The Crux
What is the crux of understanding the Universal System described as the ‘Religion of Islam’ and the answers to the questions “who and what am I?”
Why are these topics prone to so much misunderstanding?
Why do we get stuck on a frame or two, and fail to see the picture as a whole?
Why can’t we deservedly evaluate the Quran and observe it with all its lucidity?
These are the questions that emanate from thinking brains! Imitators, who follow blindly and unmindfully, have no such concerns!
To rightfully understand and evaluate the teachings of Muhammad (saw) and the Quran we must be fully cognizant of the following two realities:
- The universal aspect of the system
- The aspect of the individual’s life within the system
The Sufi practices, which entail the deep contemplation, experience and application of these realities, talks of two types of observation:
- Sayr-i afaqi (the recognition of the universal realities)
- Sayr-i anfusi (the recognition of the individual realities)
The first of these observations is the realization of the Universal System and Order, created in the knowledge of the One whose name is Allah. The second one is the affiliation of the individual with the reality of their self (nafs).
The Quran attenuates the realities that must be recognized both in respect of the sayr-i afaqi and the sayr-i anfusi throughout many of its verses. If we take into account only one of these observations, we will be deprived of the other aspect of the matter, and become intellectually deviated.
Why so?
Because as a result of a single misunderstanding, the Quran has been reduced from being the explication of the universal system (sunnatullah) and its creator, to a book of commands of a heavenly God! Whereas, the intimates of the reality of the past and present have strived to explain the contrary.
I have shared my understanding of the One whose name is Allah, in Muhammad’s Allah, in a way that has never been approached before. If one can properly understand and evaluate Muhammad’s Allah they will be able to realize the ways through which the existence of Allah becomes manifest through man, in respect of the holographic reality.
Other than that there is no god or godhood, the reality what Muhammad (saw) tried to communicate to us was who and what the One whose name ‘Allah’ is! This is what the Quran elucidates! This is why, despite all the criticism I receive by those who are inadequate at READing, I say “the One whose name is Allah” to draw the attention to the fact that ‘Allah’ is only a name! Hence, we should stop postulating ideas based on a name and contemplate on what the name actually references!
Yes…
The absolute essence (dhat) of the universe exists with the absolute essence (dhat) of the Qayyum One!
But the universe isn’t God!
The absolute essence (dhat) of man exists with the absolute essence (dhat) of the Qayyum One!
But man is not God!
The universe has come into existence with the structural qualities denoted by the names and attributes of Allah, and this will always be so!
Man has come into existence with the structural qualities denoted by the names and attributes of Allah, and this will always be so!
The universe is Hayy because Allah is Hayy[1]!
Man is Hayy because Allah is Hayy!
The universe is conscious, because Allah is al-Aleem[2]!
Man is conscious because Allah is al-Aleem!
Consciousness is the manifestation of the attribute of knowledge!
Beneath the ‘universe’ name and picture is the Rabb of the worlds (the source of the infinite meanings of the Names) who brings into existence whatever He desires, and who, as the requisite of His Uluhiyyah manifests Himself with His Wahidiyyah (Oneness) and maintains new creation and formation at every instance with His Rahmaniyyah (infinite quantum potential)!
Beneath the ‘man’ name and picture is the Rabb of the worlds (the source of the infinite meanings of the Names) who brings into existence whatever He desires, and who, as the requisite of His Uluhiyyah manifests Himself with His Wahidiyyah (Oneness) and maintains new creation and formation at every instance with His Rahmaniyyah (infinite quantum potential)!
Thus, every state of manifestation in the universe is present at a micro level within man. Man will know the universe to the degree he knows himself…
When the reality of Uluhiyyah created the essence (dhat) of man, He created man as a mirror. He made man Wahid with His Wahidiyyah, and continually created through him with His Rahmaniyyah, and became the Haliq (creator) of all his actions with His Rububiyyah!
The Arsh, Kursi and the seven heavens and earth are within the universe!
The Arsh, Kursi and the seven heavens and earth are within man!
The universe exists with all the angels!
Man exists with all the angels!
Those who have been granted ‘Marifatullah’, the fourth state after ‘Haqiqah’ (Reality), will READ and discern well what these metaphors represent within the system. They will know what the Arsh and Qursi means, and which forces within the system the angels denote!
Hence the saying goes: “Whatever you seek, seek within yourself”.