Chapter Shams – Part 2

Recap: The message of the Quran is always the same regardless of the era the addressees finds themselves in. Everyone at any age, stage, or circumstance is communicating with the Speech of God.  The psychological side of the human being is always the same where people are curious to know the Speech of God, what God says…  At the time this chapter was revealed to the Prophet, the political side of the society was concentrating on justice, equality, and helping the socio-economic conditions of the people.  The political power was under the control of educated people.  The majority of the people did not have any basic education even in reading/writing.  Also, the concept of “Prophethood” was not accepted by most people.

In this present age in the education systems, as far as any discipline is concerned (Philosophy, Religious Studies, Divinity, Sciences…), have no concept of Prophethood that you can base your argument on.  Unfortunately, you can only study any subject by being academically impartial i.e. one has to defend a religious idea in a secular atmosphere.  In other words, we are all restricted with the understanding that “Prophethood” is not a scientific reality.  The Creator of the universe might have employed to convey his guiding Speech to some people (called Prophets) and no one can base their argument on this in the current academic system. 

The early revealed chapters were significantly poetic.  That time, people’s main source of knowledge and value was poetry.  The Quran was revealed as a poetic message to attract people of that era, which is an example to show us how we can follow the exemplary behavior of the main teaching of the Quran.  Since we are in the 21st century, we must apply the message to our living conditions.  Now, scientific analysis and philosophy based on scientific data are prevalent.  

• We don’t have to use poetry, but we must use the evidence from the universe.

91:1 “Consider the sun and its radiant brightness”
91:2 “and the moon as it follows it (by reflecting its light)”
91:3 “and consider the day as it displays the sun’s glory.”

These verses bring into my attention that what I see in the universe is a deliberate arrangement to provide me with a living condition for my well being.  Everything is provided for me, I am utilizing it and benefiting from it.

All life conditions are continuously changing, and living beings are subject to death.  For example, the seasons are changing, Plants and trees are given the quality to produce grains, and the following year this cycle repeats again.  The earth, moon, sun are all tied to the celestial bodies working in perfect harmony, following their designated courses.  Animals grow and they have their young ones just like human beings.  Everything of this life circle is as miraculous as ever.  The fetus in a mother’s womb is as significant as an old lady because everything manifests the qualities of the Creator.  We are all subjected to these stages of creation in order to understand our spiritual situation. I may ask: what is happening to me, I was a cell, then a fetus that you could not see and look at my changes now.  Who is operating on me?  Who is improving my stages of growth here?  Who is owning my existence and what is He teaching me?  What is going on here?  I see examples of billions of existences, but the most vivid ones are seasons, elliptical movements of the galaxies, storms, beautiful scenery.

The Quran encourages us to reflect on them.  Do you think that you are an accidental being?  Does that make sense to you that everything is just a haphazard display?  Day and night are the time dimension of the universe which exhibits in front of our eyes how things are coming into existence.  Everything has a beginning and an end.  Again, what is going on here?  The new generation will go through the same process as the previous generations.

91:4 “and the night, when it covers it with darkness”
91:5 “Consider the sky and how He built it”
91:6 “and the earth and how He spread it” 

• What can be the Source of Existence of the sky?  A conscious Being must have built this universe and the sky in it.  

• What can be the reason for the universe to be built for me and every being?

91:7 “and the soul and how He formed it”

From this verse, it seems as if the topic is shifting somehow where it tells me to consider the soul. What is soul (nafs)?  Any being that is given the tools to taste existence.  Example: I have been given the tools and feelings to function in extraordinary ways. Some insects can see beyond the skin.  It means that every soul is arranged in such a way that their spiritual side and body works perfectly in harmony.  However, in the course of time, we start seeing that our body is not the means to satisfy the desire of our infinite expectations of satisfaction.  Yes, within the universe our bodily needs are met and the desire to communicate with the spirit is there.  

• • The spirit realizes that it is not created for this type of existence (universe).  

• Old age is an opportunity to realize my reality.  That is when I understand that all the unsatisfied desires were for nothing.  In the younger age, we can be negligent and become arrogant.  May our Creator give us old age to experience this reality!

Never forget that we are just tenants here.  This universe is not our home.  Doesn’t matter how huge this universe is, it is a temporary abode.  “Please God give me health, I want to taste the beauty of old age in a healthy way without being a burden on other people, ameen!”

The creation is perfect.  We need to benefit from it to fulfill the purpose of our existence.  We need to live with a messenger next to me (a Prophet), accompanying me bringing me the message from my Creator.  

• I am always in need of someone always reminding me of the purpose of my existence and where am I going.

91:8 “And He inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness”

We are given free will to either use appropriately for the intended purpose or mess up those things.  Example: I may spoil the system of a laptop, break it or never use it.  Similarly, we may do the same thing with our human side. 

• “Fujoor” means acting in a debauched way.  A perfectly working spirit is given to us but we are set free to use ourselves in any way.  Only through options presented to us out of which we choose, that we can realize the perfect spirit.  Otherwise, we would not know about the right way.  When you lose something, which is valuable to you, then you understand more of its value.  If you lose one of your limbs (God forbid), then you realize how valuable every other limb is.  When we think about the missing of a limb (God forbid), we realize its value and cannot give a price to it.  Through comparisons, we realize the existence of something and continue with the conclusion that it must have a creator to bring it into existence. Thus, we understand by looking at the perfection of creation, and thus the perfection of its Creator. 

Another example of how we use our given free will: we can choose to harm an animal or be kind and feed it.  It is a beautiful set up for us to learn from, we can choose to be destructive and constructive.  How beautiful it is to tell the truth and confirm the reality.  The option of denying the reality is hurting my spirit.  As a result of my choices, I evaluate the value of everything and make the right choices.  

Also, when you are put in prison, you understand the power of human freedom.  Even expressing yourself freely is valuable.  We must be thankful to our Creator for everything.  If there was no Creator to provide us with eternal existence, a permanent residence, then we would be left in despair and go into annihilation.