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A
PARABLE TO DISCUSS THE
RESURRECTION AND HEREAFTER
In
the Name of God, the Merciful,
the Compassionate.
Look
upon the signs and
imprints of God’s Mercy,
how He revives the earth
after its death. He it is
Who will revive the dead
[in the same way]. He is
powerful over all things.
(30:50)
Brother!
If you wish to hear a discussion
of the Resurrection and the
Hereafter in simple, everyday
language, then listen to the
following parable:
Once
two men went to a land as
beautiful as Paradise (i.e. this
world). They saw that everyone
had left his house’s door open
and his shop unlocked- money and
property were left unprotected.
One of these two men began to
seize everything he wanted,
stealing and usurping it.
Following his desires, he
committed every kind of
injustice and indecency. The
people there, however, did
almost nothing to stop him. His
friend said to him:
-
What are you doing? You will
be punished, and I will be
in trouble together with
you. All this property is
collectively owned. All of
the people here are soldiers
or government servants. They
are working as civilians
now. That is why they are
not interfering with you.
But the order is strict. The
king has installed
telephones, and his officers
are everywhere. Leave right
away.
But
the foolish man was also
obstinate and said:
-
No, it’s not public
property; it belongs to some
charity or other and has no
owner. Everyone can make use
of it however he wishes. I
don’t see any reason for
not using these fine things.
I won’t believe unless I
see with my own eyes.’ He
also spoke a lot of
sophistry like a
philosopher. Then a serious
debate followed between the
two men. First, the
obstinate one asked, ‘Who
is the king? I don’t know
him.
Every
village must have its chief.
Every needle must have its
manufacturer. And, as you
know, every letter must be
written by someone. How,
then, can it be that so
extremely well organized a
land should have no ruler?
His
friend replied:
-
Every village must have its
chief. Every needle must
have its manufacturer. And,
as you know, every letter
must be written by someone.
How, then, can it be that so
extremely well organized a
land should have no ruler?
And how can so much wealth
have no owner, when every
hour a train2 arrives filled
with precious and
well-crafted gifts, as if
coming from the realm of the
Unseen? It unloads here and
then goes on. How can it be
without an owner? And all
the announcements and
proclamations, all the seals
and stamps found on all
those goods, all the coins
and the flags waving in
every corner of the
kingdom-can they be without
an owner? It seems you have
acquired some training in
foreign languages, but you
are unable to read this
Islamic script. In addition,
you refuse to ask those who
are able to read it. Let me
read you the supreme decree.
The
obstinate man then retorted:
-
Well, let’s suppose there
is a king, but what harm can
he suffer from the tiny use
I am making of his wealth?
How will it diminish his
treasury? Furthermore, there
is nothing resembling a
prison here. I don’t
expect any punishment.
His
friend replied:
-
Be serious! This land is a
training ground and an
exhibition of the king’s
wonderful royal arts. It’s
a temporary hospice, not a
permanent residence. Don’t
you see that every day one
caravan arrives as another
departs? Soon the land will
be changed and its people
will be transported to
another, eternal land.
There, everyone will either
be rewarded or punished
according to his services.
The
unbeliever retorted obstinately:
-
I don’t believe it. Is it
possible that this land should
be moved to another place?
His
faithful friend answered:
-
Since you are so obstinate
and rebellious, come and let
me show you, with some
Pictures, a few of the
innumerable proofs that
there is a Supreme Tribunal,
a realm of reward and
generosity and a realm of
punishment and constriction.
You will see that just as
this world is partially
emptied everyday, so too a
day will come when it will
be totally emptied and
destroyed.
Pictures
Showing the Supreme Tribunal
Is
it possible that in any kingdom,
and particularly so magnificent
a kingdom as this, there should
be no reward for those who serve
obediently and no punishment for
those who rebel? Reward and
punishment are virtually
non-existent here. Therefore,
there must be a Supreme Tribunal
somewhere else.
Look
at this organization and
administration! See how
everyone, including the poorest
and the weakest, is provided
with the most appropriate and
perfect sustenance. The best
care is taken of the lonely and
sick. And there are also royal
and delicious foods, dishes,
jeweled decorations, embroidered
clothes, magnificent feasts. See
how everyone pays great
attention to his duties except
rebels like you. No one steps
over his bounds even an inch.
The greatest of all men is
engaged in modest and obedient
service, with an attitude of
fear and awe. The ruler of this
kingdom must possess, then,
great generosity and an
all-embracing compassion. And he
has great dignity, the most
exalted honor and high state.
Now generosity requires
liberality, and compassion
cannot be dispensed without
beneficence, and honor and high
state make it imperative that
the discourteous be punished.
But not even a thousandth part
of what that compassion and that
high state require is visible in
this realm. The oppressor
retains his power, and the
oppressed, his humiliation, as
they both depart from this
realm. Thus their affairs are
left to a Supreme Tribunal.
See
how wisely and orderly affairs
are managed, and with what true
justice and balance transactions
are made. Now a wise polity
requires that those who seek
refuge under the protecting wing
of the state receive favor.
Justice demands that the rights
of subjects be preserved, so
that the dignity of government,
the authority and splendor of
the state, should be maintained.
But here in this land, not a
thousandth part is fulfilled.
Disobedient people like you
usually leave this realm
unpunished. Their affairs are,
then, left to a Supreme
Tribunal.
Look
at the innumerable and unequaled
jewels displayed here and the
great dishes laid out as in a
banquet! They demonstrate that
the ruler of these lands has an
inexhaustible treasury and is
infinitely generous. Now, such
generosity and such a treasury
deserve and require a bountiful
display that should be eternal
and include all possible objects
of desire. They further require
that all who enjoy the fruits of
this feast be there eternally,
so they do not suffer pain
because of death and separation
until eternity. For, just as at
the end of pain there is
pleasure, so too is the end of
pleasure painful. Look at these
displays and pay attention to
the announcements! Listen to
these heralds proclaiming the
fine and delicate arts of a
miracle-working monarch. They
are showing his perfections!
They are declaring his matchless
and invisible beauty. They are
telling of the subtle
manifestations of his hidden
beauty. He must have, then, an
altogether amazing beauty and
perfection, here unseen. This
hidden perfection requires one
who will appreciate and admire
it, who will gaze on it
exclaiming, masha’ Allah!
(what wonders God has willed),
thus displaying it and making it
known. As for concealed and
matchless beauty, it too wishes
to see and be seen, that is, to
behold itself in two ways. One
is to contemplate itself in
different mirrors. The other is
to contemplate itself by means
of the gazes of ecstatic
spectators and amazed admirers.
It wishes to see and be seen, to
contemplate itself eternally and
be contemplated without cease.
It also desires permanent
existence for those who gaze
upon it in awe and joy. For
eternal beauty can never be
content with a passing admirer.
Moreover, an admirer destined to
perish without hope of return
will find his love turning to
enmity whenever he imagines his
death; his admiration and
respect will tend to
contempt-because man is an enemy
to what he does not know and
cannot reach. However, everyone
leaves this guesthouse very
quickly and vanishes. He leaves
having seen, for only a moment,
a faint light or shadow of that
perfection and beauty, without
in any way being satisfied.
Thus, we may understand that we
are heading towards an eternal
realm of seeing.
It
is evident from all these
matters that that peerless being
is one of infinite mercy. He
causes aid to be swiftly
extended to every afflicted or
unfortunate one. He answers
every request and petition. He
mercifully fulfils even the
lowliest need of his lowliest
subject. If, for example, the
foot of a sheep should hurt, he
either provides some medicine or
sends a veterinarian.
Come
now and let’s go; there’s a
great meeting on that island.
All the nobles of the land have
assembled there. See, a highly
decorated and noble commander is
making a speech. He’s
petitioning that compassionate
king. All the people are saying
in unison, ‘Yes, yes, we ask
for the same.’ They agree with
and affirm his words. Now listen
to what that noble commander,
who is best loved by the king,
is saying:
Our
Lord! -You who nurture us with
your bounty-show us the origin
and true form of these examples
and shadows you have shown us!
Draw us close to your seat of
rule. Do not let us perish in
these deserts! Admit us to your
presence. Have mercy on us! Feed
us there on the true form of the
exquisite bounty that you have
caused us to taste here! Do not
afflict us with despair and
banishment! Do not leave your
yearning, thankful and obedient
subjects to their own devices;
do not cause them to be
annihilated!
Having
heard what he says, do you think
it at all possible that so
merciful and powerful a king
should totally fulfill the
lowliest desire of his lowliest
soldier, and not fulfill the
finest and highest aim of his
most beloved and noble
commander? Moreover, the purpose
of that commander is also the
purpose of all men. And its
fulfillment is required by the
pleasure, the compassion and the
justice of the king. And it is
easy for him, not difficult. It
doesn’t cause him any more
difficulty than does the
creation of these transient
places of enjoyment. He has
expended so much on this land,
which is only a transient place
of recreation that lasts five or
six days, in order to
demonstrate instances of his
power and benevolence. Then he
will, without doubt, display at
his seat of rule true treasures,
perfections and skills in such a
manner, and open before us such
spectacles, that our intellects
will be astonished.
Those
sent to this field of trial will
not, therefore, be left to their
own devices; rather, palaces of
bliss or dungeons of torment
await them.
Come
now, look! All these imposing
trains, planes, machines,
warehouses, exhibitions show
that, behind the veil, a
majestic king exists and
governs.
Such
a sovereign requires subjects
worthy of himself. But now you
see all his subjects gathered in
a guesthouse filled and emptied
each day. Moreover, his subjects
are now gathered on a
testing-ground for the sake of
maneuvers. And this ground is
also being changed each hour.
Again, all the subjects stay in
an exhibition-hall for a few
minutes to behold examples of
the king’s beneficence,
priceless products of his
miraculous art. But the
exhibition itself alters each
moment. Whatever goes does not
come back again; whatever comes
is destined to go. Now, this
situation and circumstance
conclusively show that beyond
the guest-house, the
testing-ground, the exhibition,
there are permanent palaces,
lasting abodes, and gardens and
treasuries full of the pure and
exalted originals of the
examples and shapes we see in
this world. It is for the sake
of those that we exert ourselves
here. Here he makes us work, and
there he gives reward-a form and
degree of felicity suited to
everyone’s capacity awaits us
there.
Come,
let us walk a little. Let us see
what is to be found among these
civilized people. Look! In every
place, at every corner,
photographers are sitting and
taking pictures. Look,
everywhere there are scribes
sitting and writing things down.
They are recording everything,
registering the least
significant of deeds, the most
ordinary of events. Now look up
at the tall mountain; there you
see a supreme photographer
installed, devoted to the
service of the king.1
He is taking pictures of all
that happens in the area. The
king must have ordered that all
the transactions made and deeds
performed in his kingdom be
recorded. In other words, that
exalted personage is having all
events registered and
photographically recorded. The
precise recording must without
doubt be for the sake of one day
calling his subjects to account.
Now,
is it at all possible that an
All-Wise and All-Preserving
Being, Who does not neglect the
most banal doings of the lowest
of His subjects, should not
record the most significant
deeds of the greatest among his
subjects? That he should not
call them to account, not reward
and punish them for their deeds?
After all, it is those foremost
among his subjects that perform
deeds offensive to His glory,
contrary to His pride and
unacceptable to His compassion.
They remain unpunished in this
world. Their affairs are, then,
left to a Supreme Tribunal.
Come,
let me read to you the decrees
issued by that king. See, he
repeatedly makes the following
promises and dire threats: ‘I
will take you from your present
abode and bring you to the realm
of my absolute rule. There I
shall bestow happiness on the
obedient and imprison the
disobedient. Destroying that
temporary abode, I shall found a
different realm containing
eternal palaces and dungeons.’
He is able to fulfill easily the
promises that he makes, and
these promises are very
important for his subjects. It
is, moreover, incompatible with
his dignity and power that he
should break his promise. So
reflect, O confused one, on how
you assent to the claims of your
lying imagination, your
distressed intellect, and your
deceiving soul. They deny the
words of a being Who cannot be
compelled by any means to break
his promise, whose high stature
does not admit any such
deception, and to whose
trustworthiness all visible
deeds bear witness. Surely you
deserve a great punishment. You
are like a traveler who closes
his eyes to the light of the sun
and looks instead to his own
imagination for light. His fancy
wishes to illuminate his
awesomely dark path with the
light of his brain, although it
is no more than a glowworm. Once
that king makes a promise, he
will by all means fulfill it.
Its fulfillment is most easy for
him, and moreover, most
necessary for all of us and all
things, as well as for himself
and his kingdom. There is,
therefore, a Supreme Tribunal,
and a lofty felicity.
Come
now! Look at the managers of
these offices and heads of these
groups.2 Each has a private
telephone to speak personally
with the king. Sometimes too
they go directly to his
presence. Consider what they say
and unanimously report, that the
king has prepared a most
magnificent and awesome place
for reward and punishment. His
promises are emphatic and his
threats are most stern. His
pride and dignity are such that
he would in no way stoop to the
humiliation inherent in the
breaking of a promise. The
bearers of this report, who are
so numerous as to be universally
accepted, further report with
the strong unanimity of
consensus that the seat and
headquarters of the lofty
kingdom, some of whose traces
are visible here, is another
realm far distant from here. The
buildings existing in this
testing-ground are but
temporary, and will later be
exchanged for eternal palaces.
This world will change. For that
magnificent and unfading
kingdom, the splendor of which
is apparent from its works, can
in no way be founded or based on
so transient, impermanent,
unstable, insignificant,
changing, defective and
imperfect matters. It is based
rather on matters worthy of it,
eternal, stable, permanent and
glorious.
There
is, then, another realm, and we
are bound for it.
Come,
today is the vernal equinox.3
Certain changes will take place,
and wonderful things will
happen. On this fine spring day,
let us go for a walk on the
green plain adorned with
beautiful flowers. See, other
people are also coming toward
it. There must be some magic at
work, for buildings that were
mere ruins have suddenly sprung
up again here, and this once
empty plain has become like a
populous city. See, every hour
it shows a different scene, just
like a cinema screen, and takes
on a different shape. But
notice, too, that among these
complex, swiftly changing and
multifarious scenes perfect
order exists, so that all things
are in their proper place. The
imaginary scenes presented to us
on the cinema screen cannot be
as well ordered as this, and
millions of skilled magicians
would be incapable of this
artistry. This king whom we
cannot see must, then, have
performed even greater miracles.
O
obstinate one! You ask, ‘How
can this vast kingdom be
destroyed and re-established
somewhere else?’ You see that
every hour numerous changes and
revolutions occur, just like
that transfer from one realm to
another that your mind will not
accept. From this gathering in
and scattering forth it can be
deduced that a certain purpose
is concealed within these
visible and swift instances of
joining and separation, these
instances of compounding and
dissolving. It is as if ten
years of effort is devoted to a
joining together destined to
last no longer than an hour. So
these circumstances we witness
cannot be ends in themselves.
They are a kind of parable of
something beyond themselves, an
intimation of it. That exalted
being brings them about in
miraculous fashion, so that they
are copied, and the result is
preserved and recorded, in just
the same way that every picture
of a maneuver on the
battleground is written down and
recorded. This implies that an
infinitely vast place of
gathering will be built where
proceedings will be based on
what happens here. Further, the
results of all that occurs here
will be permanently displayed at
some supreme exposition. All the
transient and fluctuating
phenomena we see here will yield
the fruit of eternal and
immutable form.
All
the variations we observe in
this world are then, for the
sake of a supreme happiness, a
lofty tribunal, for the sake of
exalted aims as yet unknown to
us.
Come,
o obstinate friend! Let us
embark on a plane or a train
traveling east or west, that is,
to the past or the future. Let
us see what miraculous works
that being has accomplished in
other places. See, there are
marvels on every hand like those
we perceive in our own station
and sphere. They differ,
however, with respect to art and
to form. Note well, however,
what order and harmony
betokening manifest wisdom, what
indications of evident favoring,
what signs of lofty justice, and
what fruits of comprehensive
mercy, are to be seen in these
transient stations, these
impermanent spheres, these
passing scenes. Anyone not
totally devoid of insight will
certainly understand that no
wisdom can be imagined more
perfect than his, no providence
more beautiful than his, no
compassion more comprehensive
than his, and no justice more
glorious than his. Let’s
imagine for the sake of
argument, as you do, that no
permanent abodes, lofty places,
fixed stations, no permanently
resident and contented
population, existed in the
sphere of his kingdom. Let’s
suppose that the truths of his
wisdom, favoring, mercy and
justice had no realm in which to
manifest themselves fully. Then
we would be obliged to deny the
wisdom we see, to deny the
provision we observe, to deny
the mercy that is in front of
our eyes, and to deny the
evident justice. This would be
as idiotic as denying the sun,
whose light we clearly see at
midday. We would also have to
regard the one from whom proceed
all these wise measures we see,
all these generous acts, all
these merciful gifts, as a vile
playful trickster or treacherous
tyrant (God forbid!). This would
be to turn truth into its
opposite. And the change of
truths into their opposites is
impossible, according to the
unanimous testimony of all
rational beings, excepting only
the idiot sophists who deny
everything.
There
is, then, a realm apart from the
present one. In it, there is a
supreme tribunal, a lofty place
of justice, an exalted place of
reward, where all this favoring,
wisdom, mercy and justice will
be made fully manifest.
Come,
let’s return now. We will
speak to the chiefs and officers
of these various groups. Looking
at their equipment, we will
inquire whether that equipment
has been given them only for the
sake of subsisting for a brief
period in that realm, or whether
it has been given for the sake
of obtaining a long life of
bliss in another realm. Let’s
see. We cannot look at everyone
and his equipment. But by way of
example, let’s look at the
identity card and register of
this officer. On his card, his
rank, salary, duty, supplies and
instructions are recorded. See,
this rank has not been awarded
him for just a few days; it may
be given for a prolonged period.
It says on his card: ‘You will
receive so much salary on
such-and-such a day from the
treasury.’ But the date in
question will not arrive for a
long time to come, after this
realm has been vacated.
Similarly, the duty mentioned on
his card has not been given for
this temporary realm, but rather
for the sake of earning a
permanent felicity in some
degree of nearness to the king.
Then, too, the supplies awarded
him cannot be merely for the
sake of subsisting in this
hospice of a few days’
duration; they can only be for
the sake of a long and happy
life. The instructions make it
clear that he is destined for a
different place, that he is
working for another realm. Now
look at these registers. They
contain instructions for the use
and disposition of weapons and
equipment. If there were no
realm other than this, one
exalted and eternal, that
register with its categorical
instructions and that identity
card with its clear information,
would both be quite meaningless.
Further, that respected officer,
that noble commander, that
honored chief, would fall to a
degree lower than that of all
men; he would be more wretched,
luckless, abased, afflicted,
indigent and weak than anyone.
Apply the same principle to
everything. Whatever you look
upon bears witness that after
this transient world another and
eternal world exists.
O
friend! This temporary world is
like a field. It is a place of
training, a market. Without
doubt a supreme tribunal and
ultimate happiness will succeed
it. If you deny this, you will
be obliged also to deny the
identity card of all officers,
their equipment and their
orders. In fact, you will have
to deny too all the order
existing in the country, the
existence of a government in it
and all the measures that the
government takes. Then you will
no longer deserve the name of
man or the right to be called a
conscious being.
-
Beware, do not imagine that the
proofs of the transfer of
creation from one realm to
another are restricted to these
Twelve Pictures. There are
indications and proofs beyond
counting and enumeration, all
showing that this impermanent,
changing kingdom will be
transferred into a permanent and
immutable realm. There are also
innumerable signs and evidences
that men will be taken from this
temporary hospice and sent to
the eternal seat of rule of all
creation.
I
will show one proof in
particular that is stronger than
all the Twelve Pictures taken
together.
Eternal
announcement of the noble
commander
Look, in the midst of the great
assembly visible in the
distance, the same noble
commander whom we previously saw
on the island, adorned with
numerous decorations, is making
an announcement. Let’s go and
listen. See, that luminous and
most noble commander is
conveying to the assembly an
imperial edict, hung high over
there. He says:
Prepare
yourselves. You will go to
another and permanent realm, a
realm such that this one will
appear as a dungeon by
comparison. You will go to the
throne of our king, and there
receive his compassion and his
bounty, if you heed this edict
well and obey it. But if you
rebel and disobey it, you will
be cast into awesome dungeons.’
Such
is the message that he conveys.
If you look at the decree, you
will see that it bears such a
miraculous seal that it cannot
in any way be imitated. Everyone
apart from some obstinate,
rebellious ones such as you
knows of a certainty that the
decree is from the king.
Moreover, the noble commander
bears such bright decorations
that everyone except those
unseeing like you, understands
full well that he is the
truthful conveyor of the king’s
orders.
Is
it at all possible that the
teaching of transfer from one
realm to another, challengingly
conveyed by that noble commander
in the supreme edict he has
received, should be open to
objection? No, it is not
possible, unless we deny all
that we have seen.
-
Now, O friend, it is your turn
to speak. Say what you have to
say.
-
I say only: Praise be to God. A
hundred thousand thanks that I
have been saved from the
dominance of fancy and vain
imagination, and delivered from
an eternal prison. I have come
to believe that there is an
abode of felicity in some degree
of nearness to the king,
separate from this confused and
impermanent hospice.
1.
Some of the truths indicated in
this parable have been set forth
in the Seventh Truth. However,
let us point out here that the
figure of the photographer
devoted to the service of the
king is an indication of the
Supreme Guarded Tablet. The
reality and existence of this
Tablet has been proved in the
Twenty- sixth Word as follows: a
little portfolio suggests the
existence of a great ledger; a
little document points to the
existence of a great register;
and little drops point to the
existence of a great water tank.
So too the retentive faculties
of men, the fruits of trees, the
seeds and kernels of fruit,
being each like a little
portfolio, a guarded tablet in
miniature or a drop proceeding
from the pen that inscribes the
great Guarded Tablet, they point
to, indicate and prove, the
existence of a Supreme Memory, a
Great Register, an exalted
Guarded Tablet. Indeed, they
demonstrate this conclusively to
the sharp intellect.
2.
The meanings indicated in this
parable can be found in the
Eight Truth. For example, by
heads of offices we mean the
Prophets and the saints. As for
the telephone, it is a link and
relation with God that goes
forth from the heart and is the
mirror of Revelation and the
receptacle of inspiration. The
heart is like the ear- piece of
that telephone.
3.
You will find in the Ninth Truth
what this aspect alludes to. The
equinox represents the beginning
of spring. The green fields full
of flowers represent the earth
in spring. The changing scenes
stand for the creatures, beings
and things in springtime and the
provisions for mankind and
animals which a Majestic,
Powerful Maker, an All-Wise,
Gracious Creator, from the
beginning of spring to the end
of summer, brings forth in
orderly succession, renews with
the utmost compassion, and
dispatches continuously one
after the other.
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