the lectures of Nekounam, may his secret be sanctified (Session 1526)
The Holy Quran, like a luminous lamp, serves as humanitys guide towards knowledge and truth. Verse 101 of Surah Yunus, by inviting reflection upon the heavens and the earth, calls man to a profound journey within the expanse of creation. This writing, based upon a valuable lecture, elucidates this verse and its deep concepts. The aim is to represent the Quranic invitation to inner vision, divine knowledge, and liberation from material constraints, guiding the reader towards a deeper understanding of the divine signs. This work, structured methodically and expressed in eloquent language, endeavours to present the concepts with worthy precision within an academic and scientific framework.
Say, Observe what is in the heavens and the earth. But neither signs nor warnings benefit a people who do not believe.
This verse from Surah Yunus invites humanity to observe the contents of the heavens and the earth. This invitation is not merely to superficial observation but rather to profound and intuitive contemplation of the order of creation. The expanse of the heavens and the earth, like an open book, is replete with divine signs that guide man towards knowledge. The emphasis on heavens and earth rather than confined environments such as a house indicates the necessity of liberation from material and social limitations to perceive these signs. This invitation draws humanity towards the boundlessness of creation, where the spirit, freed from everyday constraints, pursues truth.
Seekers and mystics, in order to achieve this reflection, distanced themselves from daily worries and material attachments. They sought refuge in deserts and mountains to escape the narrow roofs of houses and familial concerns. This solitude was not out of fear of others, but rather out of dread of material limitations that hinder the souls flight towards truth. The mystic, by distancing from wife, children, and relatives, sought a space for intimacy with God, for these attachments, though valuable, sometimes obstruct concentration on divine knowledge.
This concept corresponds with the mystical tradition of solitude in Islam. Prophets and mystics, by withdrawing from daily concerns, found space to contemplate divine signs. This liberation guides man towards deeper knowledge, as if the soul, like a bird freed from a cage, soars towards the heavens of knowledge.
The term Observe in this verse transcends mere outward vision with the physical eye. The physical eye, which in this lecture is likened to the eye of animals, is limited to perceiving material objects such as trees and the moon. However, inner vision, conducted by the heart and soul, enables man to perceive beings such as angels, jinn, humans, and even the deceased. This vision requires insight attained through purification of the heart and strengthening of the inner intellect.
In Islamic mysticism, inner vision is one of the stages of spiritual wayfaring. This vision guides man to the understanding of divine truth manifested in creation, as great mystics like Ibn Arabi considered the world a mirror reflecting divine manifestations. This perspective liberates man from sensory limitations and guides him towards profound knowledge.
The heavens and the earth, in this verse, are introduced as an infinite domain containing all beings, from angels and jinn to humans and the deceased. Contrary to common assumption, the realm of the dead is not separate from the heavens and the earth. All beings are alive and present within this expanse. Yet, perceiving this presence requires liberation from material constraints and the cultivation of inner insight. The seeker, by traversing this expanse, attains knowledge that frees him from material limitations.
This view aligns with Islamic philosophy, especially the theory of the unity of existence (Wahdat al-Wujud) by Mulla Sadra. All beings are divine manifestations, and reflection upon them guides man towards the recognition of God. This contemplation acts as a key that unlocks the doors of knowledge and directs man towards truth.
Material vision, limited solely to tangible objects, deprives man of understanding divine realities. This vision, in the lecture, is likened to the eye of a dog because it merely observes superficial aspects like the belly and the bladder. Conversely, inner vision, conducted by heart and soul, guides man towards seeing God, angels, and other beings. This contrast is akin to the difference between the darkness of a cave and the brightness of sunlight.
The Holy Quran states in another verse:
And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see.
This verse highlights the limitations of the heart and physical eyes in comprehending divine truths. Man, by cultivating the inner intellect and a pure heart, can overcome these limitations.
Verse 101 of Surah Yunus, emphasising But neither signs nor warnings benefit a people who do not believe, asserts that signs and admonitions are futile for those who lack faith. This unbelief stems from the closure of the heart and absence of inner insight. Those who only observe the world with the physical eye remain deprived of perceiving divine signs, as if they have shut their eyes against a radiant light.
This concept corresponds with another Quranic verse:
Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil.
This verse regards closed hearts as barriers to understanding divine signs. Faith acts as a key that opens the doors of comprehension and vision.
The subsequent verse, namely verse 102 of Surah Yunus, states:
Do they await except the like of the days of those who passed on before them? Say, Then wait; indeed, I am with you among the waiters.
This verse defines expectation as active readiness to receive divine knowledge and vision. This expectation is not passive but an invitation to spiritual journeying towards divine proximity. Instead of pursuing material matters such as the belly and wealth, man should seek divine presence and vision. This expectation is like a journey that guides the seeker from material darkness towards the light of knowledge.
In Islamic mysticism, expectation signifies readiness to receive divine grace. Mystics prepare themselves through spiritual progression for divine proximity, as though awaiting the dawn of the sun of truth.
The lecture critiques the material life that drives man after the belly and wealth. The person entangled in material attachments remains deprived of perceiving divine signs, as though confined in a narrow stable, unaware of the boundless creation. This critique calls for reconsideration of lifes priorities and focus on divine knowledge.
The Holy Quran states elsewhere:
Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement.
This verse emphasises the limitations of material life and the necessity of reflection on truth. By liberation from attachments, man can advance towards knowledge and divine proximity.
Esoteric sciences, as divine knowledge attained through inspiration and vision, provide a path to comprehend the truth of the heavens and the earth. These sciences enable man to recognise animalistic and human attributes within individuals and their relation to the divine system. The path to acquiring these sciences involves lawful sustenance, abstention from oppression, and assistance to creatures.
This concept aligns with the mystics emphasis on heart purification and direct connection with God. Esoteric sciences act as a light that illuminates the seekers heart and guides him towards deeper understanding of creation.
The lecture critiques educational systems that confine man within narrow frameworks of superficial sciences. Such systems sometimes prevent direct experience and vision of truth. Journeying through nature and creation, such as oceans and seas, is a means to comprehend divine truths. This journey frees man from intellectual stables and guides him towards infinite knowledge.
This perspective corresponds with the tradition of spiritual journeying in nature, observed in the lives of prophets and mystics. Man, by direct experience of creation, can attain deeper visions of truth.
The lecture, emphasising that there is one universe, which is God, and one God, who is the universe, presents God as the axis of all beings and manifestations of creation. All beings, from angels to humans, are manifestations of divine revelation. Through reflection upon these manifestations, man is guided towards the knowledge of God. This view invites man to seek God in all aspects of creation.
This concept aligns with the theory of unity of existence in Islamic mysticism. All beings are mirrors reflecting divine light. By observing these mirrors, man can step towards truth.
The interpretation of verse 101 of Surah Yunus invites man to profound reflection upon the heavens and the earth. This reflection, beyond superficial observation, requires inner vision and heartfelt knowledge. Liberation from material constraints, cultivation of inner insight, and pursuit of esoteric sciences constitute the paths to this knowledge. Divine signs benefit only those who view them with faith and open hearts. This lecture, by critiquing material life and emphasising Gods centrality in the universe, guides man towards divine proximity and vision of truth. This work serves as a lamp illuminating the path amidst material darkness, leading the reader towards deeper understanding of creation.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
