The Context of the Testimony Verse and the Friends of God

This critique emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive and unified understanding of the verses of the Qur'an. The verse of testimony, with its inherent universality, guides the seeker toward the perception of unity within multiplicity, refuting any incomplete interpretations. The verse of testimony is situated within the context of preceding verses (Aal-e-Imran: 14-17), which address the allure of worldly desires, the piety of the believers, their patience, truthfulness, and their seeking forgiveness during the night hours. This context, like a fertile ground, prepares the friends of God for the receipt of divine testimony. Seeking forgiveness in the early hours is a sign of purity and liberation from worldly attachments, leading the seeker to the station of testimony and monotheism. Prior verses speak of the adornments of the world (such as women, children, and wealth), and then allude to the beautiful return to God. This contrast guides the seeker away from worldly attachments towards piety, patience, and forgiveness, so that ultimately, in the early morning hours, they attain the vision of monotheism. The verse of testimony, in this context, represents the peak of the perfection of the friends of God, who, through seeking forgiveness in the darkness of the night, have found the light of monotheism.

Conditions for Testimony in Monotheism

The testimony in regard to monotheism requires four fundamental conditions that distinguish it from mere knowledge:

• Perceptual Observation: The testimony must be based on direct observation, not merely knowledge or certainty. A testimony without perception is not accepted at this level, as in the Divine court, the witness must testify to what they have seen.
• Endurance: The witness must possess the capacity to endure the perception. This endurance serves as a vessel that accommodates the truth of the vision.
• Justice (Q'imn Bil-Qist): The witness must be just and committed to equity, meaning they must seek nothing but the truth in their testimony and avoid falsehood.
• Declaring the Truth and Denying Falsehood: The testimony must aim to affirm the truth and negate falsehood, as the witness, through their testimony, reveals the truth and obliterates falsehood.

God, the angels, and the people of knowledge all possess these conditions. God, through the vision of His own essence, the endurance of the truth, the establishment of justice, and the declaration of truth while negating falsehood, testifies to His oneness. The angels and the people of knowledge, as manifestations of the truth, also testify to the unity of the Divine with these same conditions.

Justice as a Descriptor of the Witness's Action

In the verse of testimony, "Q'imn Bil-Qist" is a state attributed to the witnesses (God, the angels, and the people of knowledge), rather than an intrinsic part of the testimony itself. This attribute indicates justice and equity in the testimony of all existence. When the truth is established upon justice, all of existence follows suit, as all manifestations act in accordance with justice in their testimony to unity. This attribute is like a light that illuminates all of existence with the radiance of justice. "Q'imn Bil-Qist" is not only an attribute of God but also an attribute of all His manifestations, who, through their verbal and practical testimonies, attest to the oneness of the Divine.

Apparent Multiplicity and Inner Unity

In the station of monotheism, all of existence, from God to the angels, the people of knowledge, and even the stones and clay, testify to the unity of the Divine, both in speech and action. This testimony encompasses all levels of being (essence, attributes, and actions) and signifies monotheism in all aspects of existence. God, with all His divine names (such as Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Al-Majid, etc.), testifies to His oneness. The angels, free from disobedience, and the people of knowledge, encompassing all creatures, also testify to this unity. Key Point: The testimony of all of existence to the unity of the Divine demonstrates an inner unity amidst apparent multiplicity, bringing all manifestations into the container of unity. This testimony aligns with the general principle of glorification found in the Qur'an (Surah Hashr, 59:1: "Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies God"), wherein all creatures participate in the glorification and unity of the Divine. The stone, clay, and everything in existence proclaim, through their being, "There is no god but He."

Apparent Multiplicity and Inner Unity (Continued)

The testimony of God, the angels, and the people of knowledge seemingly illustrates multiplicity; however, in essence, all of these are manifestations of the Divine, and their testimony is to the unity of the Divine. This apparent multiplicity does not disrupt the oneness of God but rather reinforces it, as all of existence, in the vision of monotheism, ultimately returns to the unity of the Divine. This principle is akin to a mirror, reflecting the multiplicity of manifestations in the light of unity. The testimony of God, which includes all His divine names, is a form of multiplicity in the realm of manifestation, yet this multiplicity, in the testimony of "There is no god but He," ultimately returns to the essential unity of the Divine. The angels and the people of knowledge, as manifestations of the Divine, testify to the same unity.

Critique of Singular Interpretations and Incomplete Understandings

Some commentators reduce the concept of monotheism to a form of singularity (individualism), arguing that the mention of angels and the people of knowledge introduces multiplicity, thus undermining the concept of unity. This perspective, much like obscuring the sun of truth with a veil of ignorance, reduces the collective monotheism to an incomplete individualism. Monotheism is comprehensive and inclusive, while apparent multiplicity in manifestations does not invalidate inner unity. Singularism is a lesser stage of monotheism that cannot express the fullness of collective monotheism. This critique highlights the distinction between collective monotheism and individualistic interpretations. Monotheism encompasses all of existence in the vision of unity, whereas individualism limits itself to singularity and ignores the multiplicity of manifestations.

Critique of Incomplete Mystical Interpretations

Some mystical interpretations, such as those concerning the stories of Hadrat Abd al-Azim Hasani or Borujerdi, reduce monotheism to superficial asceticism or the denial of manifestations. These perspectives, which for instance consider gazing upon greenery or a ring as a cause of distraction, deviate from the Qur'anic understanding of mysticism. True monotheism is not found in negating manifestations but in seeing everything as a manifestation of the Divine. The green leaves of trees are, like a book, inscribed with the verses of monotheism upon their pages. This critique emphasizes the superiority of Qur'anic mysticism over incomplete mystical interpretations. The verse of testimony, with its universality, expresses monotheism at its highest level and guides the seeker towards the vision of unity in all manifestations.