imagery in the Qur'an
Editorial introduction
The thirsty traveller races across the desert toward what looks like water and arrives at nothing. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá borrows that Qur’ánic mirage for the world itself, and for every soul chasing a satisfaction that cannot satisfy. The Qur’án’s own verse runs on from the empty mirage to the reckoning that waits there [1], and reading it whole shows what a later use chooses to stress. Against the mirage stand the images of real sustenance: the sweet Euphrates, the river that is mother of all seas, the barren earth that stirs and swells when rain falls on it, the she-camel of God whose milk quickens souls and bodies. Then come the harder figures, the hamstrung camel and the shattered Ark, Joseph’s bloodied shirt beside the weeping for Ḥusayn, the trumpet and the convulsed heavens, and at the last Moses asked what is in his right hand, his staff read as a bestowed power for tending God’s sheep. A single image can be explicit commentary in one place and prayer or poetry in another. The road continues into the Day of Resurrection and Judgement, and into the wider interpretation of the Qur’án and Ḥadíth.
O spiritual friends of the Great One! In the mighty Qur'an, this world has been likened to a desert mirage, and human souls to one who thirsts for water. The parched person imagines the mirage to be water and races with utmost speed across the desert, only to end up disappointed and at a loss, perishing from thirst.
This is why God in the Qur'an has likened the strivings, gains and deeds of the heedless to a mirage, saying: "But the deeds of those who disbelieve are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water; until when he comes to it, he finds it to be nothing."
From a mere drop, return unto the sea; from a mote, return unto the sun; from a brackish well, hasten to the sweet Euphrates; from this gloomy patch of earth, turn unto the dawning-place of the sun; from utter loss, direct thy gaze toward abundant gain; from sheer nothingness, return unto pure existence; from non-being, set foot in the world of eternity; and from neediness, advance into the world of independence.
And the River of Glory (Sana) is a river which God hath made the mother of all seas, and from it appeared the four rivers mentioned in the Book.
The four rivers spoken of refer to the four great powers which are manifested only in the Manifestations of God, as follows:
River of Communes or Prayers, River of Interpretations, River of Doctrines and Precepts, River of answering difficult and scientific questions.
O thou who art turned unto God! From the outpourings of the Day of Resurrection thou hast drunk of the pure water, and hast become the manifestation of "The righteous shall drink of a cup tempered with camphor."
At that time will be unveiled the blessed verse: "And thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We send down rain upon it, it stirs and swells and puts forth plants of every beauteous kind."
The Baha'i Cause is like unto the Great Ocean or rather the Great Ocean is a sign of the Cause of God. Its mountainous waves are in itself and by itself. While it is in the utmost of calmness, the Northern and Southern winds lash it into furious tempest.
Say: O people! This is the She-Camel of God, grazing upon what God hath caused to grow for her in the land of Paradise, giving you to drink of the milk whereby souls and bodies are quickened.
As for the she-camel of God mentioned in the Surah of Counsel, it is a reference to His sacred being which fell into the hands of enemies who then slaughtered it, that is, tormented it and flayed it with sharp tongues, punished it and took vengeance upon it until hearts were consumed by their oppression. Then their Lord destroyed them for their sin - that is, denied them divine bounties, seized them and left them in their heedlessness, wretchedness, deprivation and ignorance forever.
By My life, O thou who hast fixed thy gaze upon My Countenance! The Ark hath been shattered, and the She-Camel hath been hamstrung by reason of that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought.
By God! The Cry hath been raised, and the She-Camel hath been hamstrung through that which the hands of them that disbelieved in God, the Lord of Lords, have wrought.
"And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. He said: Nay, but your souls have made a matter light for you, so comely patience! And Allah is He Whose help is sought against what you describe."
… O servants of the All-Merciful! God hath prescribed for you, at the mention of Husayn, weeping like unto the weeping of the bereaved, and verily God's judgment concerning vengeance for him hath been decreed in truth.
I bear witness that thou hast witnessed the dawn of Kufih and the evening of Karbila.
Reflect now upon that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'an, where He clearly saith: "And there shall be a blast on the trumpet, and all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth shall swoon away, save those whom God shall please to exempt. Then shall there be another blast on it, and lo! they shall rise and gaze around them.
This is that day of which He saith: "And thou shalt see mankind as drunken, yet they are not drunken: but severe is the chastisement of God."
And this is that Day of which He saith: "The trumpet shall be blown, and all who are in the heavens and on earth shall swoon away, save him whom God pleaseth." And likewise He saith: "All things shall perish save His face."
O my beloved! Truly the earth has drawn nigh, the mountains have been set in motion, the seas have boiled over, the stars have been scattered, the suns have been darkened, the Resurrection has come to pass, and thy Most Glorious Lord has come in the shadows of clouds with hosts that the heedless have not yet seen.
Hearken unto that which the All-Merciful hath sent down in the Qur'an: "On the day when thy Lord shall come, or some of the signs of thy Lord shall come."
Thus in the Qur'an verses were explicitly revealed that contradicted the philosophical views, technical matters and mathematical principles of the learned of that age. Therefore it was thought that these divine texts were contrary to reality since they opposed the established mathematical technical principles of the horizons.
Through the word of acceptance, an earthen House became the Point of Adoration for the world and a black stone became the object of devotion for all peoples.
O descendant of His Holiness Khalil the All-Merciful! Truly you are of the noble lineage of His Holiness Khalil and progeny of that sacred and cherished being, for you hastened to the shade of the tent of martyrdom, and entered the temple of the Lord in the Furthest Mosque, and in the Holy of Holies became occupied with chanting the verses of unity.
In the Garden of Paradise, in the Furthest Mosque, in Yathrib and Batha - how we miss you, how we miss you!
I beseech Thee by Him through the light of Whose countenance the heavens were illumined and through the fragrance of Whose raiment Yathrib and Batha were perfumed, to ordain for me all the good Thou hast ordained in Thy Book for Thy loved ones.
This weak servant placed his hand on their shoulder - this is a sign of acceptance and approval, for in all Qur'anic commentaries regarding the blessed verse "God will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him," it is recorded that when this blessed verse was revealed, the Prophet (may my spirit be sacrificed for him) placed his hand on Salman's shoulder and said "This one and his people - even if knowledge were in the Pleiades, men from among the Persians would attain it."
I beseech Thee by Thy Greatest Name to cast tranquility into the heart of Thy servant Hatam Muhammad, that his heart may find peace in Thy irrevocable Cause, for Thou hast placed the station of peace above faith, as Thou hast made clear in Thy Holy Book and Thy Mighty Qur'an, addressing Abraham: "Dost thou not believe?" He said: "Yes, but that my heart may be at rest." Thus didst Thou confirm his certain knowledge with the vision of certainty and the truth of certainty.
O Lord of pardon and forgiveness, Concealer of faults and Swift to bestow favors! Thou hast praised Thyself in the clear verses of the Qur'an as "Accepter of repentance, Forgiver of sins," and "Verily God forgives all sins."
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of darkness when it overspreads, and from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of the envious one when he envieth.
O thou seeker of the beauty of the Lord of Lords! Strive in this mortal dust-heap that thou mayest become a manifestation of the favors of the All-Merciful Lord, and endeavor in this darksome cage that thou mayest acquire spiritual wings and feathers, enabling thee to soar to the divine heights.
Be a lamp of illumination in God's path and in the meadow of the righteous be a swaying cypress and ornament of the flower garden.
Bestow abundantly the Holy Spirit's grace and freely grant the power of the Faithful Spirit, so that Your loved ones may arise to serve You with celestial might, heavenly power, divine sovereignty, heavenly confirmation, celestial hosts, a merciful breath, divine bounty, the white hand of Moses, the breath of Christ, the friendship of Abraham, the love of Muhammad, the beauty of Joseph, the longing of Jacob, and the patience of Job.
Likewise, due to the impossibility of expressing any aspect of the Truth in the world of creation except through metaphor and similitude, so that people might comprehend the hidden mysteries concealed from sight, therefore He said "What is that in thy right hand, O Moses?" The right signifies goodness, blessing, power and strength, but in this station God meant "O Moses, what is this universal sign and complete power which We have given thee?"
He replied "This is my staff, I lean upon it" - meaning this is the power Thou hast given me through Thy bounty and favor, and my existence leans upon it, for through it I arise to fulfill Thy command and manifest Thy power and sovereignty among Thy creation, and guide people to Thy straight path and right way, "and I beat down leaves therewith for my sheep" - meaning I tend Thy sheep and drive them to the meadows of knowledge and guidance and the gardens of truth and piety, "and I have other uses for it" through Thy help and power - meaning countless effects, signs and deeds.
For thought and discussion