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Casket of Pearls: 99-100 Tuesday, Apr 6 2010
Casket of Pearls 10:31 pm
Q99
Where is hell? Is it visible or invisible? Permanent or transitory?
A99
Hell is in this very world. It is ignorance. It is visible both externally and internally and is transitory and not permanent, as the Quran says: “No, indeed, if you knew the knowledge of certainty, you would surely have seen hell (i.e. ignorance). Again, you would surely have seen it with the eye of certainty.” (102:5-7). This is addressed to mu’mins and saliks: When you will have the knowledge of certainty, you will come to know what hell is, i.e. ignorance. Then you will also see it at the place of the eye of certainty and enter paradise, because [prior to reaching paradise] you have to pass through hell (19:71).
Q100
This is a unique way of explaining knowledge through questions and answers, but what name should we give them? Hypothetical questions, educational questions, possible questions, questions of knowledge, practical questions, representative questions, unasked questions, questions of the heart, questions of circumstantial language, symbolic questions, silent questions?
A100
All these names are beautiful, but I will call them wisdom-filled questions and attribute them to my students, who are extremely dear to me, because it is they who are the angels of my heart and mind. It is they who ask the questions and who also answer them. And this is a spiritual secret.
The service which my students (azizan) have rendered on behalf of their jamaat, for the glorious Quran, the Imam of the time, the religion of Islam and humanity, can, God willing, be unique and unprecedented. There are many unique things here, which will become known slowly and gradually and it will be known what beneficial work has been accomplished for all human beings.
O dear friends! Come, let us express our gratitude with humility for these great bounties of God and do giryah-u zari and also do the same pleasant act individually, because we are afraid of becoming ungrateful and unappreciative of these bounties. You should progress more in ibadat and always pray that may the Holy Lord, for the sake of Muhammad(s) and the Imams from his progeny, not close the door of the bounties of knowledge to us. May God [send] blessings through him and them.
Casket of Pearls: 97-98 Tuesday, Apr 6 2010
Casket of Pearls 10:29 pm
Q97
In verses (2:25; 3:15; 4:57) of the wise Quran, it is mentioned that there are purified spouses for mu’mins in paradise. Who has purified them and how? How many kinds of purity are there in this world? Will the husbands of the houris of paradise also be subtle and handsome?
A97
The Omnipotent God grants the subtle body to the women and men of paradise, which is luminous and due to which they become purified. The subtle body can also be called the paradisal attire. Those who are kamils in this world have five kinds of purity: bodily purity, ethical purity, ideological purity, spiritual purity and intellectual purity. Yes, the husbands of the houris of paradise will also be subtle and handsome.
Q98
A description of paradise is a part of the Quran and Iman, and since the recognition of its bounties can first be attained in the light of the knowledge of certainty (ilmu’l-yaqan), therefore, please tell us how the bounty of children will be available among the countless and unending bounties of paradise?
A98
The Imams from the progeny of Muhammad are the treasures of Allah from whom everything, including children, is available to the people of the world. Thus, those mu’mins who have been merged in the Imam of the time and become treasures [in this world] will see its marvels and wonders in paradise, including the fact that they had become the Single Soul (31:28). Thus, they will see their numerous sons and daughters in paradise and be extremely happy.
Casket of Pearls: 95-96 Wednesday, Mar 24 2010
Casket of Pearls 12:10 am
Q95
Why is the subject of the personal world so important and necessary according to you, and that you discuss it so frequently? Is there any proof of its importance in the Quran and the Hadith?
A95
The personal world alone is the living and conscious world whose Creator, Master and Sustainer is Almighty Allah. It is mentioned in 73 places of the great Quran as “Alamin (sing. Alam, worlds). In addition, it is implied in the word “insan (human being)”, which is mentioned 65 times and “nas (humankind)”, which is mentioned 240 times. In short, Prophet, wali, mu’min and infidel are all personal worlds and there is no part of the wise Quran in which it is not mentioned. The most important thing is that the treasures of marifat cannot be found anywhere else except in the personal world, as it is clear from the Hadith: “He who recognises his soul, recognises his Lord.”
Q96
The holy Prophet said: “He among you who has a greater recognition of his soul, has greater recognition of his Lord”. Is this Hadith a perfect proof of the paramount importance and necessity [of the recognition] of the personal world?
A96
Yes it is, because according to this Hadith, the only place of the recognition of the Lord is the human soul, and nowhere else. Further, we have to consider that recognition is not possible without didar (vision) and where there is didar, nothing is left out of it: the Throne, kursi (Dais), the Pen, the Tablet, angels, paradise, non-spatial world, treasures, azal, abad, secrets, the sacred Sanctuary, Illiyyin, etc.
Casket of Pearls: 93-94 Wednesday, Mar 24 2010
Casket of Pearls 12:09 am
Q93
In what sense is Islam the religion of nature (fitrah)? In which Hadith is Islam called “fitrah”?
A93
Since Islam is according to the law of nature, or rather, is itself the “law of nature”, therefore it is sometimes called the religion of nature or simply nature. The Hadith in which Islam is called “fitrah” is: “Every child is born according to nature (i.e. Islam), then it is his parents who make him a Jew, or Christian or Magian”.
Q94
In verse (81:11), it is said: “And when the heaven will be skinned.” Does the heaven have a skin? If not, what is its ta’wili wisdom? Which heaven is mentioned here?
A94
The external world is the skin and the veil in which the internal world is the hidden kernel. Thus, when the Arif dies spiritually, the veils of realities and recognitions are lifted for him. This means that the external world is the skin or husk and the personal world is its fruit and kernel.
Casket of Pearls: 91-92 Tuesday, Mar 23 2010
Casket of Pearls 12:39 am
Q91
Dhikr-i nafsi, dhikr-i qalbi (remembrance within the soul or heart) is specifically mentioned in verse (7:205). Would you kindly give us some explanation of it?
A91
The verse is: “And remember your Lord in your soul, with humility and with fear, not loud of voice, at morn and eventide. Be not among the heedless.” There is no doubt that everybody remembers God according to the access of his knowledge, however, according to the Arifs, remembering God in the heart means to remember didar and its secrets. Tazarru, which is giryah-u zari, is return to (God) as well as supplication, fear of God as well as expression of gratitude and heavenly love. At this exalted place the extremely great benefit of tazarru and fear of God is that by these means there are more discoveries in the recognition of secrets.
Q92
It is mentioned in the story of Hazrat Abraham(c) that he said: “Then whosoever follows me belongs to me.” (14:36) Would you kindly tell us its wisdom? How can a follower of Hazrat Abraham(c) khalilu’llah, be his son or a part of him? Is there such a possibility either physically or spiritually?
A92
The one who follows the Prophet perfectly, indeed reaches the ultimate destination and becomes one with him. In such a case every successful follower becomes the spiritual child of his Prophet and when he is merged in him, he can spiritually be much more than a child.
Casket of Pearls: 89-90 Tuesday, Mar 23 2010
Casket of Pearls 12:36 am
Q89
Do you have any recognition of Hazrat Abraham(c)’s sighing? Is it like the sighing of a patient? Have you heard a sad person or a person in pain sigh, or the natural sighing of an innocent baby or child?
A89
Sighing is higher than giryah-u zari, because this happens after getting tired from constant weeping and crying. One day you should try to do dhikr with sighs of ardent love alone and in a hidden way and see to what extent it is successful. However, you should not divulge such secrets to people, otherwise you will be the loser.
Q90
What is the secret in shab-badari (remaining in worship all night)? What are the benefits of abundant dhikr? What is the virtue of abundant prostration? How can the callousness of the heart, which is the worst of spiritual diseases, be cured?
A90
There is [great] progress in the discourses of knowledge and intellect. There are many benefits of abundant dhikr and one fundamental benefit is humility. There are countless benefits in abundant prostration by which every sincere prayer is accepted. Doing giryah-u zari again and again cures the callousness of the heart.
Casket of Pearls: 87-88 Thursday, Mar 18 2010
Casket of Pearls 4:23 am
Q87
What wisdom is hidden in heavenly love and giryah-u zari, which you always praise?
A87
The most fundamental wisdom in it is that the door of all great wisdoms opens by this way of action. In giryah-u zari done with ardent heavenly love, the silent miracle of God acts as the universal good for mu’min men and women. There are certainly many significant prayers in the wise Quran, but we also have to see what are the specific ways and conditions of acceptable prayers.
Q88
What is the correct translation and meaning of verse (11:75): “Inna Ibrahima la-halimun awwahum-muntb”.
A88
First of all the explanation of awwah[i] is necessary in this verse. It means the one who sighs constantly. Thus, the correct translation of the verse is: “Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, abundantly sighing (in remembrance of God) and one who turns (to God)”.
Casket of Pearls: 85-86 Thursday, Mar 18 2010
Casket of Pearls 4:21 am
Q85
In four places (10:3, 31; 13:2; 32:5) of the glorious Quran it is said: “Yudabbiru’l-amr” and in verse (79:5) it is said: “Fa’l-mudabbirati amru”. What is their real meaning?
A85
Yudabbiru’l-amr means that Almighty Allah continues to repeat the word of the command “Be”, because His attribute of creatorship is eternal. In the second statement the angels are mudabbirat of the command in the sense that in the destination of merging, they repeatedly seize the soul of the salik, scatter it in the entire universe and cast it in his body, so that countless copies may be made.
Q86
What scarcity is there in the blessed treasures of the holy Quran for the people of faith! By God! There is everything in the illumination of light. Thus, we are sure that there is a precious treasure of acceptable prayers too in the holy Quran. Would you kindly indicate some examples of such prayers.
A86
Sincerity of heart is a prerequisite in order to be blessed through every acceptable holy prayer. One of the best ways to attain this is humility and giryah-u zari. Study carefully these seven verses (6:42-43, 63; 7:55, 94, 205; 23:76) regarding tazarru (humility, hidden supplication). Beware that the callousness of the heart is the worst obstacle [in the acceptance of prayer]. Great calamities are averted by humility and supplication. These verses contain the heavenly teachings of humility and supplication, therefore act upon their wisdom.
Casket of Pearls: 83-84 Tuesday, Mar 16 2010
Casket of Pearls 1:07 am
Q83
How does this twofold resurrection take place, by ordinary death or by the death of marifat?
A83
Such a resurrection takes place by the spiritual death of an Arif, because a secondary demonstration of how everything is contained in the light of Imamat takes place in him, as the holy Prophet says: “He who dies (spiritually in this life), his resurrection takes place”. If such a death, resurrection and possibility of attaining such an eye of recognition were not possible in this world, the wise Quran would not have said: “Whoso is blind here will be blind in the Hereafter” (17:72).
Q84
It is mentioned in verse (51:1): “By the winnowing winds which winnow.” You had once said that in the Quran God has sworn only by the sacred and great things, but is it not true that He has sworn by the winnowing winds?
A84
No, God has not sworn by the winnowing winds, rather here He has sworn by those angels who scatter the particles of the fortunate soul that has reached the destination of Hazrat Israfil and Hazrat Izra’il.
