of Gog and Magog, who demolish the personal world for the sake of its reconstruction. Thus, these were the living particles who were gnawing Hazrat Sulayman's staff (carnal soul) so that the spiritual death may occur to him.
The spiritual death of Hazrat Sulayman is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in this way : "When We decreed death for him, nothing disclosed to them his death (dabbatu’l-ard) save a little worm of the earth which was eating away his staff. When he fell down, the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating torment." (34:14). By "dabbatu’l-ard" or earthworms is meant some souls, namely, Gog and Magog, and by staff is meant the animal soul, for the human soul receives support from it and Gog and Magog lick away at (and finish) it. By falling down, is meant lying down for the exercise of Hazrat cIzra’il.
Q130 Regarding the death of Hazrat Solomon(c) mentioned in verse (34:14), a very difficult question arises whether his death was physical or spiritual? What is meant by dabbatu’l-ard in this verse and what is the ta’wil of the staff?
A130 Hazrat Solomon(c)’s spiritual death is mentioned in this verse, during which the Gog and Magog attack the body of the salik and eat it to some extent and the salik lies down on seeing the portents of death. By dabbatu’l-ard, which is both singular and plural, are meant Gog and Magog. The ta’wil of the staff is the body by the support of which man can walk.
This verse has been referred 4 times.