The Second
Position Of The 14th Flash
This concerns six of the thousands of mysteries contained in In the Name of Allah, the Merciful,
the Compassionate.
NOTE: A bright light from
the part of the verse “In The Name Of Allah, the Merciful, The
Compassionate” concerning Divine Mercy appeared to my dull mind
from afar. I wanted to record it for myself in the form of notes,
and to hunt it down and capture it, and circumscribe the light
with twenty to thirty mysteries. But unfortunately I was not
able to do this at the present time and the twenty or thirty
mysteries were reduced to five or six.
When I say: "Oh man!",
I mean myself. And while this lesson is directed particularly
to my own soul, I refer it as the Second Station of the Fourteenth
Flash for the approval of my meticulous brothers in the hope
that it may benefit those with whom I am connected spiritually
and whose souls are more prudent than mine. This lesson looks
to the heart more than the mind, and regards spiritual pleasure
rather than rational proofs.
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
[The Queen] said: "Ye
chiefs! Here is -delivered to me -letter worthy of respect.
It is from Solomon, and is [as follows]: 'In the Name of Allah,
the Merciful, the Compassionate'.*" *Qur'an 27:29-30
A number of mysteries
will be mentioned in this Station.
FIRST MYSTERY
I saw one manifestation
of In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
as follows:
On the face of the universe,
the face of the earth, and the face of man are three Stamps
of Dominicality one within the other and each showing samples
of the others.
The First is the Great Stamp of
Allahhead which is manifest through the mutual assistance, cooperation,
and embracing and corresponding to one another of beings in
the totality of the universe. This looks to In the Name of Allah
The Second is the Great Stamp of
Divine Mercifulness which is manifest through the mutual resemblance
and proportion, order, harmony, favor and compassion in the
disposal, raising and administration of plants and animals on
the face of the earth. This looks to In the Name of Allah, the
Merciful.
Then there is the Exalted
Stamp of Divine Compassionateness, which is manifest through
the subtleties of divine beneficence, fine points of divine
clemency, and rays of divine compassion on the face of man's
comprehensive nature. This looks to The Compassionate in In
the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
That is to say, In
the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate is the
sacred title of three Stamps of Divine Oneness, which form a
luminous line on the page of the world, and a strong cord, and
shining filament. That is, through being revealed from above,
the tip of In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
rests on man, the fruit of the universe and miniature copy of
the world. It binds the lower world to Allah's throne. It is
a way for man to ascend to Allah's throne:
SECOND MYSTERY
In order not to overwhelm
minds by Divine Unity, which is apparent in the boundless multiplicity
of creatures, the Qur'an of Miraculous Exposition constantly
points out the manifestation of Divine Oneness within Divine
Unity. For example, the sun encompasses numberless things with
its light. In order to consider the sun's essence in all its
light, a most extensive conceptual ability and comprehensive
view would be necessary. So, lest the sun itself be forgotten,
it is displayed in every shining object by means of its reflection.
And in accordance with the capacity of each, all shining objects
display the sun's qualities, such as its light and heat, together
with the manifestation of its essence. And just as according
to the ability of each, all lustrous objects show the sun together
with all its attributes, so too do each of the sun's qualities,
like its light and heat and the seven colors in its light, encompass
all the things facing it.
And in the same way,
And Allah's is the highest similitude - but let there be no mistake
in the comparison- just as Divine Oneness and Eternally Be soughtedness
have a manifestation together with all the Divine Names in everything,
in animate creatures in particular, and especially in man's
mirror like essence, so too through Divine Unity does each of
the Divine Names connected to beings encompass all beings. Thus,
lest minds become overwhelmed by Divine Unity and hearts forget
the Most Pure and Holy Essence, the Qur'an constantly puts before
the eyes the Stamp of Divine Oneness within Divine Unity. And
that is In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,
which points out the three important points of the Stamp.
THIRD MYSTERY
What makes this boundless
universe rejoice is clearly Divine Mercy. And what illuminates
these dark beings is self-evidently again Divine Mercy. And
what fosters and raises creatures struggling within these endless
needs is self-evidently again Divine Mercy. And what causes
the whole universe to be turned towards man, like a tree together
with all its parts is turned towards its fruit, and causes it
to look to him and run to his assistance is clearly Divine Mercy.
And what fills and illuminates boundless space and the empty,
vacant world and makes it rejoice is self-evidently Divine Mercy.
And what designates ephemeral man for eternity and makes him
the addressee and beloved of a Pre-Eternal and Post-Eternal
One is self-evidently Divine Mercy.
Oh man! Since Divine Mercy
is such a powerful, inviting, sweet, assisting lovable truth,
say: In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,
adhere to this truth and be saved from absolute desolation and
the pains of unending needs. And draw close to the throne of
the Pre-Etemal and Post- Eternal Monarch, and through the compassion
and rays of Divine Mercy, become the addressee, friend, and
beloved of that Monarch.
Indeed, to gather around
man the realms of beings in the universe within the sphere of
wisdom, and to make them hasten to meet all his needs with perfect
order and graciousness is clearly one of two situations. Either
each realm of beings in the universe itself knows man, and obeys
him and runs to help him, which just as it is completely irrational
is also impossible in many respects, or an absolutely impotent
being like man has to possess the power of the mightiest absolute
sovereign, or this assistance occurs through the knowledge of
an Absolutely Powerful One behind the veil of the universe.
That is to say, it is not that the different beings in the universe
know man, but that they are the evidences of a Knowing, Compassionate
One being acquainted with him and knowing him.
Oh man! Come to your senses!
Is it at all possible that the All-Glorious One, Who causes
all the varieties of creatures to turn towards you and stretch
out their hands to assist you, and causes them to say: "Here
we are!" in the face of your needs, is it possible that He does
not know you, is not acquainted with you, does not see you?
Since He does know you, He informs you that He knows you through
His Mercy. So, you know Him too, and with respect let Him know
that you know Him, and understand with certainty that what subjugates
the vast universe to an absolutely weak, absolutely impotent,
absolutely needy, ephemeral, insignificant creature like you,
and despatches it to assist you is the truth of Divine Mercy,
which comprises wisdom, favor, knowledge, and power.
Most certainly, a Mercy
such as this requires universal and sincere thanks, and earnest
and genuine respect. Therefore, say: In the Name of Allah, the
Merciful, the Compassionate, which is the interpreter and expression
of such sincere thanks and genuine respect. And make it the
means of attaining to the Mercy, and an intercessor at the court
of the All-Merciful One.
Indeed, the existence
and reality of Divine Mercy is as clear as the sun. For just
as a woven tapestry centered on one point is formed by the order
and situation of the threads of its warp and weft coming from
all directions, so too the luminous threads extending from the
manifestation of a thousand and one Divine Names in the vast
sphere of the universe weave such a seal of compassionateness,
tapestry of clemency, and seal of benevolence within a Stamp
of Mercy that it demonstrates itself to minds more brilliantly
than the sun.
Indeed, the Beauteous
All-Merciful One, Who orders the sun and moon, the elements
and minerals, plants and animals like the warp and weft of a
vast woven tapestry through the rays of His thousand and one
Names, and causes them to serve life; and demonstrates His compassion
through the exceedingly sweet and self-sacrificing compassion
of all mothers, plant and animal; and subjugates animate creatures
to human life, and from this demonstrates man's importance and
a most fine and lovely large tapestry of divine dominicality,
and manifests His most brilliant Mercy, has, in the face of
His own absolute lack of need, most certainly made His Mercy
an acceptable intercessor for animate creatures and man.
Oh man! If you are truly
a human being, say: In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the
Compassionate. Find that intercessor. For sure, it is clearly,
indeed, self-evidently, Divine Mercy which, without forgetting
or confusing any of them raises, nurtures, and administers the
four hundred thousand all different plant and animal species
on the earth at precisely the right time, and with perfect order,
wisdom, and beneficence, and stamps the Seal of Divine Oneness
on the face of the globe of the earth. And just as the existence
of Divine Mercy is as certain as the existence of the beings
on the face of the earth, so too do the beings form as many
evidences to its reality as their own number.
Indeed, just as on the
face of the earth there is such a Seal of Mercy and Stamp of
Divine Oneness, so also on the face of man's nature is a Stamp
of Divine Mercy which is not inferior to the Stamp of Compassion
and vast Stamp of Mercy on the face of the universe. Simply,
man possesses a comprehensiveness like being a point of focus
for a thousand and one Divine Names.
Oh man! Is it at all possible
that the One Who gives you this face, and places such a Stamp
of Mercy and Seal of Oneness on it would leave you to your own
devices, attach no importance to you, pay no attention to your
actions, make the whole universe, which is turned towards you,
futile and pointless, and make the tree of creation rotten and
insignificant with decayed fruit? Would He cause to be denied
His Mercy, which is as obvious as the sun, and His Wisdom, which
is as clear as light, neither of which can in any way be doubted,
nor are in any way deficient? Allah forbid!
Oh man! You should know
that there is a way to ascend to the throne of Divine Mercy,
and that is, In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
If you want to understand how important this way of ascent is,
look at the beginning of the one hundred and fourteen chapters
of the Qur'an of Miraculous Exposition, and at the beginnings
of all estimable books, and at the start of all good works.
And a clear proof of the Allah-determined grandeur of In the
Name of Allah is that the very foremost Islamic scholars like
Imam Shafi'i (may Allah be pleased with him) said; "Although
In the Name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate is one
verse, it was revealed one hundred and fourteen times in the
Qur'an."
FOURTH MYSTERY
To declare:
"You
alone do we worship"
in the face of the manifestation of Divine Unity within
boundless multiplicity is not sufficient for everyone; the mind
wanders. It is necessary to possess a heart as broad as the
globe of the earth in order to observe the Unique and Single
One beyond the unity in the totality of beings, and to say:
"You alone do we worship, and from
You alone do we seek help"* As a consequence of this,
so that the Seal of Divine Oneness should be apparent on each
species and realm of beings just as it is shown clearly on individual
objects, and that they should call to mind the Unique and Single
One, it is shown within the Stamp of Divine Mercy. Thus everyone
at every level may turn to the Most Pure and Holy One,
and saying:
"You alone do we worship, and from
You alone do we seek help", address Him directly.
It is in order to express
this mighty mystery and clearly point out the Seal of Divine
Mercy that the All-Wise Qur'an suddenly mentions the smallest
sphere and most particular matter when describing the vastest
sphere of the universe, for example, the creation of the heavens
and the earth. And so that the mind does not wander, nor the
heart drown, and the spirit may find directly its True Object
of Worship, it opens the subject of man's creation and man's
voice, and the subtle details of the bounties and wisdom in
his features, for example, while mentioning the creation of
the heavens and earth. The verse,
And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and the variations in your languages and in your colors*
demonstrates this truth
in a miraculous fashion.
Indeed, within innumerable
creatures and an infinite multiplicity, there are sorts and
degrees of Stamps of Divine Unity like concentric circles from
the greatest Stamp to the smallest. But however clear that Unity
is, it is still a unity within multiplicity. It cannot truly
address observers. It is because of this that there has to be
the Stamp of Divine Oneness behind Unity. So that Unity does
not call to mind multiplicity, and directly before the Most
Pure and Holy One a way may be opened up to the heart.
Furthermore, in order
to direct gazes towards the Stamp of Divine Oneness and attract
hearts towards it, a most captivating design, shining light,
agreeable sweetness, pleasing beauty, and powerful truth, which
is the Stamp of Divine Mercy and Seal of Divine Compassion,
has been placed on it. For sure, it is the strength of that
Mercy which attracts the gazes of conscious beings, draws them
to It, and causes them to reach the Seal of Oneness and to observe
the Unique and Single One, and from that to manifest
Qur'an 30:22. the true address in
You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help.
Thus, it is through In
the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate being the
index of the Sara al-Fatiha and a concise summary of
the Qur'an that it is the sign and interpreter of this mighty
mystery. One who acquires this sign may travel through the levels
of Divine Mercy. And one who causes this interpreter to speak
may learn the mysteries of Divine Mercy and see the lights of
Divine Compassion and pity.
FIFTH
MYSTERY
There is a Hadith which
goes something like this:
Allah created man in the form of the All-Merciful One.
It has been interpreted
by some Sufis in an extraordinary way inappropriate to the tenets
of belief. Some of them who were ecstatics even considered man's
spiritual nature to be 'in the form of the All- Merciful'. Since
ecstatics are mostly immersed in contemplation and confused,
they are perhaps to be excused in holding views contrary to
reality. But those in their senses on consideration cannot accept
their ideas which are contrary to the fundamentals of belief.
If they do, they are in error.
Indeed, the Most Pure
and Holy Deity, Who ad- ministers with order the whole universe
as though it was a palace or house, and spins the stars as though
they were particles and causes them to travel through space
with wisdom and ease, and employs minute particles as though
they were orderly officials, has no partner, match, opposite,
or equal. So also according to the meaning of the verse:
There is nothing whatever like
unto Him, and He hears and sees [all things]* Qur'an 42:11.
He has no form, like,
or peer; nothing resembling or similar to Him. However, according
to the meaning and manner of comparison of the following verse,
And He is the highest similitude in the heavens and the earth,
and He is Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom** Qur'an 30:27
His actions, attributes,
and Names may be considered. That is to say, there is allegory
and comparison in regard to actions. One aim of the above mentioned
Hadith is as follows:
"Man is in a form showing
the Divine Name of All-Merciful in its entirety."
For sure, as we explained
before, just as the Divine Name of All-Merciful is manifest
through the rays of a thousand and one Names on the face of
the universe, and is apparent through the innumerable manifestations
of Allah's absolute dominicality on the face of the earth, so
also is the complete manifestation of the Name All-Merciful
apparent in a small measure in man's comprehensive form, like
on the face of the earth and the face of the universe.
A further indication is
this the evidences to the Necessarily Existent One of places
of manifestation like animate creatures and man, who are proofs
of and mirrors to the All-Merciful and Compassionate One, are
so certain, clear, and obvious that just as it may be said of
a shining mirror which reflects the image of the sun: "That
mirror is the sun", indicating to the clarity of its brilliance
and evidence, so also it has been said and may be said: "Man
is in the form of the All-Merciful One", indicating to the clearness
of his evidence and completeness of his connection. It is as
a consequence of this mystery that the more moderate of those
who believed in 'the unity of existence' said: "There is no
existent but He", as a way of expressing the clarity of this
evidence and perfection of connection.
Oh Allah! Oh Most Merciful
One! Most Compassionate One! Through the truth of In the Name
of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate have mercy on us as
befits Your Compassionateness, and allow us to understand the
mysteries of In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
as befits Your Mercifulness. AMEN.
SIXTH MYSTERY
Oh unhappy man struggling
within a boundless impotence and endless want! You should understand
just what a valuable means and acceptable intercessor is Divine
Mercy. For Divine Mercy is the means to an All-Glorious Sovereign
in Whose army both the stars and minute particles serve together
in perfect order and obedience. And that All-Glorious One and
Sovereign of Pre-Eternity and Post-Eternity is self-sufficient,
He is utterly without need.
He is rich without limit
being in no respect needy of the universe and beings. The whole
universe is under His command and direction, utterly obedient
beneath His majesty and grandeur, submissive before His sublimity.
That is Divine Mercy for you, oh man! It raises you to the presence
of the One absolutely lacking any need, the Eternal Sovereign,
and makes you His friend, addressee, and well-loved servant.
But just as you cannot reach the sun, are far from it and can
no way draw close to it, although the sun's light gives you
its reflection and manifestation by means of your mirror, in
the same way you are infinitely distant from the Most Pure and
Holy One, the Sun of Pre-Eternity and Post- Eternity, and cannot
draw close to Him, but the light of His Mercy makes Him closer
to us.
And so, oh man! He who
finds this Mercy finds an eternal unfailing treasury of light.
And the way to find it is through following the Practices of
the Most Noble Prophet (upon whom be blessings and peace), who
was the most brilliant example and representative of Mercy,
its most eloquent tongue and herald, and was described in the
Qur'an as a 'Mercy to All the Worlds.'
And the means to this
embodiment of Mercy who is a Mercy to All the Worlds is to utter
the prayer calling down Allah's blessings upon him. Indeed,
the meaning of this prayer is Mercy. As a prayer of Mercy for
that living embodiment of Divine Mercy, it is the means of reaching
the Mercy to All the Worlds. So, make this prayer the means
to the Mercy to All the Worlds for yourself, and at the same
time make Him the means to the Mercy of the Most Merciful One.
The whole Muslim community
in all their great numbers uttering this prayer which is synonymous
with Mercy for the Mercy to All the Worlds proves in brilliant
fashion what a valuable divine gift is Divine Mercy, and how
broad is its sphere.
To Conclude: Just as the most precious
jewel in the treasury of Mercy and its doorkeeper is the Prophet
Muhammad (upon whom be blessings and peace), so too is its first
key In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. And
its most easy key the prayer for the Prophet.
GHT:
-0.2pt">Oh Allah! Through the
truth of In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
grant blessings and peace on him whom You sent as a mercy to
all the worlds as befits Your Mercy, and in veneration of him,
and on all his family and companions. And grant us Mercy so
as to make us free of want for the mercy of any other than You
from among Your creatures. AMEN.
Glory
be unto You! We have no knowledge save that which You have taught
us. Indeed, You are All-Knowing, All-Wise.