Verse 117 of Surah Al-Baqarah, like a radiant jewel in the vast ocean of the Holy Qur'an, elucidates the unity of divine actions and the boundless power of God. This verse, by referencing God's innovation in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the realisation of the divine command with the word Be (Kun), encompasses profound and multilayered concepts. From theological, philosophical, and mystical perspectives, these concepts open a window towards understanding the wisdom of creation and the role of divine names in the existential transformation of humanity and society. The verse under discussion, due to its conciseness and expansive meanings, presents challenges in interpretation and explanation that require a novel approach aligned with modern sciences. This treatise, by aggregating lecture content and scientific analyses, undertakes a refined and systematic rewriting of this exegesis, endeavouring to convey all details and meanings with precision and comprehensiveness. The structure of this work is organised to be insightful and engaging for educated audiences and researchers in religious and philosophical domains.
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
The Originator of the heavens and the earth. And when He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
This verse, with few words, contains immense truths. Like a slippery fish that escapes from the hand, whenever an attempt is made to condense and explain its meanings, it simultaneously manifests itself anew. This attribute, described in Islamic mysticism as the inexpressibility (La Yousaf) of transcendent truths, indicates the difficulty in comprehending and articulating this verse.
Many truths within this verse transcend the bounds of traditional philosophy. This modernity underscores the necessity of reconstructing religious sciences to enable dialogue in the language of modern science with physicists, chemists, and psychologists. The verse, with its encompassing context, possesses the capacity for scientific manoeuvre on a global scale and could be introduced as the most scientific verse of the Holy Qur'an.
Traditional philosophy, taught in religious academic centres, due to its focus on theological concepts and lack of connection with empirical sciences, has failed to explain verses such as verse 117. This philosophy, relying on notions such as identity and the essence of existence, has been excluded from scientific dialogue with physics, chemistry, and psychology and has remained limited to a rudimentary and general approach.
A philosophy that can harmonise with modern sciences must facilitate the exchange of ideas between philosophers and empirical scientists. This philosophy, employing scientific frameworks, can aid in better comprehension of Qur'anic verses and reveal their complex and modern meanings. Such an approach not only assists in explaining verse 117 but also positions religion as a pioneer in global scientific dialogue.
Critiquing traditional philosophy and advocating for the development of scientific philosophy is a foundational step towards deeper understanding of Qur'anic verses. This transformation, by creating a link between religious and empirical sciences, paves the way for the discovery of the modern truths of the Holy Qur'an.
The term Badi, one of the divine names, signifies absolute and unparalleled innovation. Unlike Rab, which refers to part of a season (spring), Badi is free from any form of division. This word applies both to the agent (mubdi, innovator) and the object (mubda, newly created entity). In verse 117, Badi means the innovator, as its object (the heavens and the earth) is explicitly mentioned.
Unlike intrinsic names, Badi is an active name of God indicating the act of innovation. It belongs to the category of beautiful names, as divine innovation occurs without prerequisite or reaction to the acts of creation. This characteristic distinguishes it from the majestic names (such as Qati and Qami), which imply divine reactions to the deeds of creatures.
The object of Badi in the verse is the heavens and the earth, clearly identified as the created entity (mubda). This explicitness confines the meaning of Badi to the innovator and reduces ambiguity in its interpretation. This syntactic structure emphasises the absolute power of God in the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Recitation of O Badi, especially when accompanied by harmonious divine names like Latif (Gentle), Karim (Generous), and Wadud (Loving), acts as a spiritual talisman capable of softening even the hardest hearts. This invocation is recommended for alleviating psychological ailments, obsession, and mental limitations. In practical mysticism, it is recognised as an instrument for existential transformation. The saints, by means of these talismans, have even subdued wild creatures and defiant humans.
Badi, as an active and beautiful divine name, opens a window to understanding Gods limitless power and the role of divine names in the existential transformation of humanity. This name, together with its object (the heavens and the earth), emphasises Gods absolute innovation, and its invocation serves as a pathway for the reform of the self and society.
