the Lectures of Nokounam, (Session 1819)
This writing, relying upon the luminous verses of the Holy Qur'an, is a profound journey towards understanding the sublime meanings of creation, divine decree, and omnipotence. These reflections, through a mystical and philosophical lens, examine verses from the Surahs Al-A'la, Al-Waqi'ah, Al-Qadr, Al-Ma'idah, Yusuf, Al-Tawhid, Al-Jathiyah, Al-Qasas, Al-An'am, and Al-Kahf. The core of this investigation revolves around concepts such as the order of existence, divine predestination, and the position of humanity within this magnificent system. Employing clear and dignified language, this work endeavours to present deep Qur'anic meanings in a coherent framework suited to the inquiring mind, inviting the reader to contemplate divine grandeur and the existential responsibility of humankind.
الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ
"He who created and proportioned, and He who ordained and guided."
Verses two and three of Surah Al-A'la portray a magnificent image of the systematic nature of creation. These verses describe creation as a mechanical and precise process in which every entity is created, organised, measured, and guided towards its destination by a divine order.
These verses outline four fundamental stages of creation: creation (initial genesis), proportioning (organisation and harmonisation), decree (precise measurement of capacities), and guidance (leading towards perfection). These stages operate in perfect harmony, akin to the cogs of a divine mechanism. From a mystical viewpoint, creation is the initial spark of existence; proportioning is the polishing of the essence of being to accord with the cosmic order; decree is the determination of boundaries and capacities of each entity; and guidance, like a divine breeze, directs beings towards their destination.
In critique of philosophical perspectives, some philosophers such as Mulla Sadra have reduced creation to substantial motion. However, these verses present creation as a multi-staged and purposeful process transcending mere motion. Decree and guidance are the two wings of this system that advance beings on the path to perfection.
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ
"We have decreed death among you."
In verse sixty of Surah Al-Waqi'ah, divine decree of death is mentioned:
Death here is not an end, but a stage in the existential journey of man. From a mystical standpoint, death is like a bridge guiding man from the material world (Nasut) to the spiritual realm (Malakut and Jabarut). The decree of death is a sign of divine order, placing every being on the path towards the Truth. Contrary to the view of some philosophers who consider death as cessation of material existence, this verse introduces death as part of the divine predestination system linked with divine guidance.
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
"Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."
The phrase وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ refers to the grandeur and complexity of the concept of Qadr (decree). Qadr here does not merely mean "night," but rather the measurement and determination of existential ranks, which even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is unable to fully comprehend. Mystically, Laylat al-Qadr is like a mirror reflecting the manifestation of divine decree. This night represents the climax of the connection between the material and the transcendent, where angels and the Spirit descend by divine permission to determine destinies.
The phrase وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ is an invitation to epistemic humility. It does not negate the Prophets knowledge but emphasises the vastness of divine decree that exceeds human cognitive frameworks. From a literary perspective, in the phrase لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ, Qadr is the annexed and Laylah is the annexing noun, indicating that the greatness of this night is due to its decree, not merely its nocturnal nature. Mystically, Laylah is the container in which the divine decree manifests.
Moreover, Laylat al-Qadr is the time when negation and affirmation (of existential ranks) occur. This process, akin to a divine lot-casting, determines the destinies of beings. Contrary to the view of some philosophers who attribute this process to substantial motion, the Quran relates it to divine decree, which transcends mere motion.
