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SHOOTING
STARS: THE CLASH BETWEEN THE
INHABITANTS OF THE HEAVENS AND DEVILS
In
the Name of God, the Merciful, the
Compassionate
Assuredly,
We have adorned the world’s heaven
with lamps,
and We have made them
missiles for the devils.
O
modern, educated man, in order to ascend
to the heaven of this verse’s meaning,
first read the following report about a
meteor shower.
The
Perseid meteor shower
The
Perseid meteor shower observed in
almost every year suggests that those
meteors are shot for certain,
important purposes. For they surprise
the observers by showing great
diversity. The observations made in,
for example, 1993, demonstrate the
fact that the structure of the shower
is yet poorly known.
According
to information given by the
International Meteor Organization
about the events of the 1993 shower
(Astronomy, October 1993), the first
results posted for the night of 11/12
August came from Japan. Up to 20:30
(all times UT), 11 August, the meteor
rates were found to be normal. A
zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of 40
meteors per hour (m/h) was tentatively
assigned to the shower at this time.
Preliminary
data from European observers indicated
that the rates had gradually increased
to ZHR of order 100 m/h between 20:00,
11 August and 01:00, 12 August.
Observers in France reported a
noticeable increase in rates after
00:30, 12 August, with the rate being
about twice that of ‘normal’. The
rates continued to climb between 01:00
and 03:00. A preliminary ZHR of
200-250 was ascribed to this period.
The rates appeared to reach a maximum
between 03:00 and 03:30. The ZHR at
maximum was estimated to be of the
order of 500. Observations from the
Canary Islands indicated that the
rates began to decline after 04:00.
Higher
than normal rates were also reported
from many observers in the United
States and Japan. As commented by
Martin Beech in Astronomy, p.11, the
results clearly indicated that the
shower did not behave as predicted.
Speculation about a possible meteor
storm proved incorrect. Another
unexpected feature in 1993 was the
high number of bright fireballs
observed. Observers reported something
like five times the normal level of
Perseid fireballs on the night of
11/12 August. The Perseid shower once
again demonstrated how difficult it is
to predict meteor shower activity.
A.
Cressy Morrison (Man Does Not Stand
Alone, New York, 1945, p.100)
mentions, as a typical human
characteristic, the reluctance to give
up fixed ideas, the stubborn
resistance to accepting unfamiliar
truths. The early Greeks knew the
earth was a sphere, but it took two
thousand years to convince men that
this fact is true. New ideas encounter
opposition, ridicule and abuse, but
truth survives and is verified.
Neither scientific studies nor
developments in science can offer any
excuse not to accept God. What we
observe in nature and what we obtain
from it must encourage us to know Him
more closely and see the strong bridge
between science and religion, the
world and the Hereafter, and between
the reason and the spirit.
Now,
come and let us climb together a stairway
of seven steps:
First
step
Existence
of Angels
Reality
and wisdom require that, just as the earth
does, the heavens should also have
inhabitants of their own. In the language
of Islam, those inhabitants of various
kinds are called angels.
Indeed,
reality requires it to be so, for despite
its small size and relative
insignificance, the earth is being
alternately filled with living and
conscious beings, then emptied of them,
then replenished again. This
suggests-rather, it shows evidently-that
the heavens too, which have magnificent
constellations and are like decorated
palaces, must also be filled with
conscious and percipient beings. Like men
and jinn, those beings too are spectators
of the palace of the world, students of
the book of the universe, and heralds of
the sovereignty of Divine Lordship. For
its Lord has embellished and ornamented
the universe with innumerable decorations,
beauties, and inscriptions, and this
evidently requires the existence of
contemplative and appreciative eyes that
will observe and be delighted. Certainly,
beauty requires a lover, and food is given
to the hungry. Men and jinn are able to
perform only a millionth of this boundless
duty, this glorious viewing, and this
comprehensive worship. This means that
countless sorts of angels and spirit
beings are necessary to perform these
infinite and diverse duties and acts of
worship.
Some
prophetic traditions suggest, and the
wisdom in the order of the universe
indicates, that certain kinds of moving
bodies, from planets to drops of rain, are
the transports of some kinds of angels.
They mount them by God’s permission and
tour and view the visible, material world.
Also, it may be said that certain kinds of
animal bodies, from the birds of Paradise
called ‘the green birds’ in a hadith,
to flies, are the ‘aircraft’ for one
kind of spirits. They enter them by God’s
command, look round the physical world,
and observe the miracles of creation
through the windows of the senses of those
bodies.
The
Creator Who continuously creates subtle
life and enlightened, percipient beings
from dense earth and turbid water, must
certainly have created conscious beings
from light and even from darkness who are
worthier to have a higher life and spirit,
and created them in great abundance.
Second
step
The
earth and the heavens are connected to
each other like
two countries under one government.
The
earth and the heavens are connected to
each other like two countries under one
government. There are important relations
and transactions between them. Things
necessary for the earth like light, heat,
blessings, and forms of mercy like rain,
come, rather, are being sent, from the
sky. Also, it is unanimously confirmed by
all the heavenly religions, which are
founded on revelation, that the angels and
spirit beings descend to the earth from
the heavens. This truth is also agreed
upon by all the saintly scholars who
unveil the secret truths of creation on
the basis of what they have witnessed.
From this it may be concluded as almost
certainly as if it were directly sensed
that for the inhabitants of the earth
there is a way to ascend to the heavens.
Indeed,
everyone can always travel to the heavens
through his mind, vision and imagination.
So too, freed from or purified of the
gross heaviness of their carnal and
material being, the spirits of the
prophets and saints travel there by God’s
leave, and the spirits of the ordinary
people do so after their death. Those who
are ‘lightened’ and have acquired ‘subtlety’
and spiritual refinement travel there. For
sure, then, certain inhabitants of the
earth and the air who are clothed in an
‘ideal’ body or energetic envelope or
immaterial body or form and are light and
subtle like spirits, may go to the
heavens.
Third
step
The
inhabitants of the heavens are all
obedient to God and do whatever He
commands them.
The
silence and tranquility, the order and
serene regularity of the heavens, and
their vastness and radiance, show that
their inhabitants are not like those of
the earth; they are all obedient to God
and do whatever He commands them. There is
nothing to cause quarrels or disputes
among them because they are innocent,
their realm is vast, their nature is pure,
and their stations are fixed. On the
earth, opposites exist side by side, evils
are mixed with the good, and disputes
arise among its inhabitants. This is the
reason for the conflicts and suffering on
the earth. Conscious beings are thereby
made subject to testing and competition,
which results in progress or regress. The
reason and truth behind all these facts
are as follows:
Man
is the furthest part of the tree of
creation, its fruit. It is well-known that
the fruit of something is its furthest,
most delicate, and most important part.
Man, the fruit of the universe, is a most
comprehensive, most wonderful, most
impotent and weak, and a most subtle
miracle of Power. Therefore the earth,
which is his cradle and dwelling-place,
is, despite its small size and
insignificance in comparison with the
heavens, the heart and center of the whole
universe with respect to its meaning and
the art it contains. The earth is the
exhibition-place of all the miracles of
the Divine Names; it is the place of
concentration and reflection of the
infinite activity of God as the Lord,
Sustainer, Trainer, and Ruler of all
beings. It is the center and pivot of
endless Divine creativity, which is
displayed in infinite liberality,
especially in the numerous small species
of plants and animals. It is the place, in
a small measure, of the samples of the
things belonging to the truly vast worlds
of the Hereafter. It is the speedily
operating workshop for eternal textiles,
the fast-changing place of the copies of
the eternal scenes, and the narrow,
temporary field and tillage rapidly
producing the seeds for permanent gardens
(in the Hereafter). It is because of this
immaterial greatness of the earth, and its
importance with respect to art, that the
wise Qur’an puts it on a par with the
heavens, although it is like a tiny fruit
of a huge tree when compared with the
heavens. It places it in one pan of a pair
of scales and the whole of the heavens in
the other, and repeatedly says, ‘the
Lord of the heavens and the earth’ [thus
mentioning the earth together with the
heavens].
The
fast and constant changes and
transformations on the earth, which follow
from the purposes mentioned above, require
that its inhabitants should also undergo
corresponding changes. It is because this
bounded earth has been made the object of
countless miracles of Divine Power that
the faculties of men and jinn, who are its
most important inhabitants, have
essentially not been restricted. As a
result of this they have been given the
potential of endless progress and endless
regress. A great field of trial and
testing has opened for everyone, from the
prophets and the saints to the Nimrods and
devils. Since this is so, of course, in
their endless evil, the Pharaoh-like
devils will attack the heavens and its
inhabitants.
Fourth
step
God
has numerous Names whose decrees and
functions are all different
The
Majestic One, Who is the Lord,
Administrator, and Creator of all the
worlds, has numerous titles and Beautiful
Names whose decrees and functions are all
different. For example, whichever title or
Name required the sending of angels to do
battle among the ranks of the Prophet’s
Companions against the unbelievers, also
requires that there should be battle
between angels and devils. It requires
contest between the good inhabitants of
the heavens and the evil inhabitants of
the earth. Certainly the All-Powerful One
of Majesty, Who holds within the grasp of
His Power the souls of the unbelievers,
does not eradicate them with a single
command, a single trumpet-blast. As the
function of being the Lord (Sustainer,
Upbringer, Controller) of all creatures,
and the requirements of His Names the
All-Wise and Administrator, He opens a
field of testing and contest.
Only
for the sake of comparison: a king has
numerous different names and titles in
respect of the different departments of
his government. For example, in the
department of justice he is known by the
name of Just Ruler, in the armed forces as
Supreme Commander, in the office of
religious affairs as Caliph or Supreme
Head of the Church, and in the civil
service as Ruler. His obedient subjects
call him Gracious Sovereign, while the
rebellious call him Overwhelming Ruler.
You may think of further examples.
It
sometimes happens that that exalted king,
who enjoys an absolute sovereignty over
his subjects, does not command the
execution of an abject rebel, rather, as a
requirement of his title Just Ruler, he
sends him to the law court. Similarly, he
does not reward an honest, capable
official worthy of reward by personally
admitting him or directly telephoning him.
Instead, under his titles relating to the
majesty of sovereignty and expedients of
government he opens a field of competition
to make public how deserving the official
is of reward, and commands his minister to
invite the people to watch. He organizes a
welcoming ceremony, and, as the result of
a magnificent royal testing, he rewards
the winning official in the sight of a
distinguished congregation, and proclaims
his worthiness.
As
in the comparison above-God’s is the
highest comparison-the Eternal King has
numerous Beautiful Names. Through the
manifestations of His Majesty and the
manifestations of His Grace, He has many
titles and qualities essential to His
Divine Being. Whichever title and Name
require the existence of light and
darkness, summer and winter, and Paradise
and Hell, they also require that the law
of contest should be universal like the
law of generation and the law of mutual
assistance. From the contest of angelic
inspirations and satanic whisperings
around the heart to the contest between
angels and devils in the vast realm of the
heavens, they require that law to be
all-embracing.
Fifth
step
There
is journeying between the earth and
heavens
Since
there is journeying between the earth and
the heavens, and important necessities for
the earth are sent from the heavens; and
since pure spirits travel to the heavens,
for sure, imitating the pure spirits, the
evil spirits too will attempt to travel to
the heavenly abode. For, physically, they
are light and subtle. However, they will
certainly be repulsed and repelled, for by
nature they are evil and unclean. Without
doubt, there must also be a sign or
reflection in the visible, material world
of this important interaction and contest.
For the wisdom of the sovereignty of
Divine Lordship requires that the Lord
should put a sign, an indication, for
conscious beings, particularly for man,
whose most important duty is observing,
witnessing, supervising, and acting as a
herald, to His significant disposals in
the realm of the Unseen. This is just as
He has made rain a sign for men to
explain, in physical terms, His countless
miracles in spring. He has also made
apparent (natural) causes the pointers to
the wonders of His art, so that He may
call the inhabitants of the visible,
material world to witness them. Indeed He
has done so to attract the attentive gaze
of all the inhabitants of the vast heavens
and the earth to that amazing exhibition.
That is, He displays the vast heavens as a
castle or city arrayed with towers on
which sentries are posted, so that those
inhabitants of the heavens and earth may
reflect on the majesty of His Lordship.
Since
wisdom requires the announcement of this
elevated contest, there will surely be a
sign for it. However, other than some
stars being used as ‘missiles’ for the
devils, no event among those of the
atmosphere and heavens seems to be
appropriate to this announcement. For it
is evident how suitable for the repulsion
of the devils are these stellar events,
which resemble missiles and signal rockets
fired from the formidable bastions of high
castles. Further, unlike other events
taking place in the heavens, no other
function is known for such stellar events.
In addition, this function has been known
widely since the time of Adam, and
witnessed by those who know the reality of
things and events.
Sixth
step
Humanity
and jinn recognize no bounds in rebellion
and transgression
Since
men and jinn are potentially inclined to
and capable of endless evil and dispute,
they recognize no bounds in opposition,
rebellion and transgression. It is because
of this that the Holy Quran restrains
them from rebellion and disobedience with
an eloquence so miraculous, and with a
style so sublime and clear, and with
comparisons and parables so exalted and
evident that it causes the universe to
tremble. For example, give heed to the
awesome warning, fearsome threat, and
severe restraining in the verses,
O
company of jinn and men, if you are
able to penetrate beyond the spheres
of the heavens and the earth, then
penetrate (beyond them)! You will not
be able to penetrate (beyond them)
save by an authority. Then which of
the favors of Your Lord do you deny?
There will be sent, unto you both,
heat of fire and fireless smoke, and
you will not be helped.
These
verses suggest the meaning, ‘O men and
jinn: If you do not obey My Commands, then
pass beyond the bounds of My Kingdom if
you are able!’ With that miraculous
eloquence, these verses break the most
conceited opposition of men and jinn. They
also show how helpless and wretched they
are in relation to the vastness of the
kingdom of God’s Lordship and the
grandeur of His Sovereignty. With those
verses mentioned, and the verse, ‘and We
have made them missiles for the devils,’
the Quran in effect says:
‘Men
and jinn, conceited and refractory despite
your abjectness, and disobedient and
obdurate despite your destitution and
weakness! How dare you oppose in rebellion
the commands of so glorious a King that
the stars, moons, and suns obey His
commands like orderlies at the service of
an officer. Through your transgression you
contest such a Majestic Ruler Who commands
soldiers so awesome and obedient to His
orders that were your devils to stand
against them, they would stone them to
death with cannon-balls the size of
mountains. With your ingratitude, you
revolt in the realm of such a Majestic
Sovereign that He has among His servants
and troops such that can surely rout you.
If you were each an aggressive unbeliever
as formidable and immense as a mountain or
even the earth, they would be able to hurl
at you stars, blazing projectiles, and
flames of fire and smoke the size of
mountains or the earth. You break a law
such that those bound by it could if
necessary strike your earth in your face,
and rain down on you stars like
cannon-balls the size of the earth.’
The
Quran concentrates on certain important
points. This arises not from the enemies
being strong, but from reasons to do with
displaying Divine Majesty and exhibiting
the enemies’ wickedness. Sometimes it
mobilizes against the least and weakest
thing, the greatest and most powerful
causes so as to show the perfect order,
infinite justice, boundless knowledge, and
power of wisdom [displayed in it, in the
universe, and in the human social system
it builds]. By doing so, the Quran aims
to prevent injustices and aggressions in
the whole of the universe. As an example,
consider this verse:
If
you (two women) support each other
against him [the Prophet], truly God,
He is his protecting Friend, and
Gabriel and the righteous among the
believers, and furthermore, the
angels, are his supporters.
What
great respect the verse expresses for the
Prophet, and how considerate it is for the
rights of wives! This emphasis is only to
express greatness of respect for the
Prophet and the importance of the
complaints of two weak beings-the
women-and to remind of observance of their
rights in a way to arouse compassion for
them.
Seventh
step
Stars
also have many different varieties
Like
angels and other creatures, stars also
have many different varieties. Some are
extremely small, and some are extremely
large. Everything that shines in the sky
can be called a star. One sort of star the
Majestic Creator, the Gracious Maker, has
created as a sort of jewel on the face of
the sky or like the shining fruits of a
vast tree or like the floating fishes of
an infinite ocean. He has also made them
the places of excursion or mounts or
dwelling-places for His angels. He has
made one sort of small stars missiles to
drive off devils and kill them. Thus,
firing these shooting stars to repulse
devils may have three meanings:
The
first: It is a sign that the law of
contest is in force also in the vastest
sphere of existence.
The
second: It indicates that in the heavens
there are watchful guards and obedient
inhabitants, divine forces, who do not
like the earthly evil-doers to mix with
and eavesdrop on them.
The
third: The spying satans, who are the
representatives of the filth and
wickedness on the earth, attempt to soil
the clean and pure realm of the heavens
inhabited by pure beings. They try and spy
on the talk of their inhabitants in the
name of evil spirits [unbelieving jinn and
their human companions trying to mislead
people especially through sorcery,
mediumship and soothsaying]. Shooting
stars are fired to prevent them and
repulse them from the doors of the
heavens.
So,
astronomer sir, who, relying on the dim
light of your mind, shut your eyes to the
sun of the Qur’an! Open your eyes, and
climbing all of those seven steps, see in
the light of the Qur’anic miraculousness
as bright as daylight the meaning of the
verse cited at the beginning of this
discourse! Come, and taking together a
star of truth from the heavens of that
verse, let us hurl it at the satans in our
minds and kill them, and also say: My
Lord, I seek refuge in You from the evil
suggestions of satans.
God’s
is the perfect proof and the decisive
wisdom.
Glory
be to You, We have no knowledge save
what You have taught us. Surely, You are
the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
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