ESOTERIC AND EXOTERIC

NO OFFENCE INTENDED. THIS ARTICLE MAY OFFEND MANY TRADITIONALIST AND EVEN UNCONVENTIONAL THINKERS. THESE ARE MY HUMBLE FINDINGS, READERS, RESEARCHERS ARE FREE TO DISAGREE.

THIS RESEARCHED ARTICLE WAS IN RESPONSE TO A COMMENT BY FACE BOOK FRIEND OF MINE.

ESOTERIC AND EXOTERIC MEANING WITHIN THE BOOK QURAN

Respected Brother thanks for reading my articles and finding some fault in my line of thinking. For the sake of the clarity I am accentuating your comments in my reply. I hope you won’t mind and take it in a good spirit.

You have said in your comments that -

(1) - “You are gifted intellectually masha Allah and are doing a great job in extracting esoteric meanings from the Quran.”

Let me inform you that I am not well equipped or qualified to extract hidden meanings from the old Arabic Text of the Quran. Neither do I have any spiritual guide from where I could receive esoteric meanings of the words of the book Quran. In fact I don’t believe in any hidden meanings which are not available in the spoken and written language. The meaning of words which I take or derive is in public domain in the form of various Classical Lexicons and some meanings are even present in the context of the book Quran itself and there is nothing great or esoteric about it. I am just an ardent fan of the book Quran trying to study through sheer hard work and there is nothing supernatural about it.

The simple meanings of word esoteric are abstruse, obscure, arcane, abstract, difficult, hard, puzzling, perplexing, enigmatic and cryptic, etc. When we say that the real message of the book Quran is esoteric and meant for especial audience then we are accusing the author of the book Quran of nepotism; that means that the real message is hidden from common people and the core message is meant for special chosen people. The common people who are not gifted enough would have to taste or have to be satisfied only with the cursory or outer meanings and they would be deprived from the crux of the book Quran.

(2) - “//However the Quran is at many levels of meaning and although I agree that knowing oneself and finding one's purpose in life is the highest objective it doesn't mean that those who have lived in the past and now who are following the Quran in the simple exoteric manner and have good character are misguided, //”

I have never said those who have not understood the book Quran are misguided, I don’t judge people, sometimes I am critical but I never disrespect people. Books are simple messengers of information, they don’t guide people. People are guided by their own intellect and commonsense; I have been writing on my blogs since very long and I don’t remember that I have disrespected anyone; if I have shown any disrespect then I apologize for my mistake.

I am very sensitive about the book Quran and if you say it has many level of meanings then I really get upset. To me it is like you are accusing the book Quran of ambiguity and the message is not clear because it has many level of meanings for people with different understanding – let me tell you I am very passionate when the book Quran is concerned and I cannot tolerate such allegations or misunderstanding that the book Quran has multiple meanings, this means that the book is not clear and specific about its topics. Sorry brother for not controlling my emotions. How can anyone accuse a simple worded clear book of having so many meanings for single word? That also means that different meanings will create different context and several references to context. This will make a clear cut message of the Quran sound mumbo jumbo, all people happy with their own perception.

The theory of multi meaning works for the defenders of religion when they are incapable to explain the meaning of some verses; they escape from the situation by declaring the mercurial or inconsistent nature of the book Quran. The author of the book is not a magician that he continuously changes the direction of the language with the time and according to the grasping power of individuals. The author does not want to please its reader with compromising the message for the sake of its audience. This mindset indirectly accuses the author of being whimsical that he cannot write or convey a clear simple message with a single syntax with simple meanings for ordinary people. I don’t blame you for nurturing this type of belief; such beliefs are common in Sufis and so called scholars of religion. They might not know the reason I know the reason for such apologetic views.  

 

(3) – “// simply since they have not understood the esoteric meaning of the Quran as you state explicitly in your teachings. You suggest their lives were totally "wasted" and you seem to even include the great scholars and Sufi mystics in that category simply because they didn't have your view. Ridiculing others beliefs as you seem to do in some posts simply as they have understood in the simple manner, but may have excellent hearts, is against the Quranic verse.//”

I have great respect for Sufis and all traditional translators, I never said their lives were totally wasted, brother you seems to carry some bad image about me. Although I have not read any Sufi work but one thing I very well know that Islam spread in the world because of the relentless work of Sufis. Genuine Sufis are the most misunderstood people; they were misunderstood by their contemporaries and they were even misconstrued by their ardent followers because they were much ahead of their time.

I have said somewhere that the traditional understanding of the book Quran wasted my prime years and I don’t want others to suffer the same way which I suffered due to wrong understanding of the book Quran. I consider everyone great; life is a journey towards greatness, some lack behind some evolved early; it’s a roller coaster ride. I have not the read or study any work of Sufis but I know their contribution in the spread of Islam. People called them mystics because their words and deeds were mysterious to them; masses love their character but could not grasp the reason for their impeccable character and behavior.

 

(4) “ // - Although I agree with many of your esoteric Quranic interpretations and like I have mentioned I have reached exactly the same conclusions even in the details for many topics I do not disregard the exoteric as you have done totally. You seem to have to totally rejected even the Quran in terms of simple exoteric interpretation and this is clearly dangerous and erroneous //”

I have to address this important issue of "extracting esoteric meanings from the Quran" since long back but I was reluctant to engage in unnecessary wrangle and create unwanted controversy. Now your long comments gave me the opportunity to put forth my views; thanks for that.  I have realized that many people believe that the message of the book Quran has many different layers of meaning and is unfolded on the people when the time is right or when the student is ready the teacher appears. This statement is partially correct. First the book Quran does not have different message for different people. The book has only one meaning and only one theme; the second statement is correct, that the teacher appears when the student is ready.

Such saying is very common among the Sufis and some educated people also believe that the book Quran contains two types of messages one esoteric & other exoteric. They believe that one message of the book is only for selected ones and it is transferred through heart to heart, only to those students who are ready to grasp. This secret communication is never written but transferred from heart to heart; the original reason for hiding the original message from the masses, the traditional clergies and the powerful rulers because they were not ready yet to know the actual message and unconventional message of the book Quran.

Arab Sufis suffered a lot during Abbasid regime backed by powerful but defeated Sasanians. The entire message of the book Quran was systematically changed in the line of belief of vengeful Sasanians and Romans. Arabs defeated the two great empires of that time so naturally that the royals among them were bearing grudge against their conqueror. Those who knew the real message of the book Quran were harassed and killed in multitude. Those who knew the real message of the book Quran were brutally massacred in a very short period of time. Within the 100 years of spreading of Islamic philosophy the entire message of the book Quran was toppled upside down. The few who managed to uphold the true teaching of the book Quran became quite because their life was at stake and they some manage to escape to foreign lands or were hiding their true knowledge and faith.

Why Sasanians and later Romans rampantly killed those who knew the message of the book Quran?

The shrewd materialistic Sasanians very well understood that the spiritual message of the book Quran was the reason behind the spirit and strength of uncivilized Arabs. So they decided to neutralize that metaphysical spiritual message into superficial religious doctrine.

The Sasanians were a very proud Persian civilization but became weak due to continuous war between Romans later known as Byzantine Empire (602-628). By the end of the conflict, both sides had exhausted their human and material resources and achieved very little. Consequently, they were vulnerable to the sudden emergence of the poor persecuted Arab Ebionites, whose forces invaded both empires only a few years after the war with ease, sometimes without a battle. The Ebionites armies swiftly conquered the entire Sasanian Empire as well as the Byzantine territories in the Levant, the Caucasus, Egypt, and North Africa. In the following centuries, the Byzantine and Arab forces would fight a series of wars for control of the Near East.

Ebionites was a Jewish Christian sect persecuted and harassed by Romans that migrated to North of Arabia [Nabatea, and Paneas, Moabitis, and Kochaba in the region of Bashan, near Adraa] to escape oppression from main stream Jews and Christians. These variant sects reflect the esoteric and evolving nature of early Christian sects, as well as the tendency of patristic polemicists to conflate different sects and misattribute unusual views and practices, more typical of Gnostic Christianity than Jewish Christianity. Some modern critical scholars argue the Church Fathers' condemnation of Ebionites as "heretics" and "Judaizers" is both ironic and tragic, since many Ebionite views may have been closer to the authentic views of not only the first disciples of Christianity but also of the ancient historical facts.

Ebionites were early Christian mystics or Sufis who translated their Jewish Christians philosophy into concise Arabic text; today we recognize their marvelous work as the book Quran. The so called early Muslims were actually very minor sect of Jewish Christian philosophy that faced extinction within maximum of 100 years of advent of traditional religion of Islam. The early fabricated history and interpretation of the book Quran were done in the line of Sasanians and Roman Christian beliefs.

 

Some wise man, mystics or Sufis who survived the onslaught of mass killing began to propagate the original Islam in a very careful manner because the traditional Islamic Empire was very strong and spread over vast land. Sufis sacrificed a lot for upholding the true message of the book Quran in their heart. This way it became their normal practice to hide the real message of the book Quran from the canonical well established institutes of Islam.  

Exoteric and esoteric meaning of the book Quran is a serious part of belief of many people and I need to clear this misconception as it is related to the reputation of the book Quran.

One must be open minded and ready to grasp the guidance or inspiration that comes across in various forms or literature. The researchers must be passionate about their subject that they inclined to learn, gradually the seekers will discover the ultimate truth if they are on the right track. Truth is like Sunlight nobody can permanently hide it.

The doctrine of batini (الْبَاطِنُ) or esoteric theory crept into societies due to cahoots between dictatorial Kings and religious Priests. The Kings were brainwashed by zahiri (ظَهِيرٍ) concept of religion by fake priests. It became a compulsion for very rare independent thinkers to embrace exoteric version of religion or the canonical version of religion because of it has King's stamp of approvals on it. These way different rituals were introduced by the imposter priestly class, specifically established religious institutes to teach their version of Islam as the prestigious part of learning.

The free thinkers / Sufis knew the consequences of opposing the priest so they kept quiet and became aloof from the masses. To save their skin the philosophers (sufi) apologetically acknowledged the relationship between the outer and inner dimensions of the book Quran although it was basically to save their skin from ignorant dictators. 

There are many instances where group of free thinkers / sufis and their families were hunted down and were wiped out, crucified, executed and burned alive in the name of blasphemy or for their divergent views. Sufis / mystics were often called as heretics and were tortured in the name of saving religion

The Sufis could not openly teach the message of the book Quran so they floated the theory of esoteric and exoteric message of Islam which gradually became familiar as the time passed. Finally the original message of Islam buried in their hearts and faded away. Later on and till this day the clever religious authorities established and institutionalize this modus operandi to fool the masses in the name of Islam and religion.

It was very difficult for Sufis to find a suitable student whom he could pass the enchanting message of the book Quran, they used to roam, travel in search for thirsty students but somewhere lucky to get single student but majority died without finding a good student.

The bitter truth is that the message of the book Quran is crystal clear and not ambiguous at all. It does not have any esoteric or exoteric contents. The message of the book Quran is metaphysical (غيبي) commonly known as unseen (الْغَيْبِ). The vocabularies of the book Quran do not have multiple meanings; one for exclusive intellectuals and other meaning for ordinary masses. Originality of every religion is distorted because the masses wants to believe, revere, worship and do not want to know, because knowing is difficult, following or believing as the crowd believe is easy. 

Zahir – Relates to the outer, apparent, or exoteric dimension of the Islamic faith. It can also refer to the world of bodies or the actions of an individual. This includes dress code for men and women, eating habits and rituals.

 

Batin - Relates to the inner, spiritual, or esoteric dimension of the Islamic faith. It can also refer to the inner world or the true intention behind an individual's actions. 

Here are some ways that the concepts of zahir and batin are understood in different schools of Islamic thought: 

Shi'a Muslims

The Imam of Time is the only one who can understand the esoteric meaning of the Quran. 

Sufism

The actions of an individual are the zahir, and the intention in the heart is the batin. Sufis believe that spiritual guides can purify the batin to ensure that the zahir follows Shariat. 

Ismaili Muslims

The zahir and batin are complimentary ways of perceiving truth, and the relationship between the two is symbolized by translucence.

 

The Sufis or the axial age sages were extraordinary individuals. They were much ahead of their time. 

Ever thought why no bygone Sufis have translated the book Quran yet, were they not qualified? They were wise, matured and qualified enough but they never propagated the message through the verses of the book Quran. They spread the message of the Quran wisely through stories and songs in local languages. They adapted the culture wherever they migrated. Character was their main forte. The reason was they were in minority among minorities.

Brother if we say the words of Quran has two or more meanings for different audiences then we are ridiculing the message of the Noble Quran 

The vibrant of words of the book Quran are the main victim and the message suffers due to the tussle between exoteric and esoteric debates, this lead to confusion among the masses and some clever minded people take advantage of it. The consequence is more than two sets of ideology emerged from within the book Quran and the Sufis bore the brunt of being heretic sect of Islam from the “mainstream Islam”.

These are my observation as a humble translator and student of the book Quran.

www.ahleaqal.com

BURNING OF SKIN - 4:56

LITERAL TRANSLATION 

4:56 - Indeed (إِنَّ) those who (الَّذِينَ) are ignorant (كَفَرُوا) with our signs (بِآيَاتِنَا), soon (سَوْفَ) We will burn them (نُصْلِيهِمْ) in rage / fire (نَارًا) - Every time (كُلَّمَا) to make them perfect / mature / ready to do their job (نَضِجَتْ) by experiencing suffering / flogging / hurting them (جُلُودُهُمْ). We will change their (بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ) hurt / suffering (جُلُودًا) other than it (غَيْرَهَا) - [here pronoun 'it' is feminine that points to the maturity / evolving process will not be the same again], so they may taste  (لِيَذُوقُوا) the sweet illusionary life (الْعَذَابَ). Indeed your Conscience / Consciousness (اللَّهَ) is ever (كَانَ) Strong (عَزِيزًا) and Wise (حَكِيمًا).

CONTEXTUAL INTERPRETATION

4:56 - Indeed those who are ignorant with our signs, soon life will burn them in fire of rage this is done to make them perfect / mature / ready to do their job every time / they have to suffer burn their skins / get hurt, facing the turmoil of life, time and again, they will pass through the process of attaining perfection, in this process their suffering will not remain the same, their journey of life will be different than the present life so they taste the sweet illusionary life. Indeed your Teacher (Life / Allah) is Strong and Wise.

NAFS / ALLAH / ZAMEER / SOUL / MIND / SPIRIT / SELF / EGO / SATAN

NAFS / ALLAH / ZAMEER / SOUL / MIND / SPIRIT / SELF / PRIDE / SATAN

In the book Quran the word Nafs and its derivatives occurs 298 times, with more than 7 different shades of meanings that are related to nafs are breath, aspire, self, soul, mind, man, life and person. The word nafs (psyche) is used to refer inner side of human being, which is related to person's subconscious mind, conscious mind, spirit, attitude, mood, impulses, deepest feelings and behavior. 

The word nafs popularly known as self / khudi or self existence is not a substance or thing but an innate nature or true self that desires to evolve, develop often with avarice to achieve higher goals or self esteem. Nafs has the tendency to think high of her own self. In collective form nafs / self can evolve or deteriorate humanity and in individual capacity it yearns to manifest itself.

Man is Nafs and everything that happens in his / her life is due to acceptance or rejection by his nafs (psyche). Psychology is the only subject which entire mankind can relate with. Nafs is an important part of Man’s life hence the extraordinary subject needs an extraordinary book therefore the theme of the book Quran is all about human psyche (nafs) or psychology, a rare or unknown subject in those days.

It is not at all easy to explain this abstract subject of human mind so the book Quran uses figurative language in its writing. The book Quran uses personification by attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things. This personifies non physical objects and makes them more relatable. Such writing is also called theophany.

In Islamic philosophy, each individual has an aspect of the self worth that is called “Nafs” which is split into many layers. Every day, a thinking person enters into a psychological warfare with their anxiety or darker side, their lowly desires, pride, delusion and ego. Satan, pride or ego is thus the lowest level of the self (nafs), due the adoration of oneself and coveted desires nafs clings to the surface of lower consciousness. Nafs consist of layers of multiple shades which keep on changing its complexion; Allah / Conscience is the highest, most knowledgeable and the most brightest tone of Nafs, resides in higher consciousness of Man.

Achieving psychological up-gradation or spiritual transformation, nafs / self has to involve in a constant struggle for cleansing the lower or dark nature of the self. This struggle is inferred as holy war within self (nafs); popularly known as jihad i akbar or tazkiya nafs in Islamic philosophy.

Why spiritual transformation is important? Why so much preference is given to spirituality over material in all religions? Spirituality is important because it can help people handle their fluctuating life style by teaching them the real meaning of life and can improve their overall well-being. It can also help people cope with difficult times, such as loss, trauma, illness, and other phases of life. Spirituality is a broad concept that involves a sense of connection to something greater than flesh & bones; an inquisitiveness to search beyond the materialistic way of life.

My humble study observed that the term nafs in the book Quran is mostly used for nafsiyaat (psyche or psychology) that is mainly related to human mind with self. The entire mankind possesses single Psychology (nafsi wahidah), that’s why the message of the book Quran is for all mankind because it relates to human species. 

The other terms of the book Quran that relate to our mind are kitab, quran, furqan, hidayah, zikr, sajda, ruku, salat, taqwa, ilm, nabi, rasul, malaikah, Iblees, satan, bayat, hajj, qalb, islah, hakim, tafakoor, tadaboor, aqal, foaad, baseer, shahadah, shaoor, baligh, takaboor, guroor, fakhr and many more important Quranic terms, these all are related to intellect or intelligence of man. It won't be an exaggeration if I say the entire book Quran only talks about the psyche (nafs) of human beings and nothing else. All the names, characters in the Quran do not represent any person, place, thing or history and geography.

The most important term Allah is also connected with Conscience and our psyche (nafs) is also connected with mind

The term Rabb is connected with Knowledge and Guidance is also connected with our agitated mind,

The term Rehman is connected with the teaching of inner Quran (compilation of our own thoughts that continuously speaks) is also connected with our mind.

Even the term Satan and other negative term in the book Quran relates to mind. Nothing is separate; everything is interconnected within our nafs. We rise; we fall within our own selves or nafs. Jannah and Jahannum is inside, so Allah and Satan too are inside, nothing is unconnected or unrelated, the entire theme of the book Quran is interlinked with one another in sequence order.

The often repeated phrase "fasad fil ardh" is a main theme of the book Quran, it relates to corruption, depravity and rottenness in mind or lower consciousness. The Quranic phrase fasad fil al-ardh does not mean fighting or spreading corruption / mischief on land or on the Earth. This important phrase is about our own lower consciousness which must be kept clean, governed, managed for the sake of peaceful and happy mind.

 

The philosophy of Islam is not about governing the land or Earth it's only about governing our own mind. The book Quran does not have a constitution to govern lands or countries but it has immense guidelines on how to keep ourselves peaceful. 

The subject of the book Quran is nafs and it discusses the topic of Nafs / Self in the context of human beings to achieve peaceful happy and constructive soul / nafs.

The book Quran explains each and every dimension of human mind. One of the important meanings of nafs in Lexicon also signifies human mind. In Quran one of the attributes of Allah is Nafs but very few people can actually grasp or connect with this major Quranic attribute. People will question if Allah is Nafs then all the nafs have to taste death. Yes true, our nafs daily taste or experience the cycle of death and its revival, it is a continuous struggle of life and death; it is a continuous struggle of our nafs to remain divine. But man is ungrateful and foolish the darker side is more appealing to him and he yields to satanic forces and is deprived of peace, happiness and balanced life.

Allah is represented by the pronoun هُوَ (huwa) in the book Quran - Huwa is not a name or an attribute but one of the important nameless representation of Conscience, commonly inferred as Allah. Huwa is categorized as الضمَائر (zameer) in Arabic grammar. Huwa is zameer (الضمَائر) in the Quranic sense. Zameer simply means conscience. In the context of the book Quran Huwa represents the metaphysical pronoun of Allah. In Arabic language huwa is rightly identified as conscience as the term Allah is not a person, place or thing that can be illustrated by physical pronouns of He, She or It. Allah is depicted as Conscience which is above the physical aspects, that's why Huwa in Quranic sense is Conscience / Allah and not a personal pronoun He, She and It. 

In Persian Khuda means which is self defined or self created and self guided. Huwa هُوَ represents abstract conscience, our inner being much above the general grammatical sense of noun and pronoun.

In Quranic context Conscience itself is our inherent script (Al-Kitab), our compilation of thoughts that speaks is our own Quran, our measuring instrument is Furqan, our guidance and wisdom comes from our inherent Kitab. Following Al-Kitab is following and obeying Allah. If we are connected with our Kitab that means we are connected with Allah. We can never be separated from Allah or the script of Allah. The Kitab too is not a physical object but it is the speech of Allah compiled and embedded in us and downloaded (nazil) on our qalb (intellect).

 

Nafs is a mercurial Energy which can adapt and adopt all forms, it is up to us to shape that energy or give it any character. Development or evolution of Nafs of man is for the benefit of man and it is the only subject of the book Quran. 

In the context existential self is all about the connection with the Evolver, Evolution and the causes of Devolution of self. Evolution takes us towards Hidden Garden of Enlightenment (Jannah) and Devolution take us towards regression (Jahannum), these all are state of mind. Connection with the script (Al-Kitab) is connection (salat) with Allah and the key of Jannah. Our evolution stops when we are disconnected with our inherent script (Al-Kitab).

When we operate ourselves by our own whims and fancies we lose ourselves by getting absorbed in the glamour of the material world all around us; by not connecting our real selves with the inner world, ignoring our true self and our own scripted role.

Taqwa is self-actualization of self. When people imitate others they don't trust themselves, they create an artificial purpose and meaning of life and live by it. The majority of people are discontent with their life because they opt for easy choices by copying others thus wealth continues to accumulate and man continue to decay. Instead of exercising their own intellectual faculty they misused their privilege of liberty of freewill and take shortcuts to satisfy his cravings. 

One of the characteristics of Nafs is that it likes to be worshipped, adored and loved to be pampered. Ego, pride and arrogance are the negative characteristic of self / nafs. Service to ego is service to Satan and service to positive characteristics of nafs is service to our own positive energy, which is Allah. So beware of our mercurial Nafs going astray and converting into Satan by leaving the path of Allah.

The intention of writing this article is that there are no two powers. All powers belong to Allah. Satan and Allah are two sides of the same coin. We become the side we feed. The book Quran is all about the management of self. It is not about pleasing any God or serving any Devil. The book Quran is about our own self; it does not discuss personalities, science, history or geography.

Peace / Salam

BELIEVING VERSUS KNOWING

BELIEVING VERSUS KNOWING.

People suffer more because their emotions overtake their intellect. To be emotional we do not require any efforts or labour but to be an intellectual we require education, knowledge, hard work, focus and discipline.

Same way believing in God is easy or leaving God is also easy but Knowing God is tough. Knowing God is important than believing in God. We are blindly giving translated references as if we know God or know the Will of God or know the Book of God.

The book Quran emphasis on testimony, experiencing and witnessing popularly known as shahadah in Quranic terminology. A true believer is one who has witnessed Allah, who knows Allah, one who knows the Power and how it can effect our life and life around us.

We cannot understand Allah without knowledge, without experiencing it in our own selves. We cannot love Allah, we cannot respect Allah, we cannot fear Allah without knowing it. True love and respect comes from Knowledge. Worshipping without Knowledge is idol worshiping.

Without thinking, pondering, contemplating we cannot understand Allah or the Power. Blindly following any books, copy-pasting some references is good for debates or to win an argument but to know Allah we require intellect, wisdom and open inquisitive mindset.
We do not require special skills to believe in God or reject it's existence. It is an individuals decision based on emotions rather than knowledge. For me God represents Power in English language. It is upto us how to use that Power. Power exist but we need to know that Power rather than just blindly believing in it.

Humans and all around us are manifestation of that Supreme Power. There is no two powers, A Single Force compromising of all type of energies merged together in single units.

Some people term that Power as Consciousness. Consciousness is Supreme Awareness which is linked with Knowledge. Each one of us are made up of different level of Consciousness. We are not separate but everyone of us is Consciousness acting at different levels.

We are here to develop that Consciousness, we are here to evolve that Consciousness. We are not here to just accumulate material and fight for it. We are here to become aware and reach our destination.
Too much attachments are distractions, living a balance life is important and finding our purpose is intelligence.

People prefer belief over using their intelligence because belief is easily inherited while intelligence require to think out of that belief. People get easily offended if we question their belief because some do not want to think freely, they are comfortable in their own boxes. Some do not have the capacity to think because they fear to look beyond. Belief is their God and if we question their beliefs they think we are attacking their God.

QUESTION & ANSWER

 

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Here some very important questions put forward by my esteemed friend. First I would like to apologize for responding very late as its bit difficult for me to convert my thoughts into English language as I am not a good linguist. These are very important questions that need to be addressed very carefully so it required some sincere time.

//Dear ahle aqal, I am coming to a simple conclusion that your over-arching view on "Know yourself" & “know your purpose in life" is fundamentally flawed.//

 Firstly dear friend this is not my personal view, this is what I have understood from the book Quran. Knowing oneself means knowing our own direction, our limits, our strength and our weakness. How can we operate without knowing the most complicated machine, can we? And that machine is our own self, our own mind, our own psyche. I don't understand what is wrong in understanding or knowing our own selves before operating it? We need to understand our own mind before operating it. There is no harm in knowing what we are and what we are capable of?

 //I am not being disrespectful to you, just pointing out a natural flaw in your analysis.//

 The main flaw, blunder or foolishness is not to understand the machine before operating it. I am your friend and it is only because of you that I am one of the admin of this august group. I like your straightforwardness, I always respect sincere questions. I am just an ordinary translator of the book Quran. Till date whatever little I know it is from the study of the book Quran, I have full confidence that my analysis is right, thus I am here to humbly defend it. I would never escape by saying Allah knows the best. I speak with full responsibility and honesty. 

 //You make the assumption that the majority of humanity have the luxury to reflect and act on "knowing one-self" and "knowing their purpose in their existence". //

 When I say that the subject of the book Quran is to know oneself, it means to know our own respective inherent script (Al-Kitab). This is not luxury but a very important necessary. If we recognize our inherent script in early stages of life then we won't require to copy or imitate anyone to live our life, sadness and depression would never touch us.

 Everything is provided in that inherent script (Al-Kitab) we just need to apply our intellect and study or be a keen observer. There is no other way but to reflect and think. The main problem is we have lost that early molding stage of our life, now it is difficult to go back and learn. Now at this stage it looks absurd to think back about our own self because materialistically we are successful or we think the only to success is by material up gradation. We need to look deep inwards and ask ourselves are our souls are happy and satisfied with the achievement we have?

 The words Quran, Kitab, Furqan, Hudayah, Zikr, Hakim, Taqwa are all related to our embedded script preserved in our mind. We must think and there is no other way or easy way of living. Action without reflection is 99% failure. Most people fail because they don't think, they act on impulse.

 The book Quran often admonishes its reader to think, ponder, reflect and use intellect. This means we don't have to blindly follow any book or ideology or person. The label Muslims don't think at all, they love to copy others and that blindly copying is the lethal prescription for disaster and discontentment in life.

 //The vast majority of humanity live hand-to-mouth, even in developed countries, worrying about if they can pay their next fuel bill or whether they can provide their children a wholesome food for their next meal.//

 Yes it is true many people struggle to make a living, those who make a good living also struggle, and it may not be for material gains but other issues such as health and mental peace. So struggling is part of life. I too live a hand-to-mouth life and there is nothing wrong in it but I continuously think about my failures and why I am failing again and again. Why satisfaction is missing even if I am not starving but still thinking. All are not fortunate to live a luxurious life. Is living a luxurious life should be our aim or living a happy life must be our goal?

 The main reason people fail in life because they don't follow their field of interest. Our field of inclination is our true wealth which we ignore in lieu for race, competition and rivalry with others. Our respective field of interest is written, embedded in our inherent script. It is inherited by all of us but we fail to recognize it.

 The main subject of book Quran is how to achieve mental peace, under which the subject of worrying and depression too is addressed. The subject peace of mind is not an ordinary subject that we can overlook. The cause of depression and worrying is due to not understanding our role in life and pursue those desires that is impossible to get fulfilled. In short we are not able to understand our strength and weakness to fulfill that desire. When we understand our role our script of our life and whole heartedly accept it then material gain is the byproduct of it. Imitating or copying others won't bring any goodness in life. Job satisfaction is important in life and that will only come through when we know what work makes us happy and content. Our script time and again keeps reminding us to follow the embedded script because only in it is the prescription for successful and healthy life. 

 //And tell me and our members, if we forgot about the fuel bills and the next meal to feed our children.... how will contemplating over "knowing one-self" and "knowing our purpose in life" help our predicament?//

 The book Quran persistently tells us to think, remember and analyze our life. Forgetfulness of responsibilities is considered morally bad and evil. The book never says to take refuge in mountains or forest and your food will come from the sky. Thirst and hunger are very common and important topics of life, no one can ignore it. No sane person will undermine these issues of food, clothing and shelter; it is utterly foolishness and stupidity not to think about it.

 The book Quran is forcing us to think, analyze and know our own script before undertaking any profession in life. Knowing our inherent script is to know ourselves. We can excel in life physically, mentally, financially, emotionally only if we understand ourselves. Knowing ourselves means to know our field of work and evolve in it. In Quranic terminology it is accepting our direction known as Qibla. We will succeed if we recognize our script and follow it sincerely and honestly. Good and healthy living is a byproduct of following our own inherent script. Follow the script carefully and sincerely the food, clothing shelter and fuel will come at your doorstep. Go towards your script and all your necessities will come at your place.

 //Surely the Quran, was not written for people who had the luxury to ponder and nasle-gaze about knowing one-self and the purpose of one’s existence.//

 Brother knowing is knowledge. Being human is all about uniqueness and acquiring knowledge. Information gathering is part of knowledge which every human does knowingly or unknowingly. Pondering, contemplating is not a luxury but necessity of life. It is incumbent on every human being to think before acting. It is not about thinking about others but it is to think about our own self on how to live, how to cope, how to survive, how to conquer our own selves. Thinking and caring about others is second stage. Thinking is not at all a luxurious commodity but necessity to find ways for peaceful simple living. Occupied in constructive thoughts is not nestle gazing but a step towards progressive evolution.

 //Brother ahle aqal, please understand, I am in no way undermining your superior knowledge of the Quran.  I am only asking humbly, how your interpretation of the Quran is anyway related and reflective of issues faced by 99% of humanity.//

 No doubt that 100% of the humanity faces the necessities of food, clothing and shelter since the time immemorial. This problem is not new. Some people have prevailed over these problems but still they face some other problems. The book Quran is a problem solver that emphasizes us to think, ponder, contemplate remember and analyze our own self. Thinking is the only solution and it is incumbent on every human being. We don't need a book to instruct us but sadly common sense is not common that's why the book Quran emphasizing on education, knowledge, thinking, contemplating, pondering...

We must know that nothing is in our control, we can only think, desire but ultimately nature works in its own flow. The revolution of Earth is not in our hands, the formation of days and nights are not even hand, Sun shine, Moon light, Air, Water, Food are not in our control. We just can think, reflect, that's the only thing which we can do before acting, the results are not in our hands.

Knowing ourselves is not about from where we have come from or where we will go after we die. It is mainly about serving properly when we are still alive. We cannot serve without knowing our capacity, ability and capabilities. Work is worship; work is service (ibadah). Serving Nature is serving our own self. 

It is not how much resource we have, but how we utilize it and how much we enjoy, that's the secret to happiness and peace

Thank you 🙏

 

AL-NISA 4:34

 AL-NISA IS NOT THE WOMEN

THE TRILITERAL ROOT OF النِّسَاءِ IS NOT ن س و 

THE TRILITERAL ROOT OF النِّسَاءِ IS ن س أ

4:34 - الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُواْ مِنْا أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّهُ وَاللاَّتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلاَ تَبْغُواْ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلاً إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا

Contextual Interpretation & understanding:

Strength to bear the burden of our urges / desire with their own efforts is ar-rijalu (ٱلرِّجَالُ), it is a steadfast mindset (قَوَّٰمُونَ) upon which our desire / urges (ٱلنِّسَآءِ) depend or are based, that is what our conscience (ٱللَّهُ) preferred (فَضَّلَ) some of them (بَعۡضَهُمۡ) over other (بَعۡضٍ) mindsets. However strong mindset has to pay the price (أَنفَقُواْ) for their inclination (أَمۡوَٰلِهِمْۚ), thus corrective urges (فَالصَّالِحَاتُ) are obedient (قَانِتَاتٌ) protecting (حَافِظَاتٌ) the unseen results of the future (لِّلْغَيْبِ), that which (بِمَا) is protected / preserved (حَفِظَ) by the conscience (اللّهُ). And from these (وَاللاَّتِي) bad urges you fear (تَخَافُونَ) of their uprising (نُشُوزَهُنَّ) then strictly control them (فَعِظُوهُنَّ) and cut them off (وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ) in the comfort zone (الْمَضَاجِعِ) itself and strike them off (وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ) completely from your life. And if they (urges) still follow you (أَطَعْنَكُمْ), do not (فَلاَ) seek (تَبْغُواْ) any other way (سَبِيلاً) for/upon them (عَلَيْهِنَّ) to fulfill it. Indeed conscience (اللّهَ) is forever (كَانَ) is most high (عَلِيًّا), most great (كَبِيرًا) -

KEY WORDS OF THE VERSE:

الرِّجَالُ - One of the main constituent of our mind that has the strength to carry the load of life, basic and important tool for survival. Popularly interpreted as Man, which is wrong.

قَوَّامُونَ - The other derivatives of this word is تَقْوِيم - الْقِيَامَةِ - الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - مُقِيمٌ -
- مَقَامِي - مَقَامِ - قُمِ - اسْتَقَامُوا - أَقِمِ - الْقَوْمِ - قَآئِم - the essence of these words are to remain standing at one place, steadfast, not moving - word قَوَّامُونَ is a plural of word قَوْمِ generally translated as community or people - but in the context of this verse the traditionalist translators have interpreted it as protectors, managers, maintainers, in-charge, supporters, care takers which is utterly wrong and go against the principles of root word languages. 

النِّسَاءِ - urge, desire that drive us.

TAZKIYA NAFS / PURIFICATION OF SOUL

 

WHAT IS TAZKIYA NAFS OR PURIFICATION OF SOUL?

Tazkiya nafs, although the term tazkiya nafs is not thoroughly mentioned in the book Quran but most of the verses and Islamic philosophy indicates its inference. 

People loosely termed tazikya nafs as purification of inner self or soul. Tazkiya is actually a very tough process of growth, development and evolution of self. The growth of the nafs occurs due to honest realization, recognition of our own unique embedded script. By following our own unique script (al-kitab) we can bring change of mind, this is tazkiya nafs or cleaning of our mind from our traditional belief.

The role of our inner script (al-kitab) and our inner rasul is very important in building / growing / developing our psyche (nafs). The script continuously speaks to us through the voice of Allah. We need to able to pick up the voice and listen to it that is emerging out from the script (al-kitab). Rasul is the voice of Allah embedded in all of us, known as rasulallah in Quranic terminology. This voice is lying dormant in majority of us, we all need to raise that voice in us.

The purpose of our inherent script (al-kitab) is not for reading but for following. The Quranic words تَتْلُونَ / تَتْلُو / يَتْلُونَ / اتْلُ mentioned in the book are vaguely translated as recite which is contextually and linguistically wrong. The basic meaning of تِلَاوَة is to follow and not to recite. By only reciting (تِلَاوَة) the physical book nobody grows / develops or become purified. We need to identify and follow the inner script in order to grow or bring change. Tazkiya nafs is not about chanting, reciting or repeating some prescribed words or verses from the book Quran and expecting a miracle that purifies our nafs (mind, body and soul). 

Another big mistake done by our translators is to translate the Arabic word ayat (آيَاتٍ) as verses, whereas it's actual meaning is active signs, valid signs that points, indicate, guide, signal our direction. The signs are living that are meant to be followed, to be inferred and never to be read, recited or for rote reading. In the context of the book Quran ayats are vibrant signs in ourselves by following it we can reach our intended destination. Therefore ayats are meant to be followed and not meant for reciting تِلَاوَة - Ayaats are not at all related to rote reading but more importantly its only purpose is to follow them consciously.

The message of the book Quran is to follow the signs of our own script taught to us by our own inherent rasul, that’s the way to grow, purify and refine our nafs. Dead rasul cannot purify us; the rasul must be living inside us to purify us. A rasul in the grave cannot purify anyone. 

Let's study some verses of the book Quran in order to understand the role of the contextual rasul in purifying us.

2:129 - Our Rabb! Raise in them a rasul from them who will continuously follow on them Your signs, teach them the script (al-kitab) and wisdom, and purify / refine them. Indeed, You are the Almighty, All-Wise -

2:151- Since We have sent in you a rasul from you—following on you Our signs, purifying / refining you, continuously teaching you the script (al-kitab) and wisdom, and teaching you what you would have never have known —

3:164 - Certainly Allah confer great favor upon the believing mindset when He raised in them a rasul from their own selves/nafs / soul, continuously pursuing upon them his signs and purifying  / refining them and continuously teaching them the script  (al-kitab) and wisdom, inspite of that they were in the state of acceptance the clear error . 

65:11 - A rasul continuously following / pursuing upon you the distinct signs of Allah that he may bring out those who believe and do reconciliation from darkness into the light. And whoever continuously believes with Allah and constantly do reconciliation - He will be admitted into hidden gardens of enlightenment (jannah) beneath which rivers of enlightenment flow abiding in it forever. Certainly Allah will have perfected knowledge for him as provision. 

62:2 - It is He who has raised in/for self correction a rasul from themselves continuously following / pursuing upon them his ayaats and purifying / refining them and constantly teaching them the script and wisdom - in spite of that they were from the state of acceptance, surely among those who strayed clearly. 

So it is clear from the above verses the role and the identity of the rasul in purifying our nafs. Rasul the voice of Allah continuously pursue us with his ayaats (signs, indicators, pointers, symptoms) from our own inherent script and relentlessly teach us wisdom. An outside rasul or the book cannot purify our nafs / inner self. 

The book Quran is not about universal moral values, neither it dictates to build one's character, these all are common subjects which do not require extra ordinary book like Quran. The subject of the book Quran is much larger and complex than what we can imagine; the subject is Meta Physics (bilgayab) related to human beings.

The beauty of this book Quran is that it does not dictate its readers to do this or don't do this. It is not a book of do's and don'ts. The book Quran makes us aware / conscious / warns about the consequences of not governing our urges, emotions, feelings, thoughts and conscience properly.

The book Quran is not about governing the material world but it is about governing the inner world of mankind which is unseen (bilgayab) and the signs need to be recognized and tackled.  

The world which is inside us is the topic of the book Quran. The inner world that drives our lives is the unbroken theme of the book Quran. Faith in that unseen world is hard to believe but it is the main qualification to understand the book Quran and able read the signs (ayaat) in our own self. That’s why the book Quran emphasis on words like faith, believes, trust, submit, surrender and reconcile.

Allah, Satan, Iblees, Malaikah, Rasul, Nabi, Jannah, Jahannum are the main terminologies of the book Quran. Nobody has seen these abstract elements in their life, still the readers revere this book Quran on the basis of faith in unseen (bilgayab). To understand the book Quran the readers must have faith in these metaphysical elements and energies otherwise they won't be able to comprehend the essence of the entire message.

 

THE THEME OF THE QURAN

 

The book Quran directs you to see your own self (nafs). It is a book of guidance to separate individuals to understand and connect with (salat) their own script (al-kitab) and select their direction of life (Qibla). The book Quran does not paint everyone with the same brush or color.

The book Quran does not propagate the entire mankind to follow only one book, follow one culture, follow one direction, follow only one language or emphasis that only one language is important, follow one discipline or be a part of a single society. Every individual is unique so their way of living will naturally be different nevertheless the moral values will remain same and permanent for everyone.

The main intention of the book Quran is to love and respect one another inspite of being different. Unity in diversity is the concise message of the book.

The book Quran guides individuals to choose their unique field of interest. The book Quran open up various venues for every individual to follow. The book provokes them time and again to think, ponder, meditate, observe and be cautious. It emphasis them to trust their own ability, not to copy others and be focused on their field of interest because that is their true wealth.

Copying others is the biggest sin because you are compromising or associating (shirk) somebody's else script with your own script (al-kitab) in lieu for some quick gains but it won't bring long lasting peace to your life. Following your own script (al-kitab) is the mantra of peaceful life (Islam / Shanti / Shalom).

SURAH NISA - 4:101

 

Contextual interpretation / translation of 4:101.

4:101 - وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُواْ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُواْ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا

If you are forced to enter in the lower state of consciousness (الْأَرْضِ) and you do not find any tendency of inclination (جُنَاحٌ) upon you, that means you are not getting enough power (تَقْصُرُواْ) from the process of connection (الصَّلاَةِ), if you are apprehensive (خِفْتُمْ) that those ungrateful / egoist / arrogant thoughts (كَفَرُواْ) may test you / prevent you (from getting connected). Indeed the kafireen (ungrateful / egoist / arrogant thoughts) for you an open enemy.  

The verse is saying when we are in the lower state of consciousness our connection gets powerless or weakened. That means our salat is not working it has become powerless because our satanic thoughts prevent us from getting connected with our real self. Satanic thoughts are always hidden and disguised that's why they are termed as Kafir by the book Quran. 

Salat is the bridge of power between lower consciousness and higher consciousness, so we need to uphold our salat 24x7 so that satan could not enter in our system

The popular meaning of the word qasar is to shortened but one of the other meaning is fall short to reach the target, little or no power,... 

So when we are in state of junabah (inclination) towards the lower state of consciousness we tend to lose power. Salat is the power that connects ourselves to our real self through our inherent script, so we must never lose the power of connection (salat).

One of the meanings of word junabah is inclination, the popular translation of junabah is to blame.

One of the contextual meaning of ضَرَبۡ is to check, go in, forced to go when the nail is hammered. The popular meaning of daraba is to hit, strike, beat violently, travel, set forth, knock - the word signifies intensive sense.

Note: This verse has nothing to do with shortening of ritual prayers at the time of war, battle or travelling. This concept is senseless and illogical.