The Twin worlds of reality:
Why the Quran compares the physical world with that of the spiritual world? : Physical world is made in the mirror image of the Spiritual world so that the unseen can be understood and comprehended. That is why the Quran is repeatedly to be mindful about God’s message (signs) or ayats in the nature. Reading these signs written all over the physical reality is what is alluded to in the term “read” in the sura 96 verse 1:
The most important sings in the physical world is that the Universe is maintaining harmony and stability through compliance. This peace of the Universe is conveying the message of compliance and should instruct human beings. The entire physical reality is giving messages that are to be understood and learned in order to approach Truth and be successful.
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96. [al-Alaq, Mecca 1]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
96: 1. Proclaim! (or Read!)
C6203. lqraa may mean;
"read", or
"recite or rehearse", or
"proclaim aloud",
the object understood being Allah's Message.
In worldly letters he was unversed, but with spiritual knowledge his mind and soul were filled, and now had come the time when he must stand forth to the world and declare his mission.
... بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ﴿١﴾
in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created --
C6204. The declaration or proclamation was to be in the name of Allah the Creator. It was not for any personal benefit to the Prophet: to him there was to come bitter persecution, sorrow, and suffering. It was the call of Allah for the benefit of erring humanity.
Allah is mentioned by his title of "thy Lord and Cherisher", to establish a direct nexus between the source of the Message and the one addressed. The Message was not merely an abstract proposition of philosophy, but the direct concrete message of a personal Allah to the creatures whom He loves and cherishes.
"Thy" addressed to the Prophet is appropriate in two ways:
1. he was in direct contact with the divine Messenger (Gabriel) and Him Who sent the Messenger;
2. he represented the whole of humanity, in a fuller sense than that in which Christ Jesus is the "Son of Man".
96: 1
Asad Read in the name of thy Sustainer, who has created
Pickthall Read: In the name of thy Lord who createth,
Transliteration Iqra bismi rabikal lazi halaq
This “reading” is not merely the reading of the Quran, because “reading” what, at that time no other verse preceded this verse. The angel, as the tradition says, that he was repeating this command at least three times without telling the Prophet what to read and where to read from. Understanding this context is and this process is paramount to what is being said here: this reading is the reading of the reality in which God’s message or signs are inscribed.
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2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
ثُمَّ
قَسَتْ
قُلُوبُكُم
مِّن بَعْدِ
ذَلِكَ فَهِيَ
كَالْحِجَارَةِ
أَوْ أَشَدُّ
قَسْوَةً...
2: 74. Thenceforth were your hearts hardened; they became like a rock and even worse in hardness.
... وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الأَنْهَارُ...
For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth;
... وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاء...
others there are which when split asunder send forth water;
... وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللّهِ...
and others which sink for fear of Allah.
... وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧٤﴾
And Allah is not unmindful of what ye do.
C82. The sinner's heart gets harder and harder. It is even harder than rocks, of which a beautiful poetical allegory is placed before us.
In nature we think there is nothing harder than rocks. But there are rocks that weep voluntarily, like repentant hearts that come to Allah of their own accord; such are the rocks from which rivers and springs flow spontaneously, sometimes in small trickles, sometimes in big volumes.
Then there are rocks which have to be split or dug into or blown up with dynamite, and underneath we find abundant waters, as in wells beneath rocky soil. Such are the hearts of a less degree of fineness, which yet melt into tears when some great blow or calamity calls the mind to higher things. (R).
Other Versions:
2: 74
Asad And yet, after all this, your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder: for, behold, there are rocks from which streams gush forth; and, behold, there are some from which, when they are cleft, water issues; and, behold, there are some that fall down for awe of God. (note 59) And God is not unmindful of what you do!
Pickthall Then, even after that, your hearts were hardened and became as rocks, or worse than rocks, for hardness. For indeed there are rocks from out which rivers gush, and indeed there are rocks which split asunder so that water flows from them. And indeed there are rocks which fall down for the fear of Allah. Allah is not unaware of what ye do.
Transliteration Summa qasat qulu_bukum mim ba'di za_lika fa hiya kal hija_rati au asyaddu qaswah(tan), wa inna minal hija_rati lama_ yatafajjaru minhul anhu_r(u), wa inna minha_ lama_ yasysyaqqaqu fa yakhruju minhul ma_'(u), wa inna minha_ lama_ yahbitu min khasy-yatilla_h(i), wa malla_hu bi ga_ilin 'amma_ ta'malu_n(a). 75.Afatatma'u_na ay yu'minu_ lakum wa qad ka_na fariqum minhum yasma'u_na kala_malla_hi summa yuharrifu_nahu_ mim ba'di ma_ 'aqalu_hu wa hum ya'lamu_n(a).
[ Ruby’s note: It is interesting to note why this analogy of rock is used here and what is it conveying. I think what is being said is that the hardness of a person’s heart in a state of arrogance and denial cannot be compared with that of a rock. Because a rock, after all complies with God’s natural law and at times it is even penetrated by a soft substance like water in that state of compliance. A human heart in the state of denial, on the other hand, does not comply with the spiritual law. ]
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16. Surah al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ
إِلَى الطَّيْرِ...
16: 79. Do they not look at the birds,
... مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاء مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللّهُ...
held poised in the midst of (the air and) the sky?
Nothing holds them up but (the power of) Allah.
C2113. All the wonderful things in creation are due to the artistry, power, and wisdom of Allah. Such is the flight of birds in mid-air.
So also are the inventions and discoveries, due to man's intelligence, in the next verse; for man's intelligence is a gift direct from Allah.
... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾
Verily in this are Signs for those who believe.
16: 79
Asad Have, then, they never considered the birds, enabled to fly in mid-air, with none but God holding them aloft? In this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who will believe!
Pickthall Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe.
Transliteration Alam yarau ilat tairi musakhkhara_tin fi jawwis sama_'(i),ma_ yumsikuhunna illalla_h(u), inna fi za_lika la a_ya_til liqaumiy yu'minu_n(a).
[Ruby’s note: The birds can sustain flight because they are created and the air of sky is created in such a way that they can fly. God is the ultimate cause of all causes, He is the Sustainer of the reality. The verse indicates here not the transitory cause of aerodynamics to sustain birds in the sky through their ability to maneuver wings in particular way against the air, but of the ultimate Cause which Sustains the intermediate physical