How can the meaning of the Quran be endless?
As far as our observation goes, the universe is dynamic. Our human feelings are also dynamic. That is, we are bombarded with different feelings every time. It seems that the universe and our feelings are parallel to each other. Example: we observe sunrise and sunset. These dynamic events trigger a certain feeling in us. Our responsibility is to interpret these events and come to a conclusion. Every conclusion is different, and it is not based on a previous conclusion.
- Creation is not a one-time instance, it is ever changing.
- Human nature/creation is dynamic as well and needs to be renewed. That is called renewal of belief.
- As long as evidences (qualities) keep demonstrating themselves, I can conclude about a One presenting the qualities to me.
Similar to your human qualities and the universe is the verbal speech of God (scriptures), which is presented to us in a written form. The Quran, by definition is the verbal speech of the Creator of the universe speaking to you right now. That is, it is a live speech parallel to the universe and your feelings. If you reduce it to a book to derive lesson from, it does not become a live speech for you and thus gets reduced to its historical meaning. Although, the words in Arabic are more or less a rough translation by commentators making its meaning limited, but in fact the Speech of God is universal making it applicable to anyone at any time. If the speech of God gets reduced to the literal Arabic translation, then it becomes a static speech. The Arabic words were prevalent at the time it was revealed but the Speech of God employed those words to convey its message in order to express their meanings within its own purposes. The dictionary translation of the words of the Speech of God makes the Speech limited to the context of the meaning of the words used within a particular time frame.
- My communication with the Speaker is a dynamic one.
- Quran is a live active speech.
- We have to renew the covenant with the Creator at every available opportunity as much as we can.
What does it mean for us?
We have to engage in a dialogue with the source of our existence. Every moment we are encountered with various feelings such as anxiety, joy, fear, hope… These feelings are witnesses and we need to take these feelings under the witnessing of the universe and check in with the Speech of God and see if all three align with each other. If we are true to ourselves, 1/ our feelings, 2/ the universe and 3/ the speech of God must work in harmony with each other.
What does that require?
Analogy: As a married couple engages emotionally with each other in their relationship, similarly we have to “emotionally engage” with the source of our existence. After experiencing a breath taking sunrise or sunset, which should arise an emotional feeling within us. That emotional engagement with creation should lead us to conclude something within ourselves. As a result of which, we should go and express our feelings in the ritualistic prayers accordingly. Example: I witnessed the Creator of the morning, and then I witnessed the Creator of the sun at its zenith… This is a human way of reading the Quran making the Speech alive with emotional engagement.
What are messengers?
Anything in creation that carries meaning about something that this universe points to. In the language of the Quran that something is referred to “ghaib” or in other words, Absolute. By definition, act of creation carries meaning about its Creator.
Angels are messengers-
Traditionally, Gabriel is known as the main angel. Since angels represent meaning of what this creation refers to, there are endless angels at every moment carrying duties for various tasks. Example: angel of death (Rafael) is giving news of death with every passing moment. Day died and transformed into night. Winter is the sign of death which will be followed by Spring carrying the news of resurrection. Hence, Gabriel represents endless meaning that creation refers to based on one’s capacity.
- Angels are always manifesting acts of creation speaking to my consciousness/awareness.
81:15 “But nay! I call to witness the revolving stars”
The Speaker is encouraging you to get evidence from the universe, so we can understand who It is.
Your duty: Observe creation, get emotionally engaged with it and conclude that the Speaker in this verse is the One that creates the phenomenon that I am made to observe. In this case, the revolving stars are a witness to its Creator.
81:16 “the planets that run their course and set”
Relate the moments of the stars to your feelings. That needs awareness. Emotional engagement with creation is a must to come to a conclusion. At night, we see everything in the sky. What are your feelings about the demonstrations out there? Watch the stars twinkle or night transforms into day (sunrise) and get emotionally engaged with creation and its Creator: “I worship this One that brings in night. I have to declare that He is my Lord.”
81:17 “and the night as it darkens”
The Creator of the universe is always in action. It is my Creator and knows what is happening in my feelings. At night, I may feel gloomy because the day vanished and I feel hopeless. Relate your feelings to the Creatorship of your Lord. That is how my Creator is introducing Itself to me and giving me satisfaction in my existence that I belong to It. Be with the Creator.
81:18 “and the morning when it breathes”
The new demonstration of the Creator is then followed by the creation of the morning. Creation brings messages to us. Anything that brings message to you about not what you physically observe but intellectually conclude (ghaib or Absolute). Every act of creation is a messenger carrying meaning pointing to ghaib.
81: 19 “Truly this is the word brought by a noble messenger.”
The Quran was revealed to a man who was the most qualified to convey and display this message in human form.
81: 20 “Possessing great strength, securely placed with the Lord of the Throne.”
Lord of the Throne refers to the Lord of the universe. Since I am always seeing the demonstration of the arts, Lord of the universe is always manifesting His qualities to me. No one can ever break that relationship between the act and its Actor. I cannot even create any of my emotions; I only use them by choosing any of them at a time.
81:21 “All the messengers are trustworthy.”
Since the message is not different from what I observe in creation, the messengers are trustworthy. In other words, creation is taking place is such a clear way that there is no way to miss the message. There is no way to misunderstand the art in creation or what the message points to.
81:22 “and your fellow man is not insane.”
The man (as per verse 19) who conveyed this message seems to be not contradicting to that which I observe in creation as far as the message is concerned. In other words, this message does not contradict the act that I am seeing here.