of Nekounam Session 1645
This treatise undertakes an examination and interpretation of selected verses from the Holy Quran, which delicately and profoundly elucidate the fundamental concepts of cosmic order, the intrinsic emergence of phenomena, and divine supremacy. The focal points of this contemplation are the key terms Jal (to place or appoint), Falaq (splitting or cleaving), and Aziz (Mighty, Almighty), as manifested in the verses of the Surahs of Al-Anbiya, Al-Anam, Al-Falaq, Al-Mujadalah, As-Saff, and At-Tawbah. These concepts, akin to light piercing through darkness, depict the wise order of creation, the unveiling of life from within entities, and the victory of truth over falsehood. This analysis is composed with the objective of elucidating the profound meanings of these verses and linking them to natural and spiritual laws, so as to serve as a guiding beacon for seekers of truth in the path of understanding and action.
The term Jal in the Holy Quran is employed to signify the endowment of secondary attributes and qualities to created beings. This notion denotes a sagacious management whereby God arranges each phenomenon in its appropriate position and with a designated function within the cosmic system. In this context, a verse from Surah Al-Anbiya (21:3132) beautifully portrays this divine order:
And We have placed firm mountains on the earth lest it should quake with them; and We have made therein pathways that they may be guided. And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy.
In this verse, God, by placing mountains (Rawasi) firmly upon the earth, preserves it from tremors and instability, and by creating broad pathways, facilitates the guidance of humankind. The heaven, similarly, is fashioned as a guarded canopy, ensuring the order and security of the universe. Here, Jal is akin to the hands of the Creator that firmly situate every component of existence with unparalleled precision. This order not only reveals divine wisdom but also invites reflection on natural laws, through which humanity is led towards guidance.
One of the marvels of creation is the harmony and order observable in the movement of celestial bodies. This coordination does not arise from mere physical or apparent connections but emanates from an invisible divine force, metaphorically described here as Love. This concept is explicitly stated in another verse from Surah Al-Anbiya:
And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; each in an orbit swimming.
In this verse, each celestial entity moves in a specified orbit (falak), as if composing a poem of harmony and order. This motion stems not from the physical joining of objects but from the unity of purpose and origin. Such harmony resembles a melody conducted by a single composer, uniting the entire cosmos in a grand symphony of creation. This order invites reflection on natural laws, which mirror divine wisdom and power.
The concepts of Jal and the harmony of creation act as two wings enabling the cosmos to soar in the sky of order and wisdom. Jal pertains to the conferral of secondary attributes that position the earth and sky firmly and as guiding entities. The coordinated motion of celestial bodies manifests a unity and order springing from a singular divine origin. These verses invite mankind to contemplate natural laws and employ them for a deeper understanding of truth.
The term Falaq in the Holy Quran signifies the act of cleaving or opening from within an entity, as if life and truth emerge from the core of objects. This concept is beautifully illustrated in a verse from Surah Al-Anam:
[He is] the cleaver of the grain and the date stone.
Here, Falaq refers to the splitting of soft grains (hab) and hard stones (nawa), from which life sprouts. This emergence is not induced by external factors but originates from within the entity itself, as though God has implanted the secret of life in the essence of things. According to traditions, this concept is interpreted as the distinction between the believer and the disbeliever: the believer is like a soft grain, receptive to truth and close to perfection, while the disbeliever resembles a hard stone, resistant and distant from spiritual life. This metaphor, like an inscription upon the hearts tablet, illustrates the difference in accepting truth and flexibility towards divine guidance.
The concept of Falaq in Surah Al-Falaq denotes the dawns light emerging from the darkness of night, as if illumination unfolds from within obscurity:
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak.
Here, Falaq does not refer to the morning itself but to the light that emerges from the heart of nights darkness. This emergence, like the blooming of a flower at dawn, symbolises the manifestation of truth amid falsehood. This concept invites refuge in the Lord who creates light from darkness and brings forth guidance from misguidance.
One of the deepest meanings of Falaq is the emergence of life from death and death from life, expressed in the Quran as a sign of divine power:
He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living.
This verse reflects the cycle of life as a mirror, indicating the emergence of life from death (such as the sprouting of plants from seeds) and death from life (such as the demise of living beings). This internal opening is a sign of Gods boundless power, linking life and death in a wise cycle. This concept invites contemplation on the marvels of creation and natural laws, through which divine wisdom is revealed.
The concept of Falaq acts as a key that unlocks the doors of life and light from within objects and darkness. This internal emergencewhether in the splitting of grains and stones, the appearance of light from darkness, or the cycle of life and deathsignifies divine wisdom and power. These verses invite reflection on the marvels of creation and their utilisation for a deeper understanding of truth and guidance.
The attribute Aziz in the Holy Quran refers to the unique and incomparable power of God, distinct from the attribute Qawi (strong). This concept is clearly expressed in a verse from Surah Al-Mujadalah:
Allah has decreed: Indeed, I and My messengers will surely prevail. Indeed, Allah is Powerful, Almighty.
This verse emphasises the triumph of God and His messengers in the realm of
