of , (Session 1639)
The Holy Qur'an, akin to a profound ocean, encompasses meanings and truths wherein each verse opens a window towards understanding existence and Divine wisdom. This writing, with a deep focus on several verses from the Surahs of Al-Imran, Maryam, Shu'ara, Al-A'la, and other chapters, explores concepts such as Divine Majesty, life and death, barrenness, and the distinction between male and female. The aim is to elucidate these concepts with a clear and dignified language so as to invite the reader to contemplate the system of creation and Divine actions. This work, by linking Qur'anic verses and religious teachings, strives to reveal the manifestations of Divine wisdom in creation and human guidance.
Divine Majesty is an attribute described in the Qur'anic verses as unique and absolute. This attribute is not only intrinsic to the Exalted Truth but also manifests boundlessly in His attributes and actions. Unlike the attributes of created beings which are always restricted and limited, Divine Majesty is independent of others and absolute.
هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
He is the Most High, the Most Great (Ash-Shura: 4)
This verse introduces Majesty as an innate attribute requiring no other. The Majesty of the Exalted Truth is like the sun whose light shines directly without any shadow of limitation cast upon it. In contrast, the majesty of created beings is always confined to a specific respect. For example, in another verse, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is described with the phrase لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ (Al-Qalam: 4), meaning greatness in character, which is a restricted and ethical attribute, not intrinsic and absolute.
In the language of the Holy Qur'an, Azim (Great) and Kabir (Big) are two distinct adjectives. Kabir is opposed to Saghir (small) and is also applied to created beings. For example, Akbar meaning greater, is used relative to humans and objects and is relative. However, Azim outside of the Divine Truth is only used in a restricted and contextual sense, and its absolute use is unique to the Essence of the Exalted Creator. This distinction is like the difference between an endless ocean and a limited stream, each meaningful in its own place, but only the ocean is free from boundaries and limits.
The Qur'anic verses draw a subtle distinction between Azim (Great) and Ali (High). Azim is contrasted with Haqir (mean, insignificant), whereas Ali is contrasted with Dani (lowly). Haqir refers to intrinsic deficiency, while Dani denotes moral baseness. Something may be insignificant but not lowly; however, everything lowly is also insignificant. Ali implies elevation and superiority and ranks higher than Azim, because its opposite, Dani, is lower than Haqir. This difference is like the contrast between a lofty peak and a vast plain, each manifesting a form of greatness, but the peak ascends towards the sky.
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى * الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ
Proclaim the glory of the name of your Lord, the Most High, Who created and proportioned (Al-A'la: 1-2)
Divine Majesty is an attribute boundless in the essence, attributes, and actions of the Exalted Truth. This attribute in created beings appears as limited and contextual, never absolutely applied outside God. The distinction between Azim and Kabir and also between Azim and Ali demonstrates the depth of Qur'anic meanings, each revealing a manifestation of Divine wisdom.
The Holy Qur'an introduces death and life as two aspects of the system of creation, each being a prelude for the other. Death is not destruction but the foundation for renewal and life, like autumn that, by shedding leaves, paves the way for a spring full of freshness.
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deeds (Al-Mulk: 2)
In this verse, death precedes life, because death is like a gateway that leads life towards renewal and vitality. Nature, with its cycle of death and life, resembles a painting where each season adds a new colour and design to its canvas.
The Exalted Truth does not destroy anything, not out of incapacity but out of perfection. Divine Majesty lies in that He does not annihilate even a fly because existence is under His dominion. As expressed by a religious scholar, لا يُمْكِنُ الْفِرَارُ مِنْ حُكُومَتِكَ neither the creation can escape Divine governance, nor can God expel creation from this dominion, for escape denotes limitation, and the Exalted Truth is free from all limitations.
Life and death are two facets of the creation system that impart freshness and vitality to existence. Death is not an end but a beginning for new life. Divine Majesty manifests in that nothing is destroyed but rather, through the creation of death and life, the system of existence remains fresh and dynamic.
Barrenness, or uterine infertility, in the Holy Qur'an does not signify absence of capacity but rather the presence of an obstacle that, when removed, allows childbirth. Woman naturally has the capacity for childbirth, unlike man who lacks this capacity.
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِيَ الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِي عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ
He said: My Lord, how can I have a boy when old age has come upon me and my wife is barren? He said: So it will be; Allah does what He wills (Al-Imran: 40)
This verse indicates that barrenness results from physical or psychological obstacles that can be removed. So it will be; Allah does what He wills does not mean doing the impossible or unnatural, but refers to Divine actions within the framework of nature. A miracle is like a key that unlocks the obstacles, yet it is never outside the order of creation.
Divine actions, whether ordinary or extraordinary, are all within the framework of the system of creation. Miracles, revelation, and infallibility are not unnatural but unusual and comprehensible and learnable. So it will be invites learning Divine methods. Prophets can innovate new sciences, such as a discipline called miracle, which would liberate humanity from scientific begging.
Barrenness is an obstacle removable by Divine actions. Miracles are not unnatural but extraordinary and within the system of creation. The Qur'anic invitation to learn these actions paves the way for human scientific and epistemological progress.
A verse from Surah Al-Imran points to the difference between male and female and reveals Divine wisdom in this selection.
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنْثَىٰ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنْثَىٰ
Then when she delivered her, she said: My Lord, I have delivered a female, and Allah knows best what she has delivered, and the male is not like the female (Al-Imran: 36)
The phrase The male is not like the female is the Word of God, not the woman of Imran. God chose the female (Lady Mary) for a specific role, such as the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) without a father, because the male could not fulfil this role. This choice is like a flower blossoming in the garden of Divine wisdom whose fragrance reveals the secrets of creation.
The extraordinary provision of Lady Mary (peace be upon her) is another manifestation of Divine actions which are extraordinary yet natural.
كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى
