Section Al A’raf – Part 6

Part 6, A’raf

Prophetic stories are psychological analysis of the self, i.e., what is going on in our lives here.  Prophet Adam mentioned in scripture is me, the angels are me, even Iblis is what is going on within me.  One side of me is in Paradise, and I have an option to get out of Paradise.

7:13 “God said, Then get down from this state! It is not for you to be arrogant here. So get out! You are truly one of the disgraced.”

Iblis made a comparison between the body of Adam and its own substance.  When you make this type of comparison, then you end up comparing the material side of existence.  It is like a bird telling an ant that it can fly and walk, so it is better.  Similarly, a human being telling a bird that they are bigger than them, so  they are better.  These are all False Comparisons!  We must understand that the value of the human being is not from the body but from the spirit (human potentialities) they have received from God’s spirit.  When Iblis evaluates the human being as a material substance/body only and makes this comparison with the human body, then this view of Iblis turns the universe into matter.  Just as a scientist views the universe in a way that reduces existence to matter only or its qualities are originating from within the universe.  This is an essential subject, and we must keep reminding each other to watch out for the interpretations of certain scientists.  Not everyone prescribes materialist views, but some people are prevalent in the media.  These kinds of  scientists respect creations, what we refer to as the Angelic side.  The Angelic side is the human spirit or the meaningful side of the universe, which is a manifestation of the qualities of its Creator.  Not everyone has this clear picture, unfortunately.  

How is human analysis going on here?

Every figure/personality in the Quran is representing one aspect of the human being.  Example: I have the option of making the same claim as Pharaoh: “I exist by myself, I am an independent being, I am not responsible before a higher authority, that is how I am created, and I found myself like this.”  This Pharaonic option is always open for us.  God says, get out of this state, when Iblis took this attitude: “It is not for you to be arrogant.”  Being arrogant and being in the presence of God CANNOT happen concurrently at the same time.  Either you be in the presence of God or choose another way.  What does being in the presence of God represent?  Realizing that I am a created being, and someone is taking care of me.  When I look at a tree for example, I see manifestations of its Creator.  As far as the universe is created, what does the presence of God represent?  What do we see that demonstrates the presence of God?  

Some comments:

• My feelings demonstrate the presence of God in me.
• The universe cannot be from itself.  My thoughts about the Source of existence, my level of the awareness of God is its presence for me.
• The order that is taking place in a perfectly harmonious way.

The status of Paradise is what exists, and the status of Hell is all the non-existence, Iblistic claims, gathered in Hell.  It sounds as if Hell does not exist for it represents non-existent human needs.  Example: if I deny the Creator and say that the universe happens to be like this by itself (not everyone claims that but some), does it represent anything that there is something that exists by itself in the universe?  No.  We do not see anything existing by itself, nothing can create itself.  That is the human reason.  But they cover it up by saying that we found the universe like this working, and we are trying to understand how it works.  This is just an excuse because materialist scientists do not have any substantial answer to explain how the universe came into existence.  Think about it, does anything in the universe have any quality by itself?  This aspect of existence they do not touch upon it, like the magicians of Pharaoh.  They can play with the words.

Now, the claim that the universe exists by itself, or that things have the qualities to exist by themselves (nature), so nature will go to Hell taking its followers with it.  But nature does not exist really, the universe exists.  There is no natural power and independent acting law that governs the universe.  The independent acting laws (as it may seem) are nothing but how the order of the universe works, that is the way the universe is coming into existence.  The way of coming into existence does not have an independent existence by itself.  The deniers’ way is a trick of playing with the words.  If nature does not exist, then how can it end up in Hell?  We must understand the concept of Hell and Fire to understand what Paradise really represents and appreciate it.  That is, Iblis and his claims (ideas) are sent out of Paradise i.e., Hell.  Hell means non-existence of any baseless claims like nature.  What does it have to do with me?  If I say that I am the product of nature and nature provides everything that I benefit from, then these are all natural things.  And we just proved earlier that natural things or laws do not have their own existence.  If I endorse this idea, then God tells me to be careful as He will send me to Hell, where I can get what I need from nature.  But there is no nature.  That is the psychological situation of the person who confirms and believes in nature.  This person will be out of Paradise, and he will have nothing because nature cannot give him anything, as there is no such thing as “nature”.  This psychological state of existence is represented in the Quran as “Hell”.  Like a hungry person experiencing hunger and not having anything to satisfy her/his hunger. Lack of food for her/him represents “Hell-like existence. Bringing the “fire of the world” and putting it into Hell contradicts the teachings of Islam, because in Islam, the Paradise and Hell in next creation cannot be describable with anything of this world, but we may make analogies between fire and living tree with its fruits.  Fire consumes and represents the source of non-existence. But in the universe/existence, there is no non-existence.  If someone does not confirm the truth, s/he will be left with nothing.  That is, you will try to satisfy yourself with non-existence.  Let’s stay, you are hungry, and you will be eating non-existent food.  Can you imagine that?  There is no satisfaction in it.  That is why the Quran says that they will be given something which will increase their needs, thirst, and hunger because they will try to feed themselves with non-existent things that they imagined in this world. They will realize their hunger and needs more and more.  May God protect us from such a situation!  If we do not want to be in this position, which is a human desire, then we must be careful with what we are following.  Am I following reality or the false imaginations?  False imagination is arrogance, otherwise I say: “I am a created being, and I am not the Creator.”  All the values that I have are from my Creator, not from me.  If I claim that they are my property, then I will get nothing because He will say to get down from this arrogant attitude.  And as far as my feelings are concerned now, I will get no security and satisfaction in my existence.  With this attitude, death is treated as non-existence, and that is a fall.  We get treated as we deserve, and they will be treated according to what they believe in, that is justice.  Example: if someone comes to you and asks for food, you just give it to them.  Children are cute when they take the food saying that it is theirs and you did not give it to them. However, if a grown up does the same thing, would you want to give it to him/her again?  No!  You are an ungrateful arrogant person!  That is what the Quran is analyzing, our psychological side.  Get out from my presence means to get out from My presence for you will be dealt and treated with non-existence.  The Qur’an describes this situation in Hell as ‘go there and(6: 22) ask what you believed in the world that provided your needs, they will give you, not Me. The nature worshippers will realize that there is nothing as “nature” really exists.’ “When We gather them all together and say to those who claimed anything other than God as the creator, ‘Where are those gods you used to imagine to exist?’” (6: 22)  May God protect us from this state!  

We must be cautious of not falling into this state and always watch out for ourselves.  Be careful not to fall into imaginary, artificial worlds, non-existent things.  Example: If I have this item, I will be happy.  You can have it, but your real human happiness only lies in and depends on your understanding of the One who gives it to you.  This One is the Absolute Being.  We must be serious about this!  It is not a joke, if my Creator tells me to get out of His presence, it means that I will be left with nothing.  Apart from the Source of existence of this universe, nothing can create anything.  No one can show us and demonstrate/prove that something of this universe has the power to create. People can claim anything.  Here I am and everything here needs to be created.  All that you will experience in your life is “lack of” what you need.  To be Iblis or an unbeliever (kafir) is a serious matter.  You must decide.  Some people are making propaganda by publicly denying the existence of a Creator.  Those people deserve it.  While other people watch them and say that they are giving a scientific explanation, they must know something as opposed to the religious people who talk about things that they cannot relate to.  But still they attend the sermons in the religious places and become part of the company declaring that I am one of them.  And then there are people who do not question anything, regardless, we should not judge anyone.  We must look for a serious explanation of our reality.

That is why we must study the Quran as a serious matter, and it must be part of our life and we must study it as much as we can.  We must spare our time to be always busy with the Quran.  As we are reading here the story of Adam, we find out our reality that we should not live in an imaginary world, and make an analysis or plan for our life that we are going to get satisfaction from this world, such as I have my honor and I will get my respect if I have this or wear this so that I can have value in the eyes of the people.  That is Iblistic.  We must try to gain value in the eye of my Creator, my Owner, I want to be in His presence, I want my Creator to treat me with His capacity as a Creator. It means that anything that I need to satisfy my human expectations, I must trust Him to provide it for me because only He can, and He is the Creator of my needs.  That is what haqqul yaqeen means, God is the creator of the truth.  In other words, belief in God is reality and unbelief is denying the reality.  If someone is consciously aware of the reality and denies it, the s/he ends up in Hell.

Comment: Can it be said that because of the perception Satan has that the fire is greater than clay, he chose to leave God’s presence rather than being kicked out.

By claiming arrogance, making comparisons in terms of matter, rather than in terms of the reality of the matter, by doing this, automatically it is out of God’s presence.   As soon as it makes the comparison at a material level, he is automatically out of the presence of God, because he is in an area where existence does not happen.  Only in the presence of God, existence can happen.  Only if God wills the things can exist.  If the Creator does not will, nothing can exist by itself.

7:14 “He appealed, Then delay my end until the Day of resurrection”

According to you and I, the day of resurrection is our death. Iblis wants this imaginary attitude to linger on me until I die.  Iblis represents the non-existence side of my options and asks this option to be delayed until the day of resurrection.  I am not waiting for my death, which is my day of resurrection.  The universe has nothing to do with me at that point.  Don’t be scared of death, when we die, everything will collapse, and we will realize nothing can stay on its own.  The One who created the outside world will take care of it. I should not concern myself with that, rather, my concern is my responsibility, and we are mostly self-deluded in this sense.  The verse is pointing out that I have the choice to pick this self-deluded false option, where I am indirectly asking God for a request to let me live with my false imaginations, and God says that you are delayed until the appointed day (waiting for a certain day and you will see the result of your choice). 

7:15 “God said, you are delayed until the appointed Day.”

It is as if God speaks to me and says to be careful as this option will be with me until I die.  Until when you get old, yes, until your soul leaves your body, this option will be with you until you die.  This alludes to taking care of our personal responsibility that we find ourselves with in our existence.  It is not talking about something unrelated to us and we should not externalize the message in this verse.

At the same time, the Quran teaches me that even what Iblis represents, happens with my permission.  It cannot continue and sustain its existence by itself.  Nothing can sustain its existence by itself.  Although Iblis represents nothingness, this option will remain with me until I exist, because my human reality requires it.  In other words, I am created in such a way where my qualities can only operate by making comparisons.  Thanks to the Mercy of the Creator, the truth and falsehoods are easily distinguishable and contradictory to each other.  There is no way to confuse existence (truth/Paradise) with non-existence (false/Hell).  Angels represent complete obedience and Iblis represents complete disobedience.  That is what it means by fallen Angels, we should understand these representations well, so that we do not get caught up with literal meanings of concepts and teachings here.

We just have the option of confirming the truth or the false.  Example: 2+2=4 is correct, all other options (2+2= 3, 2+2= 9…) are wrong.  As long as 2+2=4 equation exists, within its own existence it denies all the other options.  The difference between 4 and any other number is infinite, just as the distance between 0 and 1 is infinite, because 0 represents the non-existence of 1, and 1 represents the rejection of the existence of 0.  The distance is infinite, similarly the existence of God is 100%, and the claim of anything to have the power to create is infinitely 0.  That is how the blessing of God is.  For me as an option, they exist at the same time.  That is what it implies about being given permission until the time is up in this world (i.e., when I die).  Also, Satan asks permission from God means that even the status of existence can be possible by the Creator of the universe.  Nothing else can plan this kind of existence at all.  Furthermore, we are prone to delaying things, let me wait until my baby grow, or until I get that job, or let me reply to this video… excuses upon excuses.  Asking for delay in starting a good action is Iblistic, it has no reality, and I am cheating myself.  We must be careful!  It is a very serious subject, and we must ask God to help us here.

7:16 “And then Iblis said, because You have put me in the wrong, I will lie in ambush for them all on Your straight path:”

If something happens that we don’t like, and if we are not appreciated for something despite being wrong, we only want to hear the good words.  Example: John, you are a good person.  In other words, no one likes to be confronted with his/her own mistakes.  Nowadays, the self-interested, ego-centered attitude is prevalent everywhere.  Example: I am the best and no one can tell me my mistakes.  I am the perfect man.  This is what an individualistic society is about.  The prevalent civilization is such that no one accepts their faults and mistakes.  It is scary to tell someone that they are doing something wrong because the defensive side comes right away.  Iblis does not say that I deviated myself from the right attitude, rather it says that you put me in the wrong.  That is the reality of this civilization.  Example: Why does God allow war to happen, allow killing or permit wrongdoings?  We do not criticize people who are producing weapons and they must sell to make money.  They produce in such a way that nations will fight.  No one blames the Iblis there.  No one blames the Iblistic attitude of the nation state idea.  How about the Nationalistic ideas, who is feeding that?  Why is your religion based on Nationalistic idea?  That is racism!  The point here is that no one blames the industries that produce goods that can harm people, rather they blame God.

Iblis represents any attitude that blames the Creator while doing something wrong.  What is wrong is so obvious?!  Don’t you see the smell in rotten food telling you not to eat it?!  Everything is a reminder for you for your goodness and betterment.  Why do you say that it is horrible?

• We must be thankful and try to see the wisdom in things.  

Example: if there was no winter, we would always have summer and there would be no harvest.
Example: what a nasty weather?!
Example: what a hectic day?!

Rather, everything is created by God with His Mercy who is reminding you of who you are, which kind of creature you are, what is expected of you, and how do you need to communicate with the Creator, seek refuge with the evil that you see and be thankful with the good that you are happy with.  That is how we are trained here.  Without saying lailaha (things cannot happen by itself), you cannot say illallah (there must be a Creator).  If something cannot create itself, then it must have a Creator.  You must start with observing that this thing cannot happen by itself, so what is its source of existence then?  That is how our reality acts and functions.

When I start blaming God for my faults, selfish, arrogant attitude saying that something bad is created here (ultimately it means that the Creator has done something bad), I will lose my path.  Iblistic side knows that something is wrong, and I cannot claim that I did not know that it was wrong, and that I did not know that the thing does not exist by itself.  As if my Creator did not give me enough tools to realize the reality and accuse Him that “You did not give me the opportunity to acknowledge with the necessary tools.  I did not have my mind, consciousness, feelings.  That is why I did not acknowledge you.”  Sirat-al-mustaqeem (straight path) is known to me, it is known to Iblis, too, but arrogance is the problem.

We must take this example for me and say that when I blame God, it is not out of innocence, especially for my mistakes.  Example: why did He give me the option of choosing wrong?  I should only have one option to choose right, just as everyone should only have one option of not cheating each other, not killing each other…  As if I should have no choice, then wouldn’t I be a robot?!  Would you like to be a robot?  No.  Yet you are asking for not to have any choices.  Example: you are on the highway, and asking to have no exit, just keep driving straight, there should be no accident, lack of gas and nothing wrong.  So, why do you exist?  You are doing nothing.  If you are a robot, you cannot say that something is beautiful because you have no option of comparing it to ugliness.  In that position, you will be aware of the existence of nothing.  Hence, blaming God is not an innocent attitude that this verse tells me.  Deliberately denying God, Atheistic ideas, using sarcastic language and psychological manipulation are the path to Iblistic views. 

Again, we must be careful of these ideas.  To deviate people from the right path, one must know what is right.  The minimum necessity of denying is that one must know what the truth is, and then he can deny it.  If you do not know, then you cannot deny it because you are ignorant.  Ignorance is not denial; it is not being aware of what someone is doing.  Denial is to be aware of what someone is doing.