The Holy Quran, like a profound ocean, presents divine knowledge to humanity in the form of clear and guiding verses. Verse 54 of Surah Al-Arf is one of these luminous jewels, which succinctly and deeply delineates the system of creation. This verse, with an emphasis on Gods lordship and divinity, calls humans to contemplate the reality of monotheism and their existential relationship with the Creator. In this treatise, relying on mystical lectures and deep reflections on this verse, an attempt has been made to elucidate the concepts of lordship and divinity in a coherent and lucid manner. This work, adopting a mystical viewpoint while firmly grounded in the text of the Holy Quran, opens a pathway towards understanding the truth of existence and the human position within the cosmic order.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself upon the Throne. He covers the night with the day, pursuing it rapidly; and the sun, the moon, and the stars are subject to His command. Be aware that creation and command belong to Him. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all worlds.
Verse 54 of Surah Al-Arf, like a golden key, opens a gateway to understanding the system of creation. This verse, in a brief yet profound manner, depicts the absolute divine sovereignty over the universe. The creation of the heavens and the earth, God's dominion over the Throne, the order of night and day, and the celestial bodiesall testify to the lordship and divinity of God. This verse invites humanity to transcend dispersion amidst the details of creation and to focus on the reality of monotheism, namely Rabbukum Allah. This phrase, like a radiant light, guides the seeker towards divine knowledge, and understanding it alone suffices to comprehend the entire system of existence.
From a mystical perspective, Rabb refers to a lordship akin to a compassionate father, present alongside humans and within the core of all things. This presence is neither a blending with creatures (لا بالممازجه) nor a separation from them (لا بالمفارقه), but rather a presence that educates and guides the human being at every moment. In contrast, Allah is like a lofty summit, encompassing all divine names and attributes in His transcendent essence, beyond the direct reach of human perception. This distinction does not imply duality but serves as a means to better understand the relationship between humans and God. Rabb is the near and tangible God who provides for human needs, from water and bread to knowledge and guidance; whereas Allah is the comprehensive truth embracing all perfect attributes.
Although Rabb and Allah are presented distinctly in the Quranic discourse, in reality, they are manifestations of the singular divine essence. Mystics such as Ibn Arabi assert that all divine attributes are manifestations of the one essence, and their differentiation exists only to accommodate human limited comprehension. When the Quran states Inna Rabbakumul Allah, it directs humanity towards the reality that their Lord is the transcendent divine essence encompassing all existence and needing no intermediary or superfluous detail.
This section, by elucidating the concepts of lordship and divinity, invites humans to reflect on their close yet transcendent relationship with God. Rabb, like an accessible light, guides humanity, and Allah, like an unsetting sun, encompasses all existence. This apparent duality is, in essence, a unity leading humans towards monotheism and divine knowledge.
One of the prominent aspects of this interpretation is its emphasis on returning to the Quranic text and liberating oneself from the complexities of religious sciences. Many exegeses, by immersing in unnecessary details, have distanced from the inner truth of the verses. This lecture, with a mystical outlook, invites humans to concentrate on the principle of monotheism and the phrase Rabbukum Allah, warning against dispersion into peripheral discussions.
Some religious discussions, by delving into details such as Ptolemaic cosmology, the Throne, the Footstool, and planets, have deviated from the reality of monotheism and led the seekers mind into fragmentation. This interpretation regards such discussions as superfluous and holds that understanding divine reality does not require such complexities. This perspective, like a cool breeze, clears the mind from the dust of details and directs it towards the singular truth.
This section, through a mystical critique of religious sciences, underscores the importance of returning to the essence of monotheism and freeing oneself from needless complications. The Quran, with clear and guiding expression, directs humanity towards divine knowledge, and this interpretation facilitates this path by focusing on Rabbukum Allah.
In this interpretation, the invocation Ya Allah is introduced as a golden key that opens the doors to divine knowledge. This invocation liberates the individual from dispersion among other names and attributes such as Rahman, Rahim, or Kareem, and directs them towards the transcendent divine essence. Mystics like Rumi have considered this invocation a direct path to the singular truth, freeing the seeker from reliance on any intermediary.
This lecture, with profound expression, emphasises that by recognising Rabbukum Allah, the individual becomes independent of everything else, whether material attachments or even spiritual intermediaries. This view, like a clear mirror, reflects the truth of monotheism wherein nothing but the divine essence holds importance. This independence does not negate spiritual values but invites concentration on the singular truth and liberation from dispersion.
This section, by emphasising the invocation Ya Allah as the path to divine knowledge, leads humans towards the truth of monotheism. This invocation, like a brilliant light, illuminates the seekers path and liberates them from dispersion in details and attachments.
One of the most beautiful expressions in this interpretation is that God is alone, but does not leave humanity alone. This statement, like a radiant gem, depicts divine mercy and lordship. God, in His essence, is unique and self-sufficient, yet through lordship, He bestows His grace upon creatures and accompanies humans on the path of guidance.
Humanity is like a clear mirror reflecting divine attributes, and God is like the source of light manifesting these attributes. This distinction does not imply separation but expresses the existential relationship between human and God. By contemplating this manifestation, humans can access the truth of monotheism and see themselves reflected in the divine essence.
This section, highlighting divine mercy and human manifestation, portrays a deep existential relationship between humans and God. Although God is solitary in His essence, He grants humanity unlimited grace and guides them towards knowledge and guidance.
This interpretation, rejecting complex discussions about details of creation such as Ptolemaic cosmology or the Throne and Footstool, invites humanity to concentrate on the truth of monotheism. Verse 54 of Surah Al-Arf, by describing the creation of heavens and earth and the order of night and day, emphasises absolute divine sovereignty; however, this lecture refers these details back to the principle Rabbukum Allah.
The system of creation is founded upon divine justice and mercy. This verse, by mentioning creation and the cosmic order, unites these two aspects in the concept of lordship. Divine justice is manifest in reward and punishment, and His mercy in bestowing grace upon creatures, both beautifully depicted in this verse.
This section, emphasising divine order and independence from creations details, invites humans to reflect on the truth of monotheism and absolute divine sovereignty. This perspective facilitates the seekers path towards divine knowledge.
The interpretation of verse 54 of Surah Al-Arf, like a brilliant light, guides humanity towards the truth of monotheism and divine knowledge. This verse, emphasising Rabbukum Allah, is the key to understanding the system of creation and humanitys existential relationship with God. By focusing on the invocation Ya Allah and liberating oneself from dispersion in unnecessary details, humans can achieve divine communion. This interpretation, with a mystical view yet firmly grounded in the Quranic text, invites reflection on Gods lordship and divinity and on humanitys position within the cosmic system. This work, like a clear mirror, reflects the truth of monotheism and guides the seeker towards the supreme goal.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
