Chapter Qaf- Part 13

Recap-

50:31 “And Paradise is brought near to the God-Conscious.”

Belief immediately brings blessings/flourishing (multiplying), just like the seed of a plant or the egg/cell of a living being blossoming.  The soul of a living being is like a seed which needs flourishing.  To do that, we need to cultivate the following in us, i.e., I am a created being who is in need to be created.  As soon as I acknowledge “my createdness”, it follows with “what can be my Creator?”  I must investigate and think about this.  The matter side of the universe has no qualities at all, but there are innumerable qualities manifested in the matter.  Out of this matter, endless different kinds of arts are manifested here.  What creates something out of this matter?  Example:  Mud is made into a pot.  An intelligent designer who has the quality of art gives shape to the mud, which becomes a pot.  No one can claim that the art qualities manifested in the pot is the result of the mud.  The mud is given its shape by an Agent.  The universe has these qualities manifested on them that is not originated from matter.  The matter is used as a material/means to demonstrate artful qualities/beings.  These qualities cannot be the Source of Existence (SOE) of my body.  We need to feed our spirit to become a tree/fruit, that is how the universe is created.  If someone is careful that I must be watchful of the purpose of my existence, then s/he is God conscious and receiving the pleasure/welcoming of their Creator i.e., Peace/Paradise.

50:34 “So enter it in peace.  This is the Day of Everlasting Life.”

The nature of our discussion is such that we must question this in our worldly life, whether it is possible or not.  If we flourish our human feelings then we understand that we belong to an Absolute Being, the Creator of the universe.  As a result of this consciousness, we understand that I am an art made by my Creator and this Creator is the SOE of all my qualities and so I can relate all my qualities to Him.  Example: I can see, I am given the power of sight by using the eyes.  Can a dead person see?  No, but the tools/eyes are there.  The dead person’s eye is one matter, and the Power of Sight is manifested in a person and this quality is coming from my Creator who is the SOE of my eyesight.  As soon as I realize that the SOE of my qualities is an Absolute Being, I feel secure in my existence because I belong to the Absolute Being and He is the One who gave me life and is going to give me death (It is His creation and I am in His hands, He is taking care of me, not that I am taking care of myself.)

As soon as I attach my Being to Him, this moment I find myself immediately in a secure place/hand.  Why bother about my existential future? Just like in this life, we are taken care of when we prepare for the future, and make plans for next year, for example.  It is my duty to understand that I have to attach my existence with all my human qualities to the One who creates and gives existence to all my feelings.  Please note that we are not talking about worldly affairs.  When I understand that my Creator is infinitely Absolute, then I find myself in everlasting life for He is going to take care of me.

50:35 “They get anything they wish there, and we have even more.”

How do I know?  When we find that our feelings belong to that Being who is Absolute in every sense, then only He can give me life at the same time with the rest of the universe.  The Creator of the Universe (COU) must be an infinite and self-existing One.  Whatever I feel and wish in my feelings, these wishes are within the capacity of my human feelings, and when I attach these feelings to my Creator, then it becomes like a seed of a tree (that is the description of blessings).  In other words, belief is the Source of blessings.  This wish is not something that I can make up.  Like in this world, I wish that I was a bird for example.  This is a desire that I want to fly and not be stuck to the Earth and limited by walking: “Yes, this desire is given to me and it’s only possible when I understand that it’s my Creator who made me wish this and it’s within my capacity, so He can do it.”  That is the relief that I feel when I believe in Him, attaching my being to Him.  That is what I understand through being conscious of God.  The Creator says: “You cannot imagine the limits of my qualities; you can only imagine as far as I demonstrate the flight of an aircraft in the sky.”  We cannot imagine limitless or Infinite.  “Although you can wish for anything with the desire I gave you, you can never reach the end of my qualities.  I am going to treat you with my infinite qualities, that is called the “life after death”.  While we are with this understanding with the qualities of our Creator in this product of the universe, as a human being, matter is employed from this universe and the qualities in it are given existence by an Infinite Absolute Being, who makes us as we are with the human qualities.  This is a beautiful way of understanding the reality of the description of the hereafter in the Quran, that we can confirm/understand and be secure in our understanding.  

Is it possible that life will be in the hereafter forever as the Quran promises?  Yes, if you are God-Conscious and believe in your Creator who is not a piece of this universe which is transient, limited and has no freewill and qualities to be the SOE of its qualities.

50:36 “How many a generation we destroyed before them, who are more powerful and had searched every land, but can they find any refuge?”

Do things just happen to be like this in this world?  Can we find any evidence in this universe that there is no God ?  If I do not ascribe my existence to the COU through my human feelings that are given to me, then I am destroyed in my humanity or human feelings.  Deniers can search everywhere possible to make sense of their denial, they will not be able to bring any evidence of a SOE in this universe.  In other words, a denying attitude will find no refuge to feel secure in their denial.  

Destruction does not mean a natural disaster, rather a destruction of our human feelings, where we think that everything will just disappear.  As a result, there is no hope, and such life is in complete despair.  Can we any pleasure with denial?  Temporarily yes, but as soon as we get the pleasure, it disappears.  That is the nature of the creation of this world, as soon as we enjoy something, it is gone.  However, for a believer, as soon as s/he enjoys something, s/he sees the manifestation of the qualities of its Creator and say: “He is All-Knowledgeable, All-Powerful, All-Compassionate and All-Just Self-Subsisting Absolute Being.”  We entertain the recognition of the Creator in the things that we are benefiting from and opening-up to Eternity. Things are continuously being brought into existence and taken away from existence.  Just as we were young and now, we are aging and getting old; young or old does not matter, because we belong to the Absolute Being.

As time grows, the Quran reveals itself more.  Scientific development is more advanced than before, and it is becoming more and more impossible to attribute the act of creation in this universe to lifeless, unconscious matter.  People of olden times believed that the universe is like a mechanical entity functioning on its own.  In this quantum mechanics age, who can say that DNA is made up accidentally by matter?  Who can claim that life can be reduced to matter only?  Who can claim that this universe is by its own nature (as the Greek Philosophers claim) eternal?  We all know that the universe is coming into existence by a Single entity which is the will of its Creator.  However, some people attribute the existence of the universe to atoms and energy.  The atom and energy need to be created!  The explosion needs to be created as well.  It is becoming more and more impossible to deny the conscious will of the COU operating and designing this universe and giving existence to it.  Nothing is static here; every moment is different from the previous existence.  How can we say that the DNA happened to be in structure by itself knowledgeable?  Unfortunately, nowadays, believing scientists are refrained from publishing that there must be a SOE behind the wonders observed in this universe?  

50:37 “Truly in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or gives ear as witness.”

The people who witness what the message of the Quran reveals to us and what the universe presents to us, use their human qualities (seeds) that grow into Eternal Peace and serenity (tree).  If you reduce your existence to body only, then your existence consists of only a living body.  If we listen to our consciousness and human feelings, then our spirit flourishes and it is clear that I am not coming from matter but somewhere else, and I have to search for it.

We must listen to what the Quran says and use our heart which is the representative of my human qualities.  If I give ears to what is said here and use my feelings to understand my state of being, then I am acting according to the way that I am created.  The Quran shakes my human feelings as a reminder that don’t you have the desire to exist eternally and be happy?  We must be honest to ourselves.  Now, we must use our hearts and ask if it is true that I am in need of eternal happiness and the matter cannot be the source of my happiness.  Matter is bound by the order/will of the Owner of the universe.

Is there anything in the world acting on its own without obeying the order of the universe?  The order of the universe cannot be originating from the matter itself because matter cannot give existence to anything for it is subjugated to the order.  We must think seriously and be consistent with ourselves without contradicting ourselves.  Then we will see that our human feelings witness what the voice of the Quran’s message from the Creator tells us that it is appropriate to the expectations of my feelings/being.  Example: I want to see everything.  That is why the power of sight wants to see the details of everything (deep down galaxies and atoms), and we want to further see beyond the minute particles, that is why we keep updating all the technical tools/advancements.  The way that the universe is organized demonstrates that all the things are arranged in detail here.  “O human beings, you desire everything in most detail.  See My work and recognize that I have the ability of giving Eternal Power of sight.”  We can only see where the naked eyes take us, but using the order of the universe, it reveals that the Creator of the universe is telling us that He has provided this universe to let the human beings, as they develop step by step, realize that the Designer/Creator of this order of the universe is providing all this to you for He is the Source of the power of sight and is Absolute.”

50:38 “We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them in six periods, and no fatigue even touched Us.”

We cannot define anything else to be the Creator of the universe here, there are no traces of a COU here.  Just as we are created in the form of a cell, fetus, baby, young age, adulthood, and old age.  These are different stages where we flourish and develop our seed so that at the end, we will realize what is going on in this world.  The numberings in the Quran are used to depict stages and manifolds.  Just like “day” can be a moment, a millionth of a second.  Example: you can say that I am living in this world and my life is a day in this world.  Not the “day” as far as my relationship with the solar system is concerned.  It is just a figure of speech talking about a period of time or stages.  The main point is not “six period”, rather realizing that all creation is brought into stages.  Example: the human lifespan or a tree is brought into existence in stages.  The galaxies and stars take billions of years, the trees take 200 years, everything is developing and after reaching maturity in an artful form, they are taken away.  I understand that everything is created in stages within a limited time. From one side, the universe is expanding and from another side, there is black hole (i.e., dying).  Now, we refer to the black holes as disappearing in our sight from existence.  Everything coming into existence and disappearing demonstrates that they are in the hand of somebody which gets a hold of the universe and controls its administration.  

Every time a new creation comes into existence.  Who is bringing me to life?  What is the Source of my Existence?  What is taking me away from life?  Everything is coming (appearing) and going (disappearing).  Some Physicists describe that endless universes are created which means that every moment a new type of creation is presented, similar but not the same.  Can I say that yesterday was exactly the same as today?  No.  I am getting old, things around me are decaying and there is continuous change happening, but the control/administration/order remains permanent and static under the will of its Owner.

Do you see any stop in creation?  No.  It means that His Being is self-existing unlike us who need to be created.  The Absolute One does not need to be created and never lacks anything.  We need to see this intellectually.  It is the Creator of the universe, and you cannot even bring Him in your dreams.  That is why belief is an intellectual conclusion confirmed by our feelings and I say: “Yes I feel secure now.”

50:39 “So, have patience over what they say, and glorify your Lord with praise, before the rising of the sun and before its setting.”

I do not have to flatter my Creator, rather I must keep reminding myself of my position here and who my Creator is.  Example: I am eating a banana, and I keep admiring the One who gives it taste, shape, nourishment and color.  Can matter do it?  No.  Everything with the sunlight and atmosphere is perfectly arranged.  Glorification (tasbih) means that God cannot be a created being (use negation to conclude God).  When we say la ilaha, we are negating any source of existence in the universe, illallah, but there must be a One who gave existence to the universe in its perfect form, working in a well-ordered way, demonstrating that the universe cannot be the One which is sustaining its being, rather the universe is sustained by Something else.  That is called glorification.  Why praise?  It means expressing what a wonderful Creator He is, what a wonderful Power He is manifesting in this world?!  What wonderful and inexplicable knowledge within the conditions of this universe manifested here?!  To remind myself not to lose contact with my Creator.  That is why when we praise God, it does not mean that I am saying that you are wonderful my Lord and I am not challenging you, rather the universe is always witnessing it when I say SubhanAllah (God does not need me to say that), the act of SubhanAllah is already created by God, He willed it and I just choose to say/follow what is already created using my free will for I did not create my voice, talent, intelligence, and memory that I am watching the universe and remembering Him.  

We must keep reminding ourselves by glorifying and praising the Creator and by doing so keeping our belief alive and stronger and stronger, with the more evidence we experience every day.  Continuous act of creation is manifesting in the universe.  These are the milestones of our realization.  Example: Night and then it becomes dark. That is, the earth is revolving, and it is not static, although it may seem such.  Everything is moving and being renewed.  Example: my cells are continuously working, and I am a new creation.  These are the main points.

Let’s say when you drink water you praise God i.e., this is God’s grace.  The time of need is the pinnacle of realization.  When it is night, we want to rest.  It means that during the daytime, I was so arrogant with my feelings that I can do anything, but now I am tired.  It is not me who is energetic, rather the energy is given to me by my Creator.  These striking points for our attention are the time that we praise our Lord.  Example: A flower coming out of soil, water, and sun.  SubhanAllah, means that I love its beauty and I am reminding myself.  Whenever something attracts your attention and is presented to your attention, you just remind yourself that it is God who is glorified with no shortcomings, perfect and absolute in His being.  All His qualities that I enjoy in this world are discovered through scientific discoveries, i.e., the unknown manifestation of the qualities of their Creator, which will keep being unraveled step by step.

50:40 “and at some part of the night, glorify Him, and at the ends of prostrations.”

When we think that we need resting, we must not lose ourselves completely in the dark of the night, rather wake up and say: “This is another demonstration of the qualities of God.”  Do not ignore it.  Another way of understanding this type of allegorical message is that when we feel powerless, helpless, and wretched, which makes us realize that I am totally dependent on my Creator.  Now, let me remember that I belong to this Absolute Being and gain hope by attaching my existence to Him.  As a result, I will become energetic, even when I sleep, I belong to Him.  I did not create sleep, energy, or tiredness.  All this is arranged perfectly for me to understand that He is the Perfect One and I am the needy one.  Physical prostration (putting forehead, body on the ground) means that I declare that I am nothing.  When you declare such, then glorify and praise your Creator: “I am nothing at all and I cannot guarantee anything or create anything at all.  I cannot make sure that tomorrow the universe will exist.  Everything is subject to an order.  The order is in the hands of Someone who arranges the universe.”  Hence, prostration is the realization of one’s exact reality, SubhanAllah, I belong to God who is the Absolute One.

The more we realize that we are needy beings to the Creator, the brighter the idea/conclusion becomes that God is the perfect One and does not lack anything for He is unlimited.  All the qualities that I experience here belong to Him.  Beauty, Ugliness, Life and Death all belong to Him.  In other words, God created me to like beauty/life and dislike ugliness/death.  That is how we must understand the different kinds of experiences and creation.  When we realize that we have nothing to claim any power in our name, then I am declaring that my Creator is the Absolute One and He deserves to be praised, not me.  These verses are a magnificent display of our realities here.

• We are not the Source of Existence of anything.
• In my createdness, I see the Creator.

50:41 “And listen on the Day when the caller calls from near at hand.”

Your spirit is next to you.  You are not going to search for it, the spirit is within you.  The “caller” refers to your human qualities.

50:42 “The day when they will hear the cry of Truth; that will be the Day of Resurrection.”

When you realize in this life what the Truth is, then you are resurrected.  How?  When you recover your own reality.  It means I am a different person now.  That is when I remember my connection with my Creator, it means that I am resurrected.  Hence, resurrection will take place in a different form than this body, and another way of creation must happen to satisfy the needs of the grown tree.  As mentioned earlier, the human spirit is like a seed, and if you cultivate it, then it becomes a tree.  How?  In your understanding/belief, it becomes a tree. Now the seed is still in my body saying that I need a new type of creation, because the seed is in its own type of shell.  When the seed is awakened, it wants to get out of this shell.  Again, this is an analogy.  That is, if the seed within the shell of the human body realizes that it has the potentiality of becoming a tree, then the tree needs a different kind of creation for it is not a seed/spirit anymore.  Just like this life is like a seed/spirit which says that I do not want to be limited within this transient universe, rather I want a free permanent existence, where I flourish and experience a different type of existence.  Just imagine yourself as a seed, when you attach yourself to an Absolute Being, what happens?  You say that I need a new type of existence, or I want to become a tree.  This universe says that to become a tree, you have to have another type of existence, called “resurrection.”  We understand that resurrection must happen.  If I realize that my human qualities want to flourish and experience new creation, then in this world I can confirm the news of resurrection in the Quran.  I say: “that must be true, and it must happen.”  In other words, this acknowledgement is possible when I realize my reality that my seed wants to get out of its shell.

We cannot imitate the Quran, rather listen to it and get the lesson from it while experiencing the universe and putting it into practical experience here.  When you educate yourself properly, what you confirm in the Quran becomes your Truth.

50:43 “Truly, it is We who grant life and deal death, and to Us is their final destination.”

The One who sets the stage for us here is arranging everything in a gradual creation.  Whoever creates today will take it back and preserve it.  How?  That is not my concern, but it should not go into non-existence, because if something is given existence, for me it is impossible to keep it.  But for the Absolute One, He must keep it, so He can say that this is what you have done in this world, what you denied/confirmed, you were honest/dishonest.  The destination means that we are given life here in stages and we will be taken back to Him.

50:44 “on the Day when the earth will be torn apart, letting them rush out- that gathering will be easy for Us.”

The universe cannot sustain its own existence.  Nothing here has a choice not to be subject to decay and destruction.  Everything is created by the Creator and taken away by the Creator.  Example: the seed dies, and the tree is created.  Someone may say that the seed disappeared, but it is given existence in the form of a tree.  These are practical examples, and it is easy for the Creator to bring things into existence.  If the One who brings things into existence, do you think that it will be difficult for this One to bring anything into existence and preserve existence?  Think about it: He brought something into existence which did not exist before and now He is taking it away.  Do you think that it is difficult for Him to preserve it?  Example: The One who gave me existence as a young person, do you think that this One cannot keep me in existence and give me the pleasure of youth again?  Is it possible logically?  The Quran is asking us to think about it!

50:45 “We know best what they say.  You are not there to force them, so remind with this Quran those who fear My warning.”

God sets everyone free to decide what they want.  Whatever you claim, you face the consequences.  If you accept that I am given existence by an Absolute Being, who is taking care of me and promising Eternal Satisfaction, then you reap the blessings.  If you deny it, then you suffer from your own choices.  In a school, some students listen to the teachers, some sleep or play around.  Similarly, the universe is provided to us free, and it is up to us to make choices.  Belief and denial in God are a choice.  We may block ourselves from the witnessing of the universe and block ourselves from paying heed to the Prophets through God’s speech (revelation), we have free will.  Your feelings force you to act, these feelings are just reminding you about your reality: “Be careful about the warnings, do not ignore it, misuse it or deny it”.  It means to be extremely alarmed.  Whatever you learned from the Truth and whatever made you feel at peace, then share it with other people and remind them: “Why would  you not perceive this way and open up your mind to the possibility that this way of thinking about existence is also acceptable and meaningful.  Then you will also feel consistent within your own existence, and you will confirm it intellectually and accept it by your heart, for that this is exactly what we all need.”