Word 52: The one who becomes precise in self-knowledge realizes that he has theoretical and practical strength or power…
Word 52: The one who becomes precise in self-knowledge realizes that he has theoretical and practical strength or power. The theoretical strength is called the power of knowledge or vision, and the practical power is called the power of action. These powers are like the two wings of the soul, with which it flies to the truths until it reaches the paradise of the essence. “Enter My heaven” (Al-Fajr:30). The head of perfections is the knowledge of God in the vision power and obedience to God in the practical power. According to the degrees of actuality, these two powers of man are divided into degrees. “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees” (Al-Mujadila:11). “And for all there are degrees for what they have done” (Al-Ahqaf:19). “To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it” (Fatir:10). The good word represents the pure spirit of the believers, which shall be elevated by righteous acts and intellectual knowledge.
The Nafs has two powers or dignity: the dignity of the knowledge aspect and the dignity of the practical aspect. The Holy Quran says, “Say, Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” (Az-Zumar:9). A wise person is never equal to an ignorant person. A person with an understanding of medical science is at a distinct advantage over someone without. They are not equal in this respect.
Your theory of the Nafs is strengthening since you are attending class and studying. The development of the practical ability is built upon this theoretical power. The ability of a surgeon to execute a successful surgery is attributed to theoretical or scientific knowledge. Scientific knowledge also plays a role when an engineer constructs a bridge.
If you pick up any philosophical book, you will usually see that there are two sections: one for theoretical wisdom and the other for practical wisdom. “Theoretical wisdom” discusses the world of existence, being and not being, existence and non-existence, and what is and what is not. For example, there is God, and God is not poor. This world exists, and this world is poor. In short, “theoretical wisdom” discusses existence and non-existence. However, “practical wisdom” is about what should be done and what shouldn’t be done. You should be fair, kind, courageous, and without wrongdoing connected to human behavior, such as lying and stealing.
Theoretical wisdom has nothing to do with human actions; it is about the material or immaterial world. Where are we? What is this world? Is there a God? If so, how is it? What am I? What is my Nafs? Is it immaterial? Is it material? Is it eternal? Is it accidental? Is it mortal?
Practical wisdom depends on theoretical wisdom. Consider two persons. One guy, in his theoretical wisdom, has concluded that there is God, and I will be alive and not destroyed when I die; rather, I will be moved to the Hereafter. There are rewards as well as penalties. But another individual argues, “No, these are all false beliefs. We will be destroyed after we die”. As a result, the person who believes in the Hereafter responds, “No, this is theft; it should not be done”. The second one states, “No one sees, so take it and use it”.
Religious principles are based on the same theoretical knowledge. If you don’t comprehend the subject of monotheism, prophethood, and resurrection, you could abandon the prayer you’re conducting after hearing some gibberish. However, if your knowledge is right, your prayer will not be wrecked because your practical actions are based on your theoretical understanding. So, the greater a person’s knowledge, ideology, and theoretical power are, the more right and honest his actions are. This is called faith. Faith is the belief in one’s heart and acting on those beliefs. It implies you must believe in your heart and act on it. Imam said, “Faith is knowing with the heart and confessing with the tongue and doing with the limbs”.
Faith has degrees. Faith increases with knowledge and actions. The distinction between mystic and ordinary people lies in their knowledge, which is followed by acts. Knowledge and action are man’s two wings for flying to perfection. A narration from our Imams says, “The knowledge is Imam (leader) of action”. It indicates that knowledge is more important than action. Here are some narrations from our infallible Imams regarding the knowledge:
The good of this world and the Hereafter is with knowledge, and the evil of this world and the hereafter is with ignorance.
Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. God loves those who seek knowledge. Imam Ali (A)
All containers lose capacity due to their contents, with the exception of the knowledge container, which gains capacity through knowledge learning. Imam Ali (A)
Zakat (charity) of knowledge, education to those who deserve it, and effort to act on it. Imam Ali (A)
The finest knowledge is what is helpful. Imam Ali (A)
Anyone who learns knowledge, acts on it, and teaches others for God’s sake will be remembered as great in the kingdom of heaven. They will say, “He learned for God, acted for God, and taught for God”. Imam Sadiq (A)
Indeed, knowledge is the lifeblood of hearts, enlightens the eyes of the blind, and invigorates the weak bodies. Imam Ali (A)
A wise man must avoid the intoxication of wealth, power, knowledge, praise, and the intoxication of youth because each of them is an evil wind that destroys the intellect and reduces dignity. Imam Ali (A)
One of the signs of faith is that you prioritize Truth over falsehood, even if the Truth is to your detriment and falsehood is to your advantage. Another one of the signs of faith is that your speech does not exceed your knowledge. Imam Hussain (A)
Believers always benefit their families from proper knowledge and politeness to bring them all to heaven. Imam Sadiq (A)
Knowledge destroys ignorance. Imam Ali (A)
When a high-ranking person reaches an understanding and knowledge, he becomes humble. Imam Ali (A)
Knowledge is a great treasure that cannot be finished. Imam Ali (A)
Science is a precious heritage, politeness is a luxurious and ornamental garment, and thinking is a smooth mirror. Imam Ali (A)
When the teacher says to the child: Say in the name of Allah, the most merciful and the most merciful, and the child repeats it, God will consider the child, his parents, and the teacher exempt from the fire. Prophet Muhammad (S)
The hypocrite’s knowledge is in his talk, and the believer’s knowledge is in his actions. Imam Ali (A)
To get a high rank, go away from your homeland and travel. There are five benefits to traveling: getting rid of sorrow, getting sustenance, knowledge, and manners of life, and hanging out with nobles. Imam Ali (A)
Knowledge is the best of all good things, and ignorance is the worse of all bad things. Prophet Muhammad (S)
Knowledge is the root of all goodness and ignorance is the root of all evil. Imam Ali (A)
The highest level of knowledge is distinguishing between morals, revealing good morals, and suppressing bad morals. Imam Ali (A)
Hang out with the scholars so that your knowledge will increase, your manners will be good, and your soul will be purified. Imam Ali (A)
A person who has made himself the leader of the people must educate himself before teaching others. Before he teaches others with speaches and politeness, he must learn politeness. Of course, a person who is a self-educator and self-learner of politeness deserves to be honored more than a person who is a teacher of politeness to other people. Imam Ali (A)
O believer! Researching knowledge and politeness is the price of your soul, so try to learn them both. Because with the knowledge you reach your Lord, and with the courtesy, you serve your Lord well. By serving politely, the servant deserves friendship and closeness to Him. So accept this advice to be free from the torment. Imam Ali (A)
Knowledge is the leader of action, and action is its follower. The fortunate are inspired with knowledge and the unfortunate are deprived of it. Prophet Muhammad (S)
A heart without wisdom is like a ruined house, so learn and teach; understand, and you will not die ignorant. Indeed, God does not accept an excuse for ignorance. Prophet Muhammad (S)
Get up out of respect for your parents and teacher, even if you are a king. Imam Ali (A)
There aren’t two things that pair together better than wisdom and patience. The Imam Baqir (A)
Whoever acts on what he knows, God will grant him the knowledge of what he does not know. Prophet Muhammad (S)
Knowledge enlightens thought. Imam Ali (A)
I don’t like to see your youth except in two ways: a scientist or a student. Imam Sadiq (A)
There is no practice like research. Imam Ali (A)
A worshiper without knowledge is like a mill donkey that goes around and does not move. Imam Ali (A)
Be aware that the knowledge of the future, the news of the past, and the treatment of your pains and order among you are in the Quran. Imam Ali (A)
Prophet Muhammad’ (S) companion asked, What is the highest deed”? Prophet (S) said, “Knowledge”. They said, “Sir, we ask about action. Do you answer from knowledge?” He said, “Yes, because a little action is accepted with knowledge, but a lot of action is not accepted without knowledge”.
What is the difference between Amir al-Mu’minin’s prayer and ours? Amir al-Mu’minin prays two rakats in his morning prayer, and we also pray two rakats. The difference is due to knowledge and insight. The higher the knowledge, the more valuable it is. So, if we want our faith to strengthen, we must increase our knowledge, and it is the knowledge that brings fear from God. “Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge” (Fatir:28).
Consider a hungry lion walking in a cage; they urge you to open the cage’s door and sit next to the lion for one minute. You don’t do it because you know it’s dangerous, yet a small child unlocks the cage door, enters the lion’s cage, and perhaps even plays with the lion’s tail. He lacks the knowledge, and you are terrified because you possess the knowledge. The source of both fear and respect is knowledge. Some people are fearless toward God because they don’t know who He is. The ignorant is the one who fears neither the Hereafter nor auditing nor punishment. Can someone with intelligence sin if they are aware that they are accountable for all they do? Is he capable of disobeying? Can he sin if he knows God sees all he does?
So, all human actions depend on human knowledge. The higher a person’s knowledge becomes, the more accurate it becomes. The higher the knowledge, the more he observes piety. “Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge” (Fatir:28). The knowledge is like the light. “Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Or is darkness equivalent to light?” (Ar-Ra’d:16).
Allameh continued, “The theoretical strength is called the power of knowledge or vision, and the practical power is called the power of action. These powers are like the two wings of the soul, with which it flies to the truths until it reaches the paradise of the essence”. The soul soars to the pinnacles of Truth by these two powers, which serve as its wings. Human flying power increases with knowledge and action. This is true even for authentic mystics and prophets. “These messengers: We gave some advantage over others” (Al-Baqara:253). Even though prophets talked about the same God, Some prophets are superior to others because of this knowledge and actions.
In the human perfection road, the act causes horizontal movement, and knowledge promotes vertical progress. A sparrow’s field of vision differs from an eagle’s since each may fly to a specific height. The eagle perceives things from a higher elevation, and therefore, it has greater insight compared to a sparrow. Imam Sadiq (A) stated that if people realized what knowledge was, they would plunge into the seas to obtain it.
Allameh said, “These powers are like the two wings of the soul, with which it flies to the truths until it reaches the paradise of the essence. “Enter My heaven” (Al-Fajr:30)”.
Heaven has ranks and degrees. And the highest level of heaven is Jannat al-Liqa. Paradise of the Essence, a paradise of meeting the Lord. “[To the righteous it will be said], “O reassured soul, (27) Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], (28) And enter among My [righteous] servants (29) And enter My Paradise” (Al-Fajr:27-30). God says, “Enter My paradise”. This is the highest level of heaven because God attributes this heaven to Himself. Allameh Hassanzadeh remarked, “O my Lord, thank you that I have reached Your paradise (Janat Al-Liqa)”. What joys are there? What do people see? Only God knows and the one who got there.
It is like a child communicating with you while still in his mother’s womb, and you wish to explain this material world to him. How can you explain? Do you want to explain light? He does not know what light is. Do you want to say pleasure? He does not know what pleasure is. How would you like to say who are his parents? How do you want to explain the Earth, sky, and galaxies? Would you be able to explain the kindness? Whatever you want to describe, he does not understand. Paradise and the status that Awliya of God (People who are close to God) also hold cannot be explained to humans except by worldly examples.
Prophet Muhammad (S) said, “Allah the Exalted says: I have provided blessings (in heaven) for my righteous servants that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no imagined by people’s heart. If you want, read this verse, “And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do” (As-Sajda:17). Allameh said: “If you don’t pursue your perfection by (knowledge and action) and die, after seeing where you could have reached, you will howl like a wolf. Howl of regret, which is of no use. You will say, God, where could I have reached? What a great degree could I reach? I didn’t listen to whatever I had been told”. One of the names of the day of Judgment is the Day of Regret (“Yaum Al-Hasrat). Everyone regrets on this day; the one who did not obtain knowledge or do good actions asks, “Why didn’t I do it?” The person who was on the path asks, “Why didn’t I gain more knowledge and good deeds?”
If we want to reach perfection, what should we do? Science and action are general topics. Could you tell us something more specific so we can pursue it? What should we pursue in knowledge?
Allameh said, “The head of perfections is the knowledge of God in the vision power and obedience to God in the practical power.” This means that knowing God is the highest knowledge and obeying Him is the highest action. My dears, I have told you many times that knowing God is different from proving God’s existence. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions witnessed an elderly believing woman weaving yarn. The Holy Prophet replied, “How do you say that God exists in this world?” She said, “Look, O Messenger of God, when I take my hand away, this wheel stops and does not move; I must move it to spin”. So, there must be someone to move the Earth, stars, and whatever is in the sky. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) responded, “Well done”.
The woman knew that this world has a God. Many of the infidels also believe there is a God. “And those who take protectors (guardian) besides Him [say], “We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position” (Az-Zumar:3). You may read in some books that infidels also swear by Allah. So, knowing that there is a God is not the same as knowing who God is. Amir Al-Mu’minin Ali (A) said, “The beginning of knowledge is knowing the Compeller (Al-Jabbar), and the end of it is leaving matters to Him”. The point is that Why didn’t he say, knowing Allah? Knowing Ar-Rahman? Knowing Ar-Rahim? Why did the Imam say the beginning of knowledge is knowing the Name of Al-Jabbar (the compeller) of God?
“And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing” (Al-A’raf:180). Those who refuse to believe in God’s Name also disbelieve in God. Even unbelievers acknowledge Allah. “And if you asked them, “Who created the heavens and earth?” they would surely say, Allah” (Luqman:25). The idol worshiper understands that the idol is not the creator; he created it himself. Does he not grasp this much? A cow worshiper understands that the cow is not the creator of heaven and Earth.
A Bedouin Arab came to the Prophet (S) and said: “O Messenger of God! Team me the wonders of the knowledge”. The Prophet (S) said: “What have you done with the principle of knowledge that you ask about its wonders?”. The Bedouin asked: “What is the principle of knowledge, O Messenger of God?”. Prophet (S) said: “To know God as He deserves”. He said: “How is the knowledge of God as it should be?”. Prophet (S) said: “Knowing Him as incomparable and He is the One and He is Unique, The Visible and The Invisible, the First and the Last and has no counterpart. This is the principle”. This is the meaning of Al-Jabbar (the compeller), the Name of God, which Imam Ali also mentioned in the previous narration.
We must see monotheism flow in all things and become true monotheists. Most believers are not monotheists. “And most of them believe not in Allah except while they associate others with Him” (Yusuf:106). Because a believer is different from a Muslim, “The bedouins say, “We have believed.” Say, “You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts” (Al-Hujjarat:14). Believer are very rare, but those who are believers are mostly polytheists.
The Name of Al-Jabbar of God is stated in a very crucial verse of the Holy Quran, “If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought. (21) He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (22) He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. (23) He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and Earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise” (Al-Hhashr:21-24). Therefore, the beginning of knowledge is the knowledge of monotheism and God’s Al-Jabbar name (the compeller), and the end of knowledge is entrusting affairs to God. It means surrendering in front of God, the omnipotent.
While the blessed head of Imam Hussain (A) was separated from his body, Imam was saying, “O Lord, I am satisfied with Your pleasure and submit to Your command, and there is no god but You, O The helper of those who seeks help”.
Theoretical mysticism is the knowledge of monotheism, and practical mysticism is entrusting affairs to God. To become a real monotheist and break free from polytheism, one needs to work hard for a long period to grasp the fundamentals of knowledge, then follow and act on them. We have two types of polytheism: Visible polytheism, like idolaters, and invisible polytheism. Everyone is engaged in unseen polytheism except a few who are true monotheists.
Knowledge, characterized by its vastness and unique capabilities, is considered God’s supreme name. It provides immense benefits for our spiritual growth.
Knowing God has two aspects: 1- knowing the beginning and 2- knowing the Names or attributes of God. The first part is our belief in God. This implies that the universe has a God, a creator. Christians and Jews also believe this. Even pagans know this. Every group of individuals believes in a beginning for our world, including scientists who do not practice religion. “Can there be doubt about Allah, Creator of the heavens and earth?” (Al-Ibrahim:10).
It implies we can’t dispute God’s existence at all. Every effect has a cause; this is inherent in human nature. If you clap behind a newborn, he or she will turn her face to the sounds or look for it because he or she understands that there should be a reason for the noise. Even the pagans said, “We only worship them (idols) that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position” (Az-Zumar:3). That means they also knew that a god created this world and there is a reason behind creatures. Everyone says something about the origin of this world. People call this origin differently. One says God, nature, evolution, and many more. The critical point that must be understood is that no matter what we call the cause of the universe, as long as there is knowledge and power in the creation process, then we must conclude that there is a God.
People call this origin differently. One says God, nature, evolution, and so forth. The critical point to remember is that, regardless of what we name the cause of the cosmos, as long as there is wisdom and power involved in the creation process, we must infer that there is God. Always remember that we need to answer who created the creatures, not how they were created.
The second aspect of knowing God is knowing His Name and Attributes or knowing the manifestation of His Names. The unbelievers no longer recognize this. “And when it is said to them (unbelievers), “Prostrate to the Most Merciful,” they say, “And what is the Most Merciful? Should we prostrate to that which you order us?” And it increases them in aversion” (Al-Furqan:60). Unbelievers say what Rahman (the Merciful) is?! We do not know Rahman at all! They do not know God’s Names. They consider one thing as God for this world, but they don’t know His Names. But God says, “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names” (Al-A’raf:180). “Say, “Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman). Whichever [name] you call – to Him belong the best names” (Al-Isra:110).
Is there anyone who is against God’s Names? In the sixth year of Hijri, the Prophet Muhammad (S) and the polytheists of Mecca signed the Hudaybiyah peace agreement. It was determined that the Muslims would return to Medina that year without a pilgrimage to the House of God (Ka’ba) and then return to Mecca the next year. Because the Prophet (S) knew the benefits of this peace, he demonstrated considerable flexibility. Accepting their request to remove “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” (In the Name of Allah the Merciful and special Merciful) from the beginning of the peace document and replace it with “Bimika-Allahumma” (In the name of You, our Allah), as well as removing the title of Messenger of God and writing “Muhammad bin Abdullah” instead. They believed that Allah is the God but did not accept Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim Name of God.
The sustainer of all existence, the divine essence of God, is manifested in the world from the veil of His Names. Names of Allah have filled the universe. In the Kumail dua, Amir Al-Mu’minin Ali (A) said, “O God, I swear by your Name that you fill the pillars of all things”. Every creature we see in the world is a manifestation of God’s divine Names. Every action and quality we observe in the world is an expression or manifestation of glorious Names. “He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (22) He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. (23) He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and Earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise” (Al-Hashr:22-24).
It means that God is active and creative in the universe moment by moment. It is not that God created the universe in one day and then left it alone. The Name “Khaliq” (the creator) means that He is constantly creating. “Allah is the Creator of all things” (Az-Zumar:62). He is the creator of everything moment ago, now, and the moment after. In the Islamic mystic, it is called “Tajadud Amthal” (Although the world appears to be static, it is constantly being renewed).
The whole world is under the wings of divine Names and Attributes. The rain is pouring, in the name of Allah. The steam is rising in the name of Allah. You are moving in the name of Allah. “La hawla wala quwwata illa billah” is an Arabic Dhikr that translates to “There is no change nor strength except by God”. In prayer, we say, “With God’s power and strength, I get up, and I sit down”. We are talking with divine power. In short, we are not independent from God. There is no movement in this world except in the name of Allah, except in the manifestation of divine Names. The infidels no longer recognize these facts. They say: I walk, I eat, I hit, I do.
“(O Muhammad) And it was not you who launched when you launched, but it was God who launched” (Al-Infal:17). “But you cannot will, unless God wills—The Lord of the Worlds” (At-Takwir:29). Keep in mind that this is not against free will. The verse of the Holy Quran says, “He (Satan) said, “Lord, since You have deceived me away, I will glamorize for them on earth, and I will deceive them all away” (Al-Hijr:39). This is deterministic and against free will, which means that Satan considers himself an independent being and then says: God, you deceived me!!, So think deeply about it.
Were we born by our own will? Who gave us existence and brought us to this world? Do we grow up with our will? No, who will grow us? Did we want to look like this? No, who made us like this? Do we die by our own will? No, who will make us dead? Does the plant grow by itself? No, then by who? Does the fly get that look by its own will? The answer to all and many more is the manifestation of the Name of “Aj-Jabbar” (the compeller) of God. When you look around the world, you will notice that no one is acting independently; nothing is with our will without God’s will. The almighty God directs everyone to their perfection. From quarks, atoms, and cells to galaxies and the order in the universe, they all move toward their own perfection under God’s will and guidance. Is there anyone beyond the control of the Almighty God? Who is in the world of his own will?
When reading the Quran, focus on what God attributes to Himself. He attributes everything in this world to Himself. “We send the fertilizing winds, and send down water from the sky, and give it to you to drink, and you are not the ones who store it” (Al-Hijr:22). “Say, “O people, I am the Messenger of God to you all—He to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the Earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and causes death” (Al-A’raf:158). God keeps us alive. This means that now that I am alive, God has kept me alive. The name “Al-Muhhi” (life-giving) manifests moment by moment to keep us alive.
“The Jews say, “God’s hand is tied.” It is their hands that are tied, and they are cursed for what they say. In fact, His hands are outstretched; He gives as He wills” (Al-Ma’ida:64). It implies that God is not doing anything right now. He created the world and sat on the throne of His Palace. Unfortunately, the majority of people only know this about God. The knowledge of Allah is to see the entire system of existence filled with the Names of Allah. God’s names have materialized and formed things. The Wrath Name has emerged as Satan. The Kindness Name has materialized and becomes an angel. God’s names manifested themselves, becoming the sun, the Earth, the heavens, and hell. Every creation we observe is a manifestation of God’s name.
“He who feeds me, and waters me. (79) And when I get sick, He heals me. (80) He who makes me die, and then revives me” (Ash-Shua’ra:79-81). It means God cures me when I am sick. I take pills, but He is healing me. The pill and its effect are God’s manifestation. It is not separate existence from God. As Amir Al-Mu’minin Ali (A) said, “This is the beginning of the knowledge”. When you understand and perceive God’s Name as described, you are no longer fearful of anything. God is the one in charge of the actions.
God says, “Allah created you, and what you do” (As-Saffat:96). God is your creator and your actions’ creator. Yes, it is correct that God also creates our actions. Although my actions are attributed to me but, the creation belongs to God. In our daily prayer, we say, “By the power of God, I get up, and I sit down”. Standing up and sitting is attributed to me, but the power is from God. Thus, fully comprehend this. Without God’s approval, who is able to move in this world? People must come to the Truth of seeing God active in the world. They must see that God is all-powerful, not them. There are no two independent beings. Only God exists and His manifestations. This is the meaning of the “La Ilaha Illallah”, there is no independent existence except Allah.
Does my heart beat in my permission? No, I have no idea what the heart does. My stomach works; does it work with my permission? My eyes and ears are working, is it with my permission? What am I doing in this world? The kidney is working, the liver is working, and the stomach, intestine, esophagus, trachea, eye, ear, brain, tongue, hand, foot, and nervous system are all moving under God’s control. I am unaware of these, but amazingly, thinking I have full control. God’s hand is not tied, as Jews say. There is no god but Him; there is no one but Him. There is no identity apart from Him. Even there is nothing at all apart from Him. We don’t believe in a God whose creatures are self-sufficient, which means that even if He dies, His creations will survive. God and His creations are not analogous to a bricklayer and a wall since once a wall is erected, it no longer needs a bricklayer. “There is nothing like unto Him” (Ash-Shura:11). We must constantly remember this key verse of the Holy Quran when we talk about God.
Even if it is not a good illustration, observe how your “I” or Nafs surrounds your body. My eyes see. My ears hear. My tongue tastes. In all the actions, the hands, eyes, ears, and tongue are mine, and I am with all the actions. “He is like a soul, and the world is like a body; The body will accept effect from the soul,” Mulawi penned in a poem.
The polytheists used to claim that although they recognize Allah, they reject Rahman and the Prophecy of Prophet Muhammad (S). Because they limited God to one place, they believed that there is a being who is called God, Allah, or Yahweh, who many angels surrounded. Angels are long-haired and attractive girls, as depicted in movies. The unbelievers also believed in God in this manner! Even now, most people believe the same way. Angels are gorgeous females; they are God’s daughters!! Saints and decent people are God’s sons! They are unaware of the Truth. “Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe” (Az-Zukhruf:82). “But they have attributed to Allah partners – the jinn, while He has created them – and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters. Exalted is He and high above what they describe” (Al-An’am:100).
Allameh Hassanzadeh said, “O My Lord, we are all helpless, and you are the only solution, and we are all idle, and you are the only One that works”. Someone could read this and remark, “Wow, what a strange thing Allameh said”. This is because they did not think deeply about what was discussed so far. For example, someone may tell a doctor that if it wasn’t for you, my child would have perished. They don’t realize that the doctor is a tool and the healer is God. This is known as concealed polytheism. We do not deny doctors, but we do not believe doctors an independent beings separate from God. “But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection” (Al-Furqan:3). A servant cannot benefit himself, nor can he harm himself; neither his life is in his hands, nor his death, nor his resurrection. This perspective will show you that the majority of people practice polytheism. The prophets used to say to the people: You worship idols that neither benefit nor harm. A person should expand his knowledge. Then he realizes that no one in this world can hurt him and declares, “There is no power or strength except by Allah, the Most High.” There is no power apart from God. Only God is capable of causing harm. Only God can benefit me.
The Messenger of God (S) stated, “If all the people gather together, they will not be able to give one good thing to someone that God did not want, nor will they be able to withhold a good thing from someone who God willed”. The Holy Prophet (S) was off on a journey with his companions. The Holy Prophet (S) distinguished himself from the others. A guy lying in wait approached the Prophet (S) with a sword on top of his head and asked, “Who can save you from me?” The Prophet (S) stated: “The God in whose hand is all power.” That individual seized the sword and attempted to slay the Prophet, but the stone slid beneath his feet and fell to the ground. The Holy Prophet (S) pulled the blade from his hand and said, “Who wants to save you from me?” The guy stated, “The same God who saved you from me and the kindness that I see in you”. The Holy Prophet said: Get up, I have forgiven you.
Our hearts should embrace this vital subject because knowing and accepting our hearts are not the same thing. It takes a lot of effort to imprint it in our souls. If we truly understand that there is no power other than God, we will not be afraid of anything. “Unquestionably, [for] the (Awliya Allah) allies of Allah, there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve” (Yunus:62). Under these conditions, how many monotheists are there in the world who truly believe? Inshallah, God will bless us to be among the monotheists because of Muhammad (S) and the Ahl Al-Bayt (A).
Muhammad Mahdi Me’marian
All praise is to God to the extent that He deserves it.
