Ahl al-Bayt and their spiritual dignity

The Holy Prophet was light that is the same truth which was luminous in all aspects and gave light to all others. He knew the entire truth inwardly and outwardly and was eagerly willing to make others aware of the truth of their existence and their relation with the outward and inward of universe.

This is the meaning of light as mentioned by theosophists:

Light is a quality, being manifest by itself, and revealer of other things.[1]

Based on many authentic narrations, Allah created the light of Mu¦ammad (¥) before all creatures and then created other truths of light, intellect, spirit, and material from the rays of this light and removed the veil of darkness from the face of all creatures thanks to the blessing of his light. Actually, Allah made him a medium of realization between Him and all creatures. Based on the Holy Qur’¡n (33:46), the Holy Prophet describes himself as the sun:

أنَا الشَّمْسُ.

I am the sun[2]

What a wonderful comparison! The sun is the origin and source of solar system. All the planets of solar system depend on the sun. There was a time when Mars, the Earth, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto were parts of the sun. When Allah willed to create the solar system in its present-day form, a big explosion occurred in the sun and with a series of actions and reactions, the parts which had been separated were placed at a distance on a special orbit. Presently, they are all under the attraction of the sun and illuminated by the sun.

Likewise, the light of the Holy Prophet is created before all other creatures and due to Allah’s will, all truths emanate from that source of light manifesting themselves on the earth thanks to the light of Mu¦ammad (¥).

Just as the planets of the solar system are the same as the sun but in a different shape and, on the words of philosophers, in a state of reduced individuation, so also are the heavenly creatures reduced individuation of the light of the Holy Prophet. In this relation, the Holy Prophet has been reported as saying:

أنَا الشَّمْسُ، وَعَلِيٌّ الْقَمَرُ، وَفَاطِمَةُ الزُّهْرَةُ، وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ الْفَرْقَدَانِ.

I am the sun, `Al¢ the moon, F¡§imah Venus, °asan and °usayn two stars.[3]

In this narration, this comparison made by the Holy Prophet, who is the most eloquent speaker, shows the wonderful nature of the narrations comparing a spiritual truth to a physical issue to make it known for all that firstly the truth of Mu¦ammad (¥) is nearer to Allah than the rays to the sun and secondly Mu¦ammad (¥) is a medium for realization of all creatures which are indebted to him but he has a claim on all creatures for material and spiritual rights.

And obey Allah and the Apostle, that you may be shown mercy (3:132)

And know that whatever thing you gain, a fifth of it is for Allah and for the Apostle… (8:41)

The ownership of all blessings belongs to the Holy Prophet by the permission of Allah. Yet we benefit from the blessings he gives us. Hence, we should pay him what is due to him and the profit of what we give returns to ourselves thanks to the favor and generosity of the Holy Prophet

Say: Whatever reward I have asked you, that is only for yourselves… (34:47)

Pen

Pen in the aforementioned narration means a truth which determines all spiritual and inward (esoteric) affairs and registers happiness, guidance and favors, and spread mercy for the world nations with the hand of Allah’s will.

Pen, in one sense, is the truth of Mu¦ammad (¥) by whom Allah has sworn in the Holy Qur’¡n:

N£n; I swear by the pen and what the angels write. (68:1)

Pen, in another sense, is the mission of the Holy Prophet who determines the happiness and prosperity of anyone who has the merit and spreads mercy for the nations with its guidance and binding laws:

And we have not sent you but as a mercy to the world. (21:107)

Intellect

Intellect, in its primary meaning, is the truth of Mu¦ammad (¥) who is not only the first creature but also the most-loved by Allah:

وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلألِي، مَا خَلَقْتُ خَلْقاً هُوَ أحَبُّ إلَيَّ مِنْكَ.

By my Glory and honor (I swear), I have not created anyone more loved to Me than you.[4]

Now that the narrations have introduced the Holy Prophet as the dearest and most-loved by Allah, why should we not regard intellect, the most-loved creature, as the Holy Prophet himself? He is indeed the universal intelligence; and all the signs of intellect and intelligence which are the most positive and useful phenomena in universe manifest themselves in the Holy Prophet.

Spirit

Spirit, based on the Holy Qur’¡n, is from the realm of ‘Command’ which comes to existence with the word ‘be’ and not from the position of creation which is the origin of material elements:

Surely, His is the creation and the command. (7:54)

The spirit whose truth is not known for anyone is the outcome of Divine decree and comes into existence with the word ‘Be’:

And when He decrees an affair, He only says to it, Be, so there it is. (2:117)

ﯮ  ﯯ  ﯰﯱ  ﯲ  ﯳ  ﯴ  ﯵ  ﯶ    …

And they ask you about the soul (spirit). Say: the soul is one of the commands of my Lord… (17:85)

Spirit is Allah’s first creature as has been mentioned by the Holy Prophet:

أوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ رُوحِي.

The first thing Allah created was my spirit.

The Holy Prophet wishes to make himself be understood by others with different expressions according to people’s capacity. That is why, on one occasion, he says:

أوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ النُّورُ.

The first thing Allah created was light.

On another occasion, he says:

أوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ القَلَمُ.

The first thing Allah created was pen.

On other occasions, he says:

أوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ العَقْلُ.

The first thing Allah created was intellect.

Or,

أوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ نُورِي.

The first thing Allah created was my light.

And,

أوَّلُ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ رُوحِي.

The first thing Allah created was my spirit.

With this explanation, we conclude that there is a unity in meaning among light, pen, intellect, and spirit which refer to one truth—the truth of Mu¦ammad (¥). Therefore, Allah created the truth of Mu¦ammad (¥) consisting of light, pen, intellect, and spirit directly from His own light and created other beings for his sake. In this relation, Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s) says:

خَلَقَ اللهُ الْمَشِيئَةَ بِنَفْسِهَا ثُمَّ خَلَقَ الأشْيَاءَ بِالْمَشِيئَةِ.

Allah created the Divine decree by itself and then created all beings by means of the Divine decree.

That is to say, Allah created the Divine decree which is another name for the light of Mu¦ammad (¥) without any medium and then created other beings from the light of Mu¦ammad (¥). Without the light of Mu¦ammad (¥) which is an expanded Grace, no relationship between the Creator and the created is possible. Therefore, the manifestation of Allah and the light of His perfect beauty is the Grace of Mu¦ammad (¥) and the intuitive decree and the light of the Holy Prophet as mentioned in the following narration:

إنَّ اللهَ خَلَقَ الْعَقْلَ، وَهُوَ أوَّلُ خَلْقٍِ مِنَ الرُّوحَانِيِّينَ، مِنْ يَمِينِ الْعَرْشِ مِنْ نُورِهِ.

Allah created intellect and it was the first of spiritual creatures to be made from His light on the right side of the throne.[5]