The Philosophy of Islamic Teachings (18)

We concluded the 17th installment by mentioning the significance of camphor and ginger mentioned in the Holy Quran.  

Regarding people who reject the truth, The Holy Quran stipulates: 

"Verily, We have prepared for the unbelievers chains and rings and a blazing fire." (76:5).

This means that for those who reject the truth, and who never show any intention of accepting it, God has prepared chains, rings and a blazing fire. The meaning is that those who do not seek God with a pure heart will suffer a severe reaction. Their immersion in earthly affairs does not allow them to take a step, as if their feet were in chains, and they are so inclined towards the activities of this world that it seems as if they have rings around their necks that do not allow them to lift their eyes to the heavens. They ardently desire the things of this world: goods, authority, dominion, wealth, etc .... Since God Most High finds them unworthy, and given to impure desires, He imposes these three sufferings on them.

This tells us that every human action corresponds to an action of God. For example, when a person closes all the doors and windows of his room, the ensuing darkness is the result of a divine action. All the inevitable consequences of our actions, decided by God according to natural laws, are really God's actions, because He is the Cause of all causes. For example, if a man takes poison, this human act would be followed by a divine act: the death of this person. Likewise, if a person contracts a disease because of misbehaviour, his action will provoke a divine reaction: disease. Thus, we see clearly that in this world, each of our actions brings with it an inevitable result, and this result is an act of the Exalted God. The same law applies equally to religious matters. For example, it is said: 

"As for those who strive in Our way, let them know that verily We will guide them in Our paths; for Al'lah is certainly with those who do good." (29:70) 

This means that, as a consequence of people's full dedication in seeking God, His inevitable act is to guide them on the paths that lead to Him. 

On the contrary it is said: 

"So when they went astray from the straight path, Al'lah caused their hearts to go astray." (61:6). When they strayed from the straight path, and refused to follow it, Our subsequent action was to cause their hearts to be perverted. 

This point is further explained in the following verse: 

"But he who is blind in this world will be blind in the Afterlife, and even more astray from the path" (17:73). This indicates that the virtuous find God in this life, and see the True Beloved in this world. The meaning of this verse is that the basis of heavenly life is in this world, and that the root of hellish blindness is the blind and impure life in this world.  

It is further said: 

"And preach the good news to those who believe and do good works, that for them there are Gardens under which streams flow" (2:26). 

In this verse, by comparing faith to gardens under which streams flow, we are told that faith is related to good works, as a garden is related to the water of the river or stream. Just as a garden does not flourish without water, so faith does not survive without good works. Faith without good deeds is vain; deeds without faith are mere show. The reality of the Islamic paradise is that it is a reflection of man's faith and deeds in this life, and not something bestowed on man from outside. Every man's paradise is developed within him, and every man's paradise is his faith and good deeds, where already in this life he begins to taste its delights, perceiving the hidden gardens and streams of faith and good deeds, which will be fully manifested in the hereafter. God's Holy Teaching reveals to us that pure, perfect and firm faith in God, in His attributes and His designs, is a beautiful garden of fruit trees, and good deeds are streams that water the garden.  

The Holy Quran says: 

"Do you not see how Al'lah expresses the likeness of a good word? It is like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches reach to heaven. It brings forth its fruit in all seasons at the command of its Lord" (14:25-26). This means that a word of faith, free from all excess, defect, falsehood and vanity, a word perfect in every way, resembles a tree free from defect, whose root is firmly rooted in the earth, and whose branches reach to the heavens. The tree bears fruit all the year round, and its branches are never without fruit. In comparing a word of faith to an ever-fruitful tree, God Most High has drawn attention to three of its characteristics: 

 The first is that its root, that is, its true meaning, be firmly rooted in the soil of the heart, that is, that its truth and reality be acceptable to human nature and conscience. 

 The second essential characteristic is that its branches reach up to heaven, that is, that they are supported by reason, in accordance with the divine law of nature, which is the work of God. In other words, that from the laws of nature proofs of their truth are deduced, and that these proofs are above criticism. 

 The third characteristic is that it should bear fruit unceasingly, without limit; that is to say, that the blessings and effects derived from the word should continue to manifest themselves continually, and should not cease to manifest themselves after a certain period. 

Again it says: 

"And the simile of an evil word is like that of an evil tree, whose roots have gone out of the ground and it has no stability" (14:27). This means that human nature rejects it, and neither reason nor human nature or conscience can sustain it. It has as little force as a useless tale. The Holy Quran has pointed out that the trees of true faith will bear in the future grapes, pomegranates and other good fruits, while from the bad tree, the tree of unbelief, which is called Zaqqum.  

The Holy Quran says: 

"Is that not better as a place of lodging, or is the tree of Zaqqum? Verily, We have made it a test for the wicked. It is a tree that springs from the depths of Hell. Its fruit is like the heads of serpents?" (37:63-66). This is a tree that sprouts from the root of Hell, and grows by arrogance and selfishness (1). Its buds are like the heads of Satan; that is, whoever eats of it will be ruined.

Later it is said: 

"Verily, the tree of Zaqqum. It will be the food of the sinner.  Like molten copper, it will boil in his bowels. Like the gurgling of boiling water. Grasp him and drag him to the centre of the blazing Fire" (44:44-47). 

The sinner will be commanded: 

"Prove it! You who considered yourself mighty, honourable." (44:51) 

This is an expression of God's wrath, meaning that had he not been arrogant, and had he not turned away from the truth, out of pride and a false idea of his dignity, he would not have had to suffer in this way. This verse indicates that the word Zaqqum is a compound of Zuq, meaning "prove it", and "amm" which is formed from the first and last letters of the rest of the phrase. Repeated use has transformed the letter "dal" into "zá". 

God Most High thus describes the words of faith uttered in this life as trees of Paradise. Likewise He describes the words of unfaithfulness uttered in this life as the tree of hell, which He calls "Zaqqum", thus showing that the heavenly life and the hellish life have their root in this life. 

(lpbD) - peace and blessings of God be upon him. 

[We will continue with the 19th installment, where we will conclude with the verses of the Holy Quran regarding the spiritual punishment meted out to the disbelievers and begin the topic of how to establish a perfect spiritual relationship with God.]