Twentieth Word
The "Twentieth Word" teaches us how to recognize timeless universal precepts and general laws in the narration of particular historical incidents in the Qur'an.
Click to listen to Episode 01 (First Station, First and Second Subtle Points), Episode 02 (First Station, Third Subtle Point), Episode 03 (First Station, Third Subtle Point), and Episode 04 (Second Station, Introduction), Episode 05 (Second Station, Examples), Episode 06 (Second Station, Examples), Episode 07 (Second Station, Examples), Episode 08 (Second Station, Examples), Episode 09 (Second Station, Examples), Episode 10 (Subtle point on the instruction of names), Episode 11 (Miraculousness of the Qur’an), and Episode 12 (Two important questions).
Back to The Words.
ROUGH TRANSLATION from the RISALE-I NUR
translated by Dr. Mustafa Tuna
A rough translation of the section that is being discussed is posted below. This is a work in progress and should not be considered a finalized translation. It is only meant to help with understanding the recorded discussion.
Consists of two stations.
FIRST STATION
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَاِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلٰۤئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا ِلاٰدَمَ فَسَجَدُوۤا اِلاَّۤ اِبْلِيسَ
اِنَّ اللهَ يَاْمُرُكُمْ اَنْ تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً
ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ فَهِىَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ اَوْ اَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Mercy-giver.
“When We told the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” they all prostrated. But not Iblis… (Qur'an, 2: 34).”
“…‘God commands you to slaughter a cow’…(Qur'an, 2: 67).”
“Even after that, your hearts hardened like rocks or even harder than that… (Qur'an, 2: 74).”
One day, while reciting these verses, three subtle points were inspired from the Wise Qur'an’s effusion against Iblis’ promptings. The whispering was in the following form:
He said: “You say, ‘The Qur’an is a miracle. It has unlimited eloquence. And it is guidance to all at all times.’ So, what is the meaning in insistently repeating some particular incidents like a historical account in this way? What is the relevance of mentioning a particular event like the slaughtering of a cow with such significant description and even naming such a tremendous chapter of the Qur'an “al-Baqarah” (The Cow)? Also, the incident of “prostration before Adam” is purely a matter of the unseen. The intellect cannot find a way to it. Only after strong faith, one can willfully defer to and submit to it. Yet, the Qur'an is teaching all intelligent people. It says اَفَلاَ يَعْقِلُونَ “Do they not use their intellect? (Qur'an, 36: 68)” and refers matters to the intellect. Also, what guidance is there in elucidating some natural states of rocks, which are coincidental, with significance?”
The subtle points that were inspired took this form:
First Subtle Point
A universal precept is hidden behind each of the many particular incidents mentioned in the Qur'an, and it is being shown as the tip of a general law. For example, عَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ اْلاَسْمَاۤءَ كُلَّهَا “He taught Adam all the names,” is about the instruction of names to Hazrat Adam (a.s.), which is one of his miracles, for the purpose of having the capacity of vicegerency over the angels, and this is a particular incident. Yet, it is the tip of a universal precept as follows:
It is the instruction of unlimited types of knowledge, sundry practical sciences encompassing the species in the cosmos, and many gnostic sciences comprising the conducts and attributes of the Creator as taught to the humankind in view of the comprehensiveness of aptitudes. It is this instruction that has given preponderance to the humankind over not only the angels, but in fact, the heavens, the Earth, and the mountains with regard to the matter of bearing the supreme trust. And as the Qur'an points out that they are the metaphysical vicegerents of the entire Earth with everything on it, the particular incident of the unseen about “the Satan not prostrating before Adam together with the angels” is the tip of a very broad and observable universal precept and hints at a quite significant reality. It is this:
By mentioning the obedience and acquiescence of angels to the person of Adam and Satan’s hubris and refusal of this, on the one hand, the Qur'an points out that most material species in the cosmos and their metaphysical representatives and entrusted [angels] are subjugated to the humankind and are prepared and subordinated for all the benefits that pertain to the humankind’s distinctive faculties, and on the other hand, it warns about how great an impediment and how dreadful an enemy that malevolent matters, which spoil the aptitudes of the humankind and lead them in wrong directions, and their representatives and vile inhabitants constitute on the humankind’s path to perfection, and thus, in speaking about one particular incident about Adam, the Qur'an of Miraculous Exposition enters into a lofty conversation with the entire cosmos and the entire humankind.
Second Subtle Point
Since the region of Egypt is an extension of the Great Sahara, which is a land of sand, yet has become in effect an utterly productive cultivating field with the effusion of the blessed Nile, the existence of such a Paradise-like blessed site neighboring that hellish desert has rendered cultivation and farming so highly desirable for the people of Egypt and instilled these in the innate characteristics of its inhabitants so much that this has elevated the cow and the ox, raising which is sanctified and which are means of cultivation, to a degree of sacredness and in fact, of an object of worship. Thus, the people of Egypt at that time have attributed to ox and the cow a sacredness that reaches the degree of worship. Now, at that time, the Children of Israel lived in this region too, and it is understood from the discussion of the “Calf” that they had received their share of that nurturing.[1]
Thus, through the slaughter of one cow, the Wise Qur'an points out that through his messengership, Hazrat Moses (as) has cut off and destroyed the idea of cow-worshipping, which had entered the innate characteristics of that people and penetrated their aptitudes. Thus, with lofty miraculousness, the Qur’an expounds through this particular incident a universal precept and that it is an utterly necessary lesson of wisdom for everyone at all times.
By comparison to this, know that the particular incidents that are mentioned in the Wise Qur'an in the form of some historical events are the tips of universal precepts. As an example with regard to the seven sentences of the Story of Moses, which is mentioned repeatedly in many chapters of the Qur'an, in the “Treatise on the Qur'an’s Miraculousness” section of the Flashes, we have even elucidated how each part of those particular sentences entail a universal precept. If you wish, consult that treatise.[2]
[1] When Moses (a.s.) left Israelites to go to Mount Sinai, the Israelites cast a golden calf and began worshipping it. This event is narrated in the Qur'an as follows: “[God said], ‘Moses, what has made you come ahead of your people in such haste?’ // and he said, ‘They are following in my footsteps. I rushed to You, Lord, to please You,’ // but God said, ‘We have tested your people in your absence: the Samiric has led them astray.’ // Moses returned to his people, angry and aggrieved. He said, ‘My people, did your Lord not make you a gracious promise? Was my absence too long for you? Did you want anger to fall on you from your Lord and so broke your word to me?’ // They said, ‘We did not break our word to you deliberately. We were burdened with the weight of people’s jewellery, so we threw it [into the fire], and the Samiri did the same,’ // but he [used the molten jewellery to] produce an image of a calf which made a lowing sound, and they said, ‘This is your god and Moses’ god, but he has forgotten.’ // Did they not see that [the calf] gave them no answer, that it had no power to harm or benefit them? // Aaron did say to them, ‘My people, this calf is a test for you. Your true Lord is the Lord of Mercy, so follow me and obey my orders,’ // but they replied, ‘We shall not give up our devotion to it until Moses returns to us.’ (Qur'an, 20: 83-91).”
[2] This treatise is called Leme’at: Çekirdekler Çiçekleri” (Flashes: Flowers of Seeds). It was written in Turkish in 1921. It is different from the Flashes (Lem’alar), which was written in the 1930s. Most of Leme’at is included as an addendum at the end of the Words, but this particular section on the miraculousness of the repetition of the story of Moses in the Qur’an is omitted.
Third Subtle Point
ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ فَهِىَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ اَوْ اَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً وَاِنَّ مِنَ اْلحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ اْلاَنْهَارُ وَاِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ اْلـمَاۤءُ وَاِنَّ مِنْهاَ لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللهِ وَمَا اللهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلوُنَ
“Even after that, your hearts became as hard as rocks, or even harder, for there are rocks from which streams spring out, and some from which water comes when they split open, and others which fall down in awe of God: He is not unaware of what you do (Qur'an, 2: 74).”
As I was reciting this verse, the whisperer said: “What is the meaning in mentioning and elucidating such natural states of ordinary rocks that are known by everybody in the form of most important and significant matters, what is the relevance of this, what need is there for it?”
In response to this whispering, a subtle point like this was inspired from the Qur'an’s effusion:
Yes, there is relevance and need. It is so relevant with such important meaning and it contains such a tremendous and necessary truth that these were simplified and abridged to some extent only thanks to Qur'an’s miraculous brevity and gentle rightful guidance.
Yes, brevity, which is a foundation of the Qur'an’s miraculousness, and gentle rightful guidance and beautiful explanation, which are from the light of the Qur'an’s guidance, entail that universal realities and deep and general precepts be shown to the common folk, who constitute the majority of the Qur'an’s addressees, with familiar and particular examples… that only the tips and a simple image of the tremendous realities be shown to the general public who have simple ideas… Moreover, the divine disposals that are extraordinary beneath the veil of custom and under the ground be shown in summary form. So, it is due to this secret that the Wise Qur'an says with this verse:
O the Children of Israel and O the Children of Adam! What has happened to you that your hearts have become more lifeless and harder than rock. Do you not see that those exceedingly lifeless and hard massive rocks that constitute a tremendous layer under the ground are so obedient and subjugated before divine commands and so soft and compliant under lordly disposals that as divine disposal easily takes place in the air during the formation of trees, likewise, it takes place with such ease and orderliness under the ground, in those hard and deaf rocks… So much that orderly water channels and veins flow through them like blood circulating through the veins (Sidenote 1). Also, the Qur'an points to the orderly spread of roots in the rocks under the ground with ease and without resistance following divine commands, like the spread of plant and tree branches in the air with ease. And with this verse, it teaches a broad reality, and with that teaching, it conveys to hardened hearts the following meaning and says with a hint:
O the Children of Israel and O the Children of Adam! While you are weak and impotent, what kind of a heart are you carrying [in your chests] that it resists the commands of such a Divine Entity with hardness? In darkness, the tremendous layer of those massive and hard rocks are fulfilling their delicate duties perfectly and with perfect acquiescence to the commands of that Divine Entity, they are not showing disobedience. In fact, those rocks are serving the possessors of life above the ground as the treasurers of life-giving water and other prerequisites of their life, and they are being the means for such just allotment and wise distribution that in the hand of power of the All-Wise Possessor of Majesty, they are soft like beeswax, no, like air, without resistance. They are in a state of prostration before the tremendousness of His power. Because, the likes of these orderly artifacts and those divine disposals with wisdom and solicitude are taking place exactly under the ground. Look: How those hardest and senseless massive rocks are becoming soft before divine commands! How they are losing their resistance and hardness before that subtle water and those delicate roots and silky veins, which are divine officials. As though, like lovers, their hearts are torn with the touch of those subtle beauties and they become dirt on the path of their beloveds.
Also, with وَاِنَّ مِنْهاَ لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللهِ (and others which fall down in awe of God ), it shows the tip of a tremendous reality as follows: Like the crumbling of the mountain and the scattering of rocks upon manifestation in the famous incident of the request of vision,[1] with majestic manifestations in the form of earthquakes and some geological events taking place on most mountains, which are originally liquid and as though composed of monolithic rocks, upon the appearance of awe-inspiring majestic manifestations, rocks on the elevated zeniths of those mountains crumble. Some are ground and turn into soil, then become a source for the plants all over the face of the Earth. Others remain as rocks and roll down into rivers and plains. There, they serve in many of the affairs of the earth’s inhabitants, such as habitations. And for some hidden wisdoms and benefits, they assume a compliant position before the precepts of the wisdom of the Glorified One, prostrating before divine power and wisdom.
Certainly, the benefits and advantages attached to those rocks and the perfect orderliness and beautifully excellent artistry of the shirts engraved and adorned with the ornaments of flowers and fruits and put on the corpse of the mountain down which those rocks roll definitively and without a doubt bear witness that leaving those elevated places out of awe and choosing lower spots and causing those important benefits is not for nothing, without supervision, or coincidental, and in fact, that a wise orderliness that does not appear to the superficial sight exists within that lack of orderliness owing to the wise disposal of the All-Wise All-Powerful.
Sidenote 1: Yes, it befits the Qur’an only to expound the three most important duties that are given by the Majestic Originator to the layer of rocks, which is the foundation stone of the magnificent and mobile palace called the earth.
So, the first duty: As soil acts as a mother to plants, thanks to the lordly power, and raises them, so does the rock become a mother, thanks to divine power, to the soil and grows it.
Second duty: This is its service for the orderly circulation of water in the Earth’s body, which in effect is the circulation of blood in that body.
Third duty of its innate nature: To serve in the appearance and continuation of fountains and rivers, springs and streams with orderly balanced proportions. Yes, with all their power, the rocks are writing and spreading the indications of entitative oneness over the face of the earth by pouring mouthfuls of life-giving water.
[1] “When Moses came for the appointment, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show Yourself to me: let me see You!’ He said, ‘You will never see Me, but look at that mountain: if it remains standing firm, you will see Me,’ and when his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble: Moses fell down unconscious. When he recovered, he said, ‘Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance! I am the first to believe!’ (Qur'an, 7: 143).”
So, you saw how precious these three verses are from the point of view of wisdom. Now, look at the subtle beauty of the Qur'an’s exposition and the miraculousness of its eloquence: How it shows the tips of these great, broad, and important realities with three well-known and observable events in three passages. How it offers subtle rightful guidance by reminding about three other incidents worth heeding, and how it restrains in an irresistible way.
For example, it says in the second passage: وَاِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ اْلـمَاۤء (and some from which water comes when they split open)
In this passage, by pointing to the rock that split with perfect enthusiasm under the staff of Hazrat Moses (peace be upon him) and poured forth twelve fountains, it conveys a meaning like the following and says metaphysically:
O the Children of Israel! While massive rocks soften up and split apart with a single miracle of Moses (as), and they cry out of awe or joy pouring out flood-like tears, how is it that you are so unfair in keeping your recalcitrance and not crying, with solidified eyes and hardened hearts in the face of all the miracles of Moses (as)?
Also, it says in the third passage: وَاِنَّ مِنْهاَ لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللهِ (and others which fall down in awe of God )
In this passage, by reminding about how the massive mountain crumbled apart and scattered around out of the grandeur of majestic manifestation and how rocks rolled away with that awe at the time of the famous event of the colloquy of Moses (as) on Mount Sinai, it teaches the following meaning:
O the people of Moses! How is it that you do not fear God? Even mountains composed of rocks crush and scatter out of His awe. How do you find the courage to not tremble with His awe and to keep your hearts rigid and hard, while you know and have seen that He held Mount Sinai over you to take the covenant and that the mountain crumbled in the incident of the request of vision?
Also, it says in the first passage: وَاِنَّ مِنَ اْلحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ اْلاَنْهَار (for there are rocks from which streams spring out)
With this passage, by reminding about the Blessed Nile, the Tigris and the Euphrates, which spring forth from mountains, it calls to mind how marvelously and miraculously do rocks become loci of appearance for and are subjugated to the creational commands. Through this, it provides a meaning like the following to hearts in attention:
Of course it is not possible for mountains to be the true origins of such tremendous rivers. This is because, if, for the sake of argument, those mountains turned into water completely and became conical reservoirs, in the face of the swift and abundant flow of those great rivers, they could only last a few months without losing equilibrium. Rain, which for the most part penetrates soil about a meter, cannot provide enough inflow for that abundant expenditure. In that case, the way these rivers spring forth is not an ordinary, natural, and coincidental affair. Rather, the Majestic Originator is making them flow purely from the treasure of the unseen in an exceedingly wondrous fashion.
Thus, to express this meaning, it is narrated in a prophetic tradition pointing to this secret: “Every moment, a drop falls from Paradise in each of those rivers. That is why they are blessed.” Also, it is said in a narration: “The origin of these three rivers is Paradise.” The reality of this narration is this: Since material causes are not capable of producing their abundant flow, of course, their origin is in the unseen realm and comes from a hidden treasure of mercy, and thus, their inflow and expenditure continue in equilibrium.
So, the Wise Qur'an offers such a lesson by reminding about this meaning and says:
O the Children of Israel and the Children of Adam! With your rigidity and hardheartedness, you are disobeying the commands of such a Majestic Entity, you are closing your eyes heedlessly to the radiant light of such a Perpetual Sun’s gnosis that by making mighty rivers like the Blessed Nile – which turns your Egypt into paradise – flow from the mouths of ordinary and solid rocks, then consigning to the heart of the cosmos and the Earth’s core, He pours the miracles of His power and the witnesses of His entitative oneness into the hearts and the intellects of the Jinn and the mankind to the degree of the strength, appearance, and effusion of those mighty rivers. Also, while that He makes some insentient and solid rocks the locus of appearance of the miracles of His power in such an amazing way (sidenote 2) that shows the Majestic Originator as radiant sunlight shows the Sun, how is it that you are blinded to the luminous light of His gnosis and you do not see it.
So, see what eloquence has been clothed on these three realities. Pay attention to the rightly guiding eloquence. Wonder, what hardness and rigidity exists out there that can withstand the heat of the eloquence of such rightful guidance and escape being crushed?
So, if you have understood from the beginning to this point, you have seen a flash of the miraculousness of the All-wise Qur'an in providing rightful guidance, then show gratitude to God.
سُبْحَانَكَ لاَعِلْمَ لَنَاۤ اِلاَّ مَاعَلَّمْتَنَاۤ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
Glory be to You. We have no knowledge other than that which you have taught us. Indeed you are All-knowing, All-wise (Qur’an, 2: 32).
اَللّٰهُمَّ فَهِّمْنَا اَسْرَارَ الْقُرْاٰنِ كَمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضٰى وَوَفِّقْناَ لِخِذْمَتِهِ اٰمِينَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَاۤ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلٰى مَنْ اُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ الْحَكِيمُ وَعَلٰۤى اٰلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِۤ اَجْمَعِينَ
O God, make us understand the Qur'an’s secrets as you love and are pleased with, and grace us with being in its service. Amin, accept from us with your mercy O the Most Merciful of Mercy-givers. O God, send your blessings and peace to the one to whom the all-wise Qur'an was revealed, and to his family and companions altogether.
Sidenote 2: As the Blessed Nile originates from the Mountains of the Moon, a most significant tributary of the Tigris originates from the cave of a rock in the Müküs subdistrict of the Van province, and a significant tributary of the Euphrates originates from the skirts of a mountain in the region of Diyadin. It is scientifically established that the foundation of mountains is rocks created through the solidification of a liquid substance. Among the formulaic glorifications of the Prophet, سُبْحَانَ مَنْ بَسَطَ اْلاَرْضَ عَلَى مَاءٍ جَمَدْ (Glory be to the One Who spread the earth on solidified water.) definitively indicates that the origin of the Earth’s creation is like this: With divine command, a water-like substance solidifies and becomes rock. Then, rock becomes soil with divine permission. The word “arḍ” (earth) in the glorification means soil. That is, water is too soft, one cannot stand on it. Rock is too hard, it cannot be benefited from. Therefore, the All-wise Merciful One spreads soil on rock and makes it a seat for the possessors of life.
Second Station
A flash of the Qur'an’s miraculousness shining on the face of prophetic miracles.
(Pay attention to the two questions and answers at the end.)
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ اِلاَّ فِى كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Mercy-giver
“…nor [is there] anything, fresh or withered, that is not written in a clear Record (Qur'an, 6: 59).”
Fourteen years ago (now it has exceeded thirty years), I had written a discussion in Arabic on the secret of this verse in my commentary called ʾIshārāt al-ʾiʿjāz (Signs of Miraculousness). Now two of my brothers whose wishes are important for me asked for some explanation in Turkish on that discussion. And so I say with confidence in the enabling grace of the Sublime Real and relying on the Qur'an’s effusion:
According to one opinion, the Clear Book is the Qur'an. This verse elucidates that everything, fresh or withered, is in it. Is that so? Yes, everything is in it. However, everybody cannot see everything in it, for they exist at differing degrees. Sometimes their seeds, sometimes their kernels, sometimes their aggregates, sometimes their precepts, and sometimes their marks exist either obviously, or by signification, or as a hint, or with an obscure expression, or in the form of a reminder. It is elucidated in one of these forms according to the need, in a form that suits the Qur'an’s objective, and in relation to what the station calls for. For instance:
Things such as airplanes, electricity, trains, and telegraph have come into existence as wonders of artistry and marvels of practical sciences that result from human advancements in the fields of arts and sciences, and they have taken a most significant position in the material life of human beings. Of course, the Wise Qur'an, which addresses the entire humankind, would not leave these neglected. Yes, it has not left and has pointed to them in two respects:
First respect: In the form of prophetic miracles.
The second part is this: It points to them in the form of some historical events. For example:
As it points to the train with verses such as (sidenote 1):
قُتِلَ اَصْحاَبُ اْلاُخْدُودِ اَلنَّارِذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ اِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ وَهُمْ عَلٰى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ اِلاَّۤ اَنْ يُؤْمِنوُا بِاللهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
“Damned were the makers of the trench // the makers of the fuel-stoked fire! // They sat down to watch what they were doing to the believers. // Their only grievance against them was their faith in God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy (Qur'an, 85: 4-8).”
And likewise:
فِى الْفُلْكِ اْلمَشْحُونِ وَخَلَقْناَ لَهُمْ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ مَايَرْكَبُونَ
“Another sign for them is that We carried their seed in the laden Ark, // and We have made similar things for them to ride in (Qur'an, 36: 41-42).”
The verse:
اَللهُ نُورُ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَاْلاَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكٰوةٍ فِيهَا مِصْباَحٌ اَلْمِصْباَحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ اَلزُّجَاجَةُ كَاَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لاَشَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلاَ غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِۤيئُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُورٌ عَلٰى نُورٍ يَهْدِى اللهُ لِنُورِهِ مَنْ يَشَاۤءُ
“God is the Light of the heavens and earth. His Light is like this: there is a niche, and in it a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, a glass-like a glittering star, fueled from a blessed olive tree from neither east nor west, whose oil almost gives light even when no fire touches it – light upon light – God guides whoever He will to his Light; God draws such comparisons for people; God has full knowledge of everything (Qur'an, 24: 35).”
hints to electricity in addition to pointing to many lights and secrets (sidenote 2).
With regard to this second part, since many people already occupy themselves with these, since it is in need of much careful attention and explanation, and since they are numerous, for now, I will limit myself to these verses that point to the train and electricity and will not open that door:
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Sidenote 1: This sentence points out that it is the train; it has captivated the world of Islam. The disbelievers have defeated Islam with it.
Sidenote 2: The sentence “whose oil almost gives light even when no fire touches it – light upon light” illuminates that hint.
First Part
As for the first part, it points out in the form of prophetic miracles. We too will mention some samples from that part as example:
Introduction
So, as the Wise Qur’an sends prophets to human communities each as a pioneer and leader with regard to metaphysical advancement, it also gives to the hands of each one of those prophets some wonders in the form of the material advancement of human beings and makes them each a master artisan and mentor to humans; it commands following them in absolute terms.
So, as it encourages human beings to benefit from the prophets by mentioning their metaphysical perfections, the mention of their miracles suggests an encouragement to rise to the replication of their examples and to imitate them. It can even be said that like metaphysical perfections, it gifts material perfections and wonders to humankind in the hands of miracles first. Hence, what has gifted the ship, which is a miracle of Hazrat Noah (as) and the clock, which is a miracle of Hazrat Joseph (as), to human beings first is the hand of miracles. There is a subtle sign to this truth in that most artisans consider a prophet as their patron in each craft. For example, Hazrat Noah (as) for sailors, Hazrat Joseph (as) for clockmakers, Hazrat Idris (as) for tailors…
Yes, since the people of verification and the science of eloquence have agreed that each verse of the Qur'an has many aspects of rightful guidance and numerous aspects of guidance, in that case, the verses of prophetic miracles, which are the most brilliant verses of the Qur'an of Miraculous Exposition, do not come each simply as a historical story but entail many meanings containing rightful guidance. By mentioning prophetic miracles, the Qur’an is delineating the furthest boundaries of human practical sciences and arts. It puts its finger on their furthest purposes. It designates their ultimate missions. It strikes the backs of human beings with the hand of encouragement and goads them to that purpose. As the past is a storehouse of the seeds of the future and a mirror of its conducts, the future is the cultivating field of the past and the mirror of its states. Now, we will elucidate only a few samples from that most expansive font.
For instance, the verse of “And [We subjugated] the wind for Solomon. Its outward journey took a month, and its return journey likewise (Qur'an, 34: 12),” which elucidates the subjugation of air as a miracle of Hazrat Solomon (as), says: “Hazrat Solomon has covered a distance of two months in one day by flying in the air.”
So, it signifies in this: The road is open for the human beings to cover such a distance in the air. In that case, o the human being! Since the road is open for you, reach this level and come close to it.
In the tongue of this verse, the Sublime Real says: “O the human being! I mounted one of my slaves on air because he abandoned the vain desires of his lower soul. If you too leave the lower soul’s laziness and nicely benefit from the laws of my custom, you too can mount on it.”
Also, the verse “…and We said to him, ‘Strike the rock with your staff.’ Twelve springs gushed out… (to the end, Qur’an, 2: 60),” which expounds a miracle of Hazrat Moses (as), signifies that with simple tools, one can benefit from the treasures of mercy under the ground, so much so that, with a staff, life-giving water can be drawn out in a rock-hard place. So, with this meaning, this verse says to people: “You can find life-giving water, which is a most subtle effusion of mercy, with a staff. Then, go ahead, try, find it.”
In the tongue of the hint in this verse, the Sublime Real says metaphysically: “O the human being! As I give to the hand of one of my slaves who obeys me such a staff that, with it, he draws out life-giving water wherever he wants, if you rely on the laws of My mercy, you too can obtain a tool like that or close to that. Go ahead, obtain it!”
So, one of the important human advancements is the invention of a tool that when struck by it, water gushes out in most places. Beyond that, this verse has delineated the final and furthest limits in this matter. In the way that the previous verse has designated the end points much further than the present airplanes now…
Also, for example, about a miracle of Jesus (as): “…I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead back to life with God’s permission… (Qur'an, 3: 49)” As the Qur'an openly encourages humanity to follow the lofty character of Jesus (as), likewise, with a hint, it urges toward that elevated art and Lordly practice of medicine in his hand. So, this verse signifies that a cure can be found for even the most chronic ailments. In that case, o the human being and o the children of Adam who are struck by calamities! Do not despair. A cure is possible for every ailment, no matter what. Search for it and find it. It is even possible to color death in the color of life temporarily.
In the tongue of the signification of this verse, the Sublime Real says: “O the human being! I gave two gifts to a slave of mine who abandoned the world for me: one a cure for metaphysical ailments, the other a medicine for material ailments. Here, dead hearts are coming alive with the light of guidance. Even dead-like sick persons are being healed with his breath and medicine. You too can find a remedy for each one of your troubles in My pharmacy of wisdom. Try and find. Of course, if you look for it, you will find.”
So, with regard to medicine, this verse delineates a limit that is much further than the current advancement of humanity. It points to that limit and encourages.
Also, the verses about Hazrat David (as), “…We softened iron for him… (Qur'an, 34: 10)” “…We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking ( Qur'an, 38: 20),” and about Hazrat Solomon (as), “We made a fountain of molten copper flow for him (Qur'an, 34: 12)” signify that the softening of iron is a greatest divine blessing with which He shows the merit of one of His prophets.
Yes, the softening of iron, that is making iron soft like dough, melting copper, and finding and extracting minerals are the origin, mother, foundation, and mine of all material human industry. Here, this verse signifies that the softening of iron and accomplishing most common industries by making iron soft like dough, pulling it thin like wires, and melting copper constitute a great blessing to a great messenger and great vicegerent on Earth in the form of a great miracle. As He has given wisdom to the tongue and industry to the hand of a messenger and a vicegerent, that is, a ruler both metaphysically and materially, as He encourages to the wisdom on his tongue openly, of course, there is a sign in this urging to the industry in his hand too.
In the tongue of the signification of this verse, the Sublime Real says metaphysically: “O the children of Adam! I gave such wisdom to the tongue and heart of one of my slaves who obeys my commands of accountability that he classifies everything with perfect clarity and shows their reality. I gave such an industry to his hand that, with his hand, he molds iron into all shapes like wax and obtains a significant force for his vicegerency and kingdom. Since this is possible, it is being given, since it is important, and since you are much in need of that in your social life, if you also obey my commands of creation, that wisdom and industry can be given to you too. You may catch up and come close to it with the passage of time.
So, it is with the softening of iron and the melting of copper that human beings have advanced furthest with regard to industry and obtained a most significant power with regard to material strength. In the verse, copper is referred to as “qitr” (molten copper). These verses turn the sights of all humankind to this reality. It sternly warns the people of earlier times and the lazy at the present who do not appreciate how important this reality is.
Also, for example, this verse: “but one of them who had some knowledge of the Scripture said, ‘I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye.’ When Solomon saw it set before him… (to the end, Qur’an, 27: 40) about the wondrous event of one of Hazrat Solomon’s (as) viziers who knew the science of transportation saying to Hazrat Solomon (as) about the transportation of Bilqis’ throne to him: “Before you blink your eye, I will have that throne present by you,” signifies that it is possible to bring either a thing itself or its image to our presence from long distances. Moreover, this has happened. To be a means for Hazrat Solomon’s (as) innocence and justice, the Sublime Real has miraculously bestowed upon him effortless and in-person access to the quarters of his exceedingly large country as well as the ability to see the state of his subjects and hear their problems.
So, as Solomon (as) relied on the Sublime Real and asked with the tongue of his innocence, if he [the human being] also asks from the Sublime Real with the tongue of his aptitude and acts in accordance with the laws of His customs and solicitude, the world may in effect become a city for him too. So, while the throne of Bilqis was in Yemen, it became present in Damascus either itself or with its image, and it was seen. Surely, along with their images, the voices of the men around the throne were also heard.
So, this sublimely signifies the transmission of images and sounds from long distances and says metaphysically: O the people of power! If you want to have complete justice, then try to see and understand the face of the Earth with all its sides like Solomon. This is because, a just ruler and a monarch who loves his subjects finds salvation from metaphysical responsibility or can have complete justice by rising to the degree of being cognizant of the quarters of his country any time he wants.
In the tongue of the hint in this verse, the Sublime Real says metaphysically: “O children of Adam! Since I am giving one of my slaves a vast property and states and direct cognizance of the happenings on Earth in order for him to implement complete justice on that vast property; and since I have given each human being in his innate nature the ability to be a vicegerent of the Earth, surely, the human being will see the face of the Earth in accordance with that ability. He will look and understand that it is because My wisdom calls for it that I have given him his aptitude. Even if he cannot reach that point personally, he can do so as a species. Even if he cannot reach materially, he can reach metaphysically, like the people of sainthood. In that case, you can benefit from this tremendous blessing. Go ahead, let me see you, on condition that you do not forget your duty of worshipful slavehood, work in such a way that you turn the face of the Earth into a garden every part of which will be visible to you and that will let you hear the voices in every corner of it. Listen to the decree of the Merciful in: ‘It is He who has made the Earth manageable for you –travel its regions; eat His provision—and to Him you will be resurrected (Qur'an, 67: 15).’”
So, with a hint, this verse shows the furthest boundaries of the transmission of images and sounds, which is a delicate art of the humankind, and it suggests an encouragement.
Also, for instance, about Hazrat Solomon (as) again, it says with these verses which express the subjugation of the Jinn, the satans, and malignant souls, thus prohibiting their evil and employing them in useful works: “and others chained in fetters (Qur’an, 38: 38)”[1] and “and some of the satans who dive for him and do other works besides… (to the end, Qur’an, 21: 82)”:[2] The Jinn, who, after the human being, are the most important inhabitants of the Earth that possess consciousness, can become the human being’s servants. It is possible to get in touch with them. The satans can be compelled to drop enmity and serve whether they want to or not, and thus, the Sublime Real has subjugated them to one of his slaves who subjugated to His commands.
[1] “So We gave him power over the wind, which at his request ran gently wherever he willed, // and the jinn – every kind of builder and diver // and others chained in fetters. // ‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold as you wish without account.’ // His reward will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to (Qur'an, 38: 36-40).”
[2] “And some of the satans who dive for him and do other works besides. We were watching over them (Qur'an, 21: 82).”
In the tongue of the hint in this verse, the Sublime Real says metaphysically: “O human being! I am making the Jinn, the satans, and their evil ones obey to one of my slaves who obeys Me. If you too become subjugated to my command, many existent beings, even the Jinn and satans, can become subjugated to you.”
So, this verse draws the furthest boundaries of spiritualism, the summoning of spirits, and communication with the Jinn, which filter from the merger of the arts and sciences of human beings and appears from their extraordinary material and metaphysical sensitivities, it designates the most beneficial forms of [these activities] and opens the way for them. However, this is not about becoming subjugated to and being clowns and toys in the hands of the Jinn, the satans, and malignant spirits that pretend to be the dead, as it is the case now. Rather, it is about subjugating them with the Qur’anic talismans and being saved from their evils.
Also, the verses about the summoning and subjugation of demons by Hazrat Solomon (as), which signify the appearance of spirits in physical form, as well as verses such as “…We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a perfected man (Qur’an, 19: 17),”[1] signify the summoning of spirits along with their appearance in physical form. However, the summoning of good spirits that is being signified here is not summoning those exceedingly serious spirits who dwell in a serious realm to some joke-like toys, to toys where one is, as the “civilized” people do, and thus being disrespectful to those spirits. Rather, it is about being drawn to them seriously and for a serious purpose, like some people of sainthood, such as Muhyiddin ibn Arabi, who correspond with the spirits whenever they want, and thus, to establish communication with them, go to where they are, attain some degree of closeness to their realms, and metaphysically benefit from their spirituality. It is this that the verses signify and within that signification, imply an encouragement, draw the furthest boundaries of such hidden arts and sciences, and show their most beautiful form.
Also, for example, the verses of: “We subjugated the mountains to glorify Us with him at sunset and sunrise (Qur’an, 38: 18),” “‘O mountains, echo God’s praises together with him, and you birds, too.’ And we softened iron for him (Qur’an, 34: 10),”[2] and “we have been taught the speech of birds…”[3] about the miracles of Hazrat David (as) indicate that the Sublime Real has given such a strength, high sound, and agreeable style to Hazrat David’s (as) glorifications that it has brought the mountains to ecstasy, and thus, they were glorifying, similar to a tremendous phonograph and each like a human being holding a horizontal circle around a chief performer of remembrance. Wonder if that is possible? Is that real?
Yes, it is real. Every mountain with caves can speak with every human being and in the tongue of humans, like a parrot. Because, say “All praise is due to God,” in front of a mountain, and by means of echoing, the mountain will say “All praise is due to God,” just as you did. Surely, that ability can be improved, and thus, that seed blossoms.
So, because He gave the vicegerency of the face of the Earth to Hazrat David (as) alongside his messengership in an exceptional form, as a miracle that suits that broad messengership and tremendous royal power, He has made the seed of that ability unfold in such a way that great mountains followed him each like a soldier, a student, and a disciple, glorifying the Majestic Creator in his tongue and upon his command. Whatever Hazrat David (as) said, they too were repeating. In the way that, thanks to the multitude and advancement of the contemporary communications and means of contact, a commander with sublimity can have his tremendous army dispersed through the mountains say “God is great,” all at once, and thus, he has those massive mountains speak and come to an outcry; since a commander among humans has mountains speak in a metaphorical sense with the tongue of their inhabitants, of course, a sublime commander of the Sublime Real can make them speak in a real sense and has them glorify.
That having been said, we have already explained in the earlier Words that every mountain has a metaphysical personality with a glorification and form of worship that suits it. In that case, as each mountain performs glorifications in the tongue of humans thanks to the secret of echoing, they also glorify the Majestic Creator in their specific tongues.
[1] Mention in the Qur’an the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place to the east // and secluded herself away; We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a perfected man. // She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him [do not approach]!’ // but he said, ‘I am but a Messenger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son’ (Qur'an, 19: 16-19).”
[2] “We graced David with Our favor. We said, ‘You mountains, echo God’s praises together with him, and you birds, too.’ And we softened iron for him (Qur'an, 34: 10).”
[3] “Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is clearly a great favor (Qur'an, 27: 16).”
With the sentences “We have been taught the speech of birds (Qur’an, 27: 16)”[1] … “and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praiser (Qur’an, 38: 19),[2] these sentences show that the Sublime Real has bestowed to Hazrat David and Solomon (u) the varieties of the birds’ tongues and the tongues of their aptitudes, that is what they are useful for.
Yes, since this is the reality, since the face of the Earth is a table of the Merciful spread to honor the human being, then other animals and most birds that benefit from that table can be subjugated to humans and serve them. As He has added to beautiful achievements of the human civilization beautiful things by opening a tremendous path of benefit through the employment of some of the smallest among those animals such as the bee and the silkworm through divine inspiration, by employing pigeons in some tasks, and by making birds such as parrots talk, likewise, if the tongue of the aptitudes of other birds and animals could be known, like their brethren, the domesticated animals, there are many groups among those birds and animals that can be employed in important tasks. For example, if the tongue of starlings, which destroy locusts without eating them, is known and their movements are regulated, they can be employed in such a useful service free of charge. So, this verse draws the furthest line with regard to benefiting from birds and subjugating them, making inanimate things talk as in the case of telephone and phonograph, and benefiting from the birds. It designates the furthest target in this regard. It points with a finger to the most sublime form of this benefit and, in a sense, encourages it.
So, in the tongue of the hint in these verses, the Sublime Real says metaphysically: “O human beings! I am subjugating tremendous creatures in my domain to one of your kind who completely devotes himself to being my slave, and I am giving most of my soldiers and animals to him as servants in order to ensure the innocence of his prophethood and the complete justice of his royal power. In that case, since I have given to each one of you a great trust that the heavens, the Earth, and the mountains have refrained from carrying, since I have given the aptitude of being a vicegerent of the earth to you, you should yield to the One in Whose hands the reins of those creatures are, so that the creatures in His domain could yield to you and that you obtain this in the name of the Entity Who holds their reins in His hands and rise to the station that befits your aptitudes.”
“Since this is the reality, instead of operating phonographs, playing with pigeons, conveying letters, and making parrots talk, which are in effect meaningless entertainments, work for such an agreeable, high, lofty, and innocent entertainment that mountains can each become a David-like tremendous phonograph for you, melodies of remembrance reach your ear from trees and plants with the touch of breezy air, each like a musical string, and most birds take on the form of a congenial friend and obedient servant like Solomon’s hoopoe for you; that they entertain you and, with enthusiasm, drive you to the perfections for which you have an aptitude; that they do not make you fall from the station as called for by humanity, in the way that other amusements do.”
Also, for instance, there are three subtle signs in this verse about a miracle of Hazrat Abraham (as): “But We said, ‘Fire, be cool and safe for Abraham’ (Qur'an, 21: 69).”
First: Like other natural causes, fire does not act on its own wishes, according to its nature, and blindly. Rather, it serves under command, and thus, it did not burn Hazrat Abraham (as) and it is commanded “Do not burn!”
Second: Fire has a degree that burns with coldness, that is, makes an impact similar to burning. In the utterance of “safe” (salāman), The Sublime Real tells the cold (sidenote): “Like heat, you too do not burn.” So, fire at that level shows an impact as though it is burning with its coldness. It is both fire and cold. Yes, in the wisdom about nature, there is such a degree of fire in its white stage that it does not emit heat to its environment but draws heat to itself from its environment and with this type of cold, it causes liquid substances around it such as water to freeze, thus, burning them with its metaphysical coldness. So, “bitter cold” (Zamharīr) is a type of fire that burns with its coldness. In that case, it is of course necessary for “bitter cold” to exist in Hell, which combines all degrees and types of fire.
Third: As there is a metaphysical substance like faith and an armor like Islam that prevent the impact of hellfire and afford protection against it, there must be a material substance to prevent the impact of worldly fire too. For since this world is the abode of wisdom, the Sublime Real acts beneath the veil of causes, as called for by the name All-Wise. Hence, like his body, fire did not burn Hazrat Abraham’s shirt either and He must have given it a state of fire resistance. As it does not burn Abraham, it does not burn his shirt either.
So, with the hint in this signification, this verse says metaphysically: “O nation of Abraham! Be Abraham-like, so that your material and metaphysical shirts become an armor against fire, which is your greatest enemy, both here and there. As the Sublime Real clothes your spirit with faith and it becomes your armor against hellfire, there are some materials in earth that He has hidden and prepared for you that can protect you from the evil of fire. Look for them, extract them, and clothe yourselves in them.”
So, it is one of the important advancements and discoveries of the humankind that they have found a material and, thus, clothed themselves in a shirt that fire does not burn and that resists fire. As for this verse, look, instead of that, it shows what a lofty, subtle, beautiful garment that will be woven on the loom of “hanīfan musliman” (truly submitting)[3] and will never be rent.
sidenote: A Qur’anic exegesis says: Had He not said “safe,” it was going to burn with its coldness.
[1] “Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is clearly a great favour’ (Qur'an, 27: 16).”
[2] “…Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us: // We made the mountains join him in glorifying Us at sunset and sunrise; // and the birds, too, in flocks, all echoed his praise. // We strengthened his kingdom; We gave him wisdom and a decisive way of speaking (Qur'an, 38: 17-20).”
[3] “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. He was truly submitting to God, never an idolater (Qur'an, 3: 67).”
Also, for example, “and He taught Adam all the names… (Qur'an, 2: 31)” says: “The greatest miracle of Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) in the claim of the greatest vicegerency is the instruction of the names.” So, as the miracles of other prophets each hint to a special extraordinary human state, the miracle of Adam (peace be upon him), who is the father of all prophets and the opening of the diwan of prophethood, points to all perfections generally and the end points and furthest targets of human advancements at a level that is close to being obvious.
The Sublime Real (exalted is His majesty) says metaphysically in the tongue of the signification of this verse: “O the children of Adam! As I have taught all names to your father as evidence for his preponderance over others in his claim of vicegerency before the angels, since you are his children and the inheritors of his aptitudes, it is necessary that you learn all names and show that you merit your preponderance over all creatures with regard to the level of the greatest trust. For the path is open for you to such an elevated level as reaching the highest station among all creatures in the cosmos and having all big creatures like the Earth being subjugated to you. Go ahead, step forward, latch on one of my names each, and rise.”
“However, your father was once deceived by Satan and fell temporarily from a station like Paradise to the face of the earth. Beware, do not follow Satan in your advancement and thus, make that advancement a means for your fall from the heavens of divine wisdom to the deviation of the Nature. By raising your head every once in a while and concentrating on my beautiful names, make your sciences and advancements a ladder to climb to the heavens, so that you ascend to my lordly names, which are the fonts and realities of your sciences and perfections, and that you look at your Lord with the binoculars of those names and with your heart.”
An important subtle point and a most important secret
There is a subtle and lofty hint in that this amazing verse refers to and interprets all the perfections of knowledge, advancements in science, and marvels of industry that the human being has been graced with in relation to the comprehensiveness of his aptitude with the title the “instruction of names.” It is as follows:
Every perfection, every knowledge, every advancement, and every science has an elevated reality that relies on a divine name. That science, that perfection, and that art finds its perfection and becomes real by relying on that name which has many veils, various manifestaions, and differing circles. Otherwise, [that science, perfection, advancement, or art] is but an incomplete and deficient shadow.
For example, geometry (engineering) is a science. Its reality and point of termination is to attain to the Sublime Real’s names the Just and the Determiner and to observe the wise reflections of those names with all their sublimity on the mirror of engineering.
For example, medicine is a science and art. Its end point and reality find their perfections and become real by relying on the Absolute All-Wise One’s name the Healer and seeing its merciful reflections in the remedies on the face of the Earth, which is His greatest pharmacy.
For example, the wisdom of things (natural sciences) that talk about the realities of existent beings can be the wisdom that it is by seeing the great reflections of the Sublime Real’s – exalted is His majesty – name the All-Wise on things and in their benefits and common benefits, as this name manifests with administration and nurturing, and thus attaining to that name and relying on it. Otherwise it either turns into superstition and becomes meaningless or opens a way to deviation in the way that naturalist philosophy does.
Here, three examples for you. Compare other perfections and Sciences with these three examples.
Here, in this verse, the Wise Qur’an strikes the back of the humankind with the hand of encouragement and points with its finger to the highest points of the present advancements in which regard the humankind is left much behind, to the furthest boundaries, final levels and says: “Go ahead, march, forward!” For now, we will close that door, sufficing ourselves with this gem from the most tremendous treasure of this verse.
Also, for instance, many verses offering clear evidence such as
قُلْ لَئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ اْلاِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلٰۤى اَنْ يَاْتوُا بِمِثْلِ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ لاَ يَاْتوُنَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيراً
“Say, ‘Even if all mankind and jinn came together to produce something like this Qur’an, they could not produce anything like it, however much they helped each other.’ (Qur'an, 17: 88)”
that express the expressiveness in pronouncements on truth and reality, eloquence in expression, comprehensiveness of meanings, and loftiness and sweetness in style, which are among the most brilliant aspects of miraculousness pertaining to the Wise Qur’an, which is the greatest miracle of Muhammad (blessings and peace upon him), who is the seal of the diwan of prophethood, the head of prophets all of whose miracles are in effect one single miracle for his claim of messengership, this cosmos’s means of pride, and the locus of appearance of the details of all the levels of all names that were taught to Hazrat Adam (peace upon him) in the aggregate, the one who causes the moon to split by raising his finger with majesty, the one who, by lowering it with beauty, causes water to flow from his fingers like Kawthar, and the one who is confirmed and endorsed by a thousand miracles… turn the sights of people and the Jinn to the most apparent and brilliant aspect among the aspects of miraculousness of that eternal miracle. It provokes all human beings and the Jinn. It incites the enthusiasm of its friends and the obstinacy of its enemies, and with tremendous encouragement and intense heartening, it urges its friends and enemies to make its likes and imitate it, that is it urges them to make its likes and to render their speeches like it. It places that miracle before the sights of living creatures in such a form that as though the one and only purpose of man’s arrival in this world is to take that miracle as his goal and precept and walk knowingly to the outcome of the creation of humanity, looking at it.
In conclusion: the miracles of other prophets each point to a wonder of artistry. As for the miracle of Hazrat Adam (peace upon him), it points and encourages to the index of the wonders and perfections of the branches of knowledge and practical sciences along with the essences of industry in an aggregate form.
The Qur’an of Miraculous Expression which is the great Ahmadan miracle (asm), on the other hand, clearly shows its being the detailed locus of appearance for the reality of the instruction of names, the true goals of the true and real branches of knowledge and practical sciences, and both worldly and otherworldly perfections and felicities. And it urges humanity to them with many tremendous encouragements.
Also, it urges and encourages in such a manner that with that manner, it conveys thus: “O human being! The most high objective of this cosmos is universal human worshipfulness before the Lordship that becomes apparent. The furthest purpose of the human being is to reach that worshipfulness through knowledge and perfections.”
Also, it expresses in such a manner that with that expression, it signifies thus: “Surely, the humankind will spill into knowledge and science at the end of time. It will receive all its strength from knowledge. The rule and strength will pass to the hand of science.”
Also, because that Qur’an of Miraculous Expression repeatedly puts forward Qur’anic expressiveness and eloquence, it conveys with a hint thus: “At the end of time, all varieties of eloquence and expressiveness, which are the most brilliant of the branches of knowledge and practical sciences, will become highly sought after. Even, to make one another accept their ideas and implement their judgements, people will find their sharpest weapon in the expressiveness of eloquence and most irresistable strength in the eloquence of style.”
In sum, most verses of the Qur’an are each a key of a treasure of perfection and the opener of a buried treasure of knowledge. If you want to reach the Qur'an’s firmament and the stars of its verses, make the past twenty Words a stairway of twenty steps (sidenote) and climb. See with that how bright a sun the Qur'an is, how it sprinkles pure lumination on divine realities and the realities of possible beings and how it spreads radiant light.
Conclusion: Since the verses about prophets each point to the wonders of current human advancements with a type of sign while having a style of expression that as though delineates the future boundaries of those advancements; since it is verified and even agreed upon that every verse indicates numerous meanings; and since there are absolute commands to follow and obey prophets, in that case, it can be said that while indicating the obvious meanings of these aforementioned verses, there is also an indication, in the style of signification, for the important ones among the arts and sciences of the humankind as well as an encouragement to them.
sidenote: In fact, it is a stairway with one hundred and twenty steps with its thirty three Words, thirty three Letters, thirty one Flashes, and thirteen Rays.
Two important answers to two important questions
First: If you say, “Since the Qur’an was revealed for the humankind, why does it not explicitly mention the wonders of civilization that are most important in the sight of humans, but it suffices with a hidden hint, a concealed implication, a slight signification, or a weak reminder?”
Answer: That is becaus the right of the wonders of human civilization can only be that much mention in the Qur’an, for the Qur’an’s primary duty is to teach the perfections and conducts of the circle of lordship and the duties and states of the circle of worshipful slavehood. In that case, what befalls these human wonders regarding rights in those two circles is but a weak hint and a slight signification, for if they want their rights from the circle of lordship, then the right they receive can be only very little.
For instance, if the human aeroplane says to the Qur’an (sidenote): “Give me a right to speak with a place among your verses.” Of course, the planets, the earth, and the moon, which are the aeroplanes of that circle of lordship, will say on behalf of the Qur’an: “The place you can take here is as much as the size of your body.”
If the human submarines want some place among the Qur’an’s verses, the submarines of that circle, that is the Earth and the stars swimming in the encompassing ocean of air and the sea of aether will say to them: “Your place beside us is invisibly small.”
If the bright, star-like lamps of electricity want a right to speak by being included in the verses, lightenings, meteors, and the stars and lanterns that adorn the firmament will say: “You can be included in the mention and exposition only in relation to your light.”
If the wonders of civilization want their rights with regard to the refinement of artistry, and thus, they demand a station among the verses, a single fly will say to them: “Be quiet. You do not have as much right as one of my wings, for if all the fine arts and delicate instruments acquired through humanity’s partial volition were put together, they could not be as amazing as the fine art and most delicate instruments in my tiny body. The verse of “…those you call on beside God could not create a fly even if they all came together for it… (Qur’an, 22: 73)” silences you.
If those wonders went to the circle of worshipful slavehood and wanted their rights from that circle, then, they would receive a response like this from that circle:
“Your relation to us is very little and you cannot enter into our circle easily because this is our program: The world is a guest house. The human being will stay in it for a little while. He is a guest with many duties. In a short span of life, he is held accountable for procuring the requirements of eternal life. The most important and most necessary works are to be prioritized. That having been said, with regard to most of you, an image is seen among you that relates to this temporal world from under a veil of heedlessness as though it is an eternal place to stay and that is laced with a sense of veneration toward the world. In that case, your share from worshipful slavehood, which is founded upon the fundaments of truthfulness and the consideration of the Hereafter, is very little.
“However, if there are respect-worthy artists and inspired discoverers, who aim to benefit God’s slaves, which is a precious form of worship; who serve common benefits, the people’s comfort, and the perfection of social life; and who surely constitute a minority behind and among you, this much hint and the Qur’anic significations are in fact sufficient and completely enough to encourage those sensitive persons to keep trying and to appreciate their arts.”
Answer to the second question:
If you say: “Now, I have no doubt left after this examination, and I confirm that significations and hints to the wonders of the present civilization, beyond it in fact, and to other realities are in the Qur’an. In it, everything required for the worldly and otherworldly felicity of humanity exist in relation to their respective values. However, why does the Qur’an not mention them explicitly so that the obstinate disbelievers are also obligated to confirm and our hearts are comforted?”
Answer: Religion is a test. Being held accountable by God is a trial in order for exalted spirits and the lowly ones to be separated from one another in the arena of competition. In the way that they put fire to a mine in order to separate diamond and coal, or gold and dirt, likewise, the divinely posed accountabilities in this abode of testing are each a trial and being driven into the competition for the separation of the exalted jewels and lowly materials that exist in the mine of human aptitudes.
Since the Qur’an is revealed in this abode of testing in the form of a trial, in an arena of competition, and for humanity’s advancement toward perfection, of course, it will point to these worldly future affairs of the unseen, which will be seen by all, only with signification and it will open the door to the intellect to prove the evidence for that signification. If it mentions explicityly, the secret of accountability would be ruined. It would become evident as though writing “There is not god but Allah” clearly in the sky with the stars. Then, everybody would confirm willy nilly. There would be no competition. The test would be aborted. A spirit like coal and another like diamond would remain together (sidenote).
In conclusion: The Wise Qur’an is wise. It gives everything a station in relation to its value. So, from a thousand and three hundred years before, the Qur’an sees the fruits and advancements of humanity that are concealed in the darknesses of the future and that belong to the unseen, and it shows them in a way that is more beautiful than what we have seen and will see. In that case, the Qur’an is the the speech of such an Entity that He sees all times and everything therein all at once.
اَللّٰهُمَّ فَهِّمْنَاۤ اَسْرَارَ الْقُرْاٰنِ وَوَفِّقْنَاۤ لِخِضْمَتِهِ فِى كُلِّ اٰنٍ وَزَمَانٍ
O God, make us understand the Qur'an’s secrets and grace us with serving it at all moments and times.
سُبْحَانَكَ لاَعِلْمَ لَنَاۤ اِلاَّ مَاعَلَّمْتَنَاۤ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
“Glory be to you. We have no knowledge other than that which you have taught us. Indeed you are All-knowing, All-wise (Qur’an, 2: 32).”
رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا اِنْ نَسِينَاۤ اَوْ اَخْطَاْنَا
“O our Lord, do not take us to task in case we forget or we make mistakes (Qur'an, 2: 286).”
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ وَكَرِّمْ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا وَمَوْلٰينَا مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَنَبِيِّكَ وَرَسُولِكَ النَّبِىِّ اْلاُمِّىِ وَعَلٰۤى اٰلِهِ وَاَصْحَابِهِ وَاَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِ وَعَلَى النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَعَلَى الْمَلٰۤئِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَاْلاَوْلِيَاۤءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ اَفْضَلَ صَلاَةٍ وَاَزْكٰى سَلاَمٍ وَاَنْمٰى بَرَكاَتٍ بِعَدَدِ سُوَرِ اْلقُرْاٰنِ وَاٰياَتِهِ وَحُرُوفِهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَمَعَانِيهِ وَاِشَارَاتِهِ وَرُمُوزِهِ وَدَلاَلاَتِهِ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَالْطُفْ بِنَا يَاۤ اِلٰـهَنَا يَا خَالِقَنَا بِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ مِنْهَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَاۤ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ اْلعَالَمِينَ اٰمِينَ
O God, send Your blessings and peace to our master and patron Muhammad, bless and honor him, Your slave, Your prophet and messenger, the unlearned prophet, as well as on his family, his companions, wives, and progeny, on all prophets and messengers, on angels who are brought close, and on saints and the righteous… send the most virtuous blessings, the purest greetings, most flourishing blessings to the number of the Qur'an’s chapters, verses, letters, words, meanings, significations, hints, and indications. And efface our sins, have mercy on us, be gentle with us, O our God, O our Creator, by every one of these blessing and by Your mercy, O the Most Merciful of mercy-givers. And praise is to God, the Lord of the realms. Amin.
sidenote: While writing this serious discussion, my pen involuntarily turned its style to this subtly beautiful humor, and I let my pen free. I hope that the humorousness of the style does not bring harm to the seriousness of the discussion.
sidenote: The Accursed Abu Jahl and the Veracious Abu Bakr will appear the same. The secret of accountability will be lost.