In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Firstdroplet:
Three great and universal things make
our Lord knownto us: the Book of the Universe (explained elsewhere), the
Seal of theProphets (the Book of the Universe's supreme sign), and the
Qur'an.Now we must recognize and listen to the Seal of the Prophets, that
artic-ulate proof and announcer of God with all His Names and Attributes,His
Existence and Unity.Look at that illustrious proof's universal personality:
Earth's surface ishis mosque, Makka is his
mihrab
(prayer niche), and Madina is his pulpit.Our Prophet is
the leader of all believers, preacher to all humanity, chief of
all Prophets, lord of all saints, and leader in the remembrance
of Godof a circle comprising all Prophets and saints. With all Prophets as
itsroots and all saints as its ever-fresh fruits, he is a radiant tree. All
Proph-ets, with the support of their miracles, and all saints, relying on
theirwonders, confirm and corroborate his claim that "There is no deity
butGod." All illustrious reciters of God's Names lined up in the past and
fu-ture repeat these words in unison, as if to say: "You speak the truth,
andwhat you say is right!" What illusion can dispute an argument
confirmed by such countless endorsements?
Seconddroplet:
Just as the consensus and unanimity of all Prophetsand
saints affirm this radiant proof of Divine Unity, hundreds of signs inthe
revealed Scriptures (e.g., the Torah and the Gospels), thousands
of indications of his Prophethood that appeared prior to his mission,
fam-ous reports of voices from the Unseen, soothsayers' unanimous testi-mony,
thousands of miracles, and the justice and truth of his Shari'a allconfirm and
corroborate him. Similarly, his laudable virtues' perfection,his complete confidence
in his mission, his most excellent qualities in re-lation to its fulfillment,
and his extraordinary awe of God, worship,serenity, and firmness—all
demonstrate the strength of his belief. In
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addition, his total certainty and complete steadfastness
clearly show hisclaim's undeniable truth.
Thirddroplet:
In our imaginations, let's go to Arabia during the
Ageof Bliss and visit him while he is performing his mission. Look! We see
aperson distinguished by his character's excellence and his form's beauty.He
holds a miraculous book and speaks a truthful discourse. He deliversan eternal
sermon to humanity, jinn, angels—indeed to all beings. Hesolves and expounds
the mystery of the world's creation, discovers andsolves the universe's
intricate mystery, and provides convincing and sat-isfying answers to questions
asked constantly by all beings: Who am I?What is the purpose of my life? Where
did I come from? Were am I go-ing? What is my final destination?
Fourthdroplet:
Behold! He spreads such a light of truth that, if
youlook at the universe without the light of his guidance, you see it as aplace
of mourning, of beings that are alien or even hostile to each anoth-er, of
inanimate beings that are ghastly corpses, and of living creaturesthat are
orphans weeping under the blows of death and separation. Butthe light he
spreads transforms that place of universal mourning into aplace of invocation
where God's Names and praises are recited in joyand ecstasy. Those alien,
hostile beings are friends and brothers and sis-ters. Dumb, inanimate creatures
assume the form of familiar, obedientofficials and docile servants. Weeping,
complaining orphans either reciteGod's Names and praises or offer thanks for
being discharged from theirduties.
Fifthdroplet:
Again, through this light, the universe's motions,
vari-ations, changes, and transformations are no longer considered meaning-less
and futile playthings of chance, but appear in their true form andfunction:
missives of the universe's Master, a page inscribed with thesigns of creation,
a mirror reflecting God's Names. The world itself isshown to be a book of the
Eternally-Besought-of-All's wisdom. Withoutthis light, our boundless weakness,
helplessness, poverty, and needinesscause us to fall lower than animals. And
then our intellect makes us evenmore wretched by conveying grief, sorrow, and
anxiety to
us.But when this light illumines us, we rise above all animals andcreatures,
and our poverty and helplessness become means of infinitewealth and power by
our dependence on God. We ascend to the level
of being a beloved monarch through entreaty, and through lamenting we become
a vicegerent of Earth. In other words, only this light prevents theuniverse,
humanity, and all things from being reduced to nothingness.
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Such a person is necessary in such a wondrous universe, for
without himthere would be no need for the universe and all the worlds to
exist.
Sixthdroplet:
This being announces and brings good tidings of
eternalhappiness. He unveils and proclaims God's infinite Mercy, observes
andheralds the beauties of the Realm of the Lord's Sovereignty, and dis-closes
and displays the Divine Names' treasures. If you observe him as adevoted
worshipper of God, you will see him to be a model of love andan embodiment of
mercy, as well as the pride of humanity and the Treeof Creations' most
illustrious fruit. If you observe him as a Messenger,you will see him to be a proof
of God, a lamp of truth, a sun of guidance,and the means of happiness. Look!
His light has lit up from East to Westlike dazzling lightning, and half of the
globe and one-fifth of humanityhave accepted his guidance and preserved it like
their lives. So whyshould our evil-commanding selves and satans not accept
"There is nodeity but God," the essence of his mission?
Seventhdroplet:
Consider how he eradicated his people's deep
attach-ment to evil and savage customs and immoral qualities; equipped
andadorned his desperate, wild, and unyielding people with all praise-worthy
virtues; and made them teachers and masters of the world, espe-cially to the
"civilized" nations. His domination was not outward; rather,he
conquered and subjugated their minds, spirits, hearts, and souls.
He became the beloved of hearts, the teacher of minds, the trainer of souls,and
the ruler of spirits.
Eighthdroplet:
A small habit like smoking can be removed perman-ently
from a small community only by a powerful ruler and with greateffort. But see
how this man quickly removed numerous ingrained habitsfrom large obsessed
communities with little outward power and little ef-fort, and then replaced
them with exalted qualities that became inherentin their being. He accomplished
many more such miraculous things. Tothose who refuse to see the testimony of
that blessed time, we challengethem with Arabia's present-day reality. Let them
go there with hundredsof philosophers, sociologists, and psychologists for a
century and see if they can achieve even one-hundredth of what the Prophet
achieved in ayear.
Ninthdroplet:
An unimportant person cannot lie to a group of
peopleabout something insignificant without giving himself or herself
awaythrough anxiety or unease. And yet this person, while undertaking a
tre-mendous task in the name of Messengership and needing
protectionagainst his enemies, easily speaks about great causes before large
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congregations without any anxiety or hesitation. Furthermore,
no contra-dictions can be found in what he proclaims with such pure sincerity
andgreat seriousness. In addition, he does so in such an intense,
elevatedmanner that he irritates his enemies. How could there have been any
de-ception? What he speaks is nothing but Revelation revealed. The truthcannot
be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived. His path,which is pure
truth, contains no deception.
Tenthdroplet:
Consider the curiosity-arousing, attractive,
necessary,and awesome truths that he shows and the matters that he proves.
Allpeople are curious. Suppose someone said: "If you give half of
yourproperty, someone will come from Mars or Jupiter to tell you aboutthem, as
well as your future and what will happen to you." If you haveany curiosity
at all, you will do as requested. But this person talks of oth-er things: of a
Monarch in whose realm the moon flies round a moth(Earth) like a fly, and the
moth flutters round a lamp (the sun), which
is just one of thousands of lamps in one of the Monarch's countless guest-houses.
Also, he speaks truly of so wondrous a world and predicts sucha revolution that
it would not be strange if Earth was a bomb and ex-ploded. Listen to the
suras
he recites, which begin with:
When the sun is folded up. (81:1)When the sky is cleft
asunder. (82:1)(The day) of Noise and Clamor. (101:1)
He speaks so truly of such a future that, in relation to it,
the future inthis world is like a trifling mirage. He informs us so solemnly of
suchhappiness that all worldly happiness is like a flash of lightning in
com-parison to an eternal sun.
Eleventhdroplet:
Such wonders await us under the universe's appar-ent
veil. We need a wonderful and miracle-working person to commu-nicate and
explain these wonders to us. His conduct proves that he hasseen—and sees—them,
and he tells us what he sees. He teaches us whatthe One God of those heavens
and Earth, Who nourishes us with
His bounties, wants of us and how we can please Him. While we shoulddrop
everything in order to run to and then heed this person who in-structs us in
these and many other necessary and curiosity-arousingthings, most people are so
deaf and blind—even mad—that they do notsee, hear, or understand this truth.
Twelfthdroplet:
As well as being an articulate proof and
truthfulevidence of the Oneness of the Creator of all beings, this person is a
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decisive proof and clear evidence of the Resurrection and
eternal happi-ness. Given that he is the cause for gaining eternal happiness
through hisguidance, he is the cause of its existence and the means of its
creationthrough his prayers and supplications.See! While supplicating during
this supreme prayer, it is as if Ara- bia—even Earth—prays through
his sublime presence and makes its pe-tition. He entreats amid
so vast a congregation that it is as if all illustri-ous people of perfection
from the time of Adam until the end of time arefollowing him and saying
"Amen" to his supplications. He implores on behalf
of so universal a need that the inhabitants
of Earth and the heav-ens, indeed all beings, join in his prayer,
declaring: "Yes, O Master, grantthat to us, for we also desire it."
He supplicates so needily and sorrow-fully, and in such a loving, longing, and
entreating fashion, that he brings the universe to tears and causes it to
join in his prayer.And see! The goal and purpose for which he prays
elevates humanityand the world, even all of creation, from the lowest ranks of
humiliation,worthlessness, and uselessness to the highest ranks of having
value, per-manence, and sublime duties. He supplicates and petitions in a
mannerso elevated and help-seeking, so sweet and mercy-imploring, that it is
asif he causes all beings and the heavens and the Divine Throne of Grace
tohear. And then, bringing them to ecstasy, he causes them to
exclaim:"Amen, O God, Amen!"He begs his needs from so Powerful a Being,
All-Hearing and All-Gen-erous, from so All-Knowing a Being, All-Seeing and
All-Merciful, thatthat Being sees the most hidden being's secret need, hears
and accepts itsentreaties, and has mercy on it. He meets its need, even though
this be-ing asks for it through the tongue of its disposition, and gives it in
such awise, seeing, and compassionate form that it leaves no doubt that
only anAll-Hearing and All-Seeing One, One Most Generous and Most Merciful,can
do so.Thirteenth droplet: What does he want, this pride of humanity, thisunique
being and glory of all beings, who stands for prayer with all em-inent people
behind him and with hands upraised? He is seeking eternalhappiness, eternal
life, a meeting with God, and Paradise. He wants allof these through the Divine
Names, which display their beauty and oper-ations in the mirrors of
beings. Even one of his prayers, were it not forsuch innumerable causes as
Mercy, Grace, Wisdom, and Justice fulfillingthat request, would be enough to
build Paradise, which is as easy forDivine Power as creating spring. Just as
his Messengership opened this
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place of trial, his worship and servitude to God opened a way
to the nextworld.I wonder how the universe's perfect order, which causes wise
and re-flective people to say that no "new" universe could be more
original andwonderful, as well as the flawless beauty of His Mercy's art and
HisMastership's matchless beauty, could be at all consonant with
ugliness,mercilessness, and disorder. I wonder how He could refuse the most
im-portant and necessary desires while satisfying the most insignificantwishes.
Such a thing is impossible!So, my imaginary friend, let's return. Even if we
stayed for 100 yearswe could not comprehend fully even one-hundredth of his
marvelousand remarkable acts. We would never tire of observing him. During
ourreturn, we will look at each century to see how each has bloomed
fullythrough the flow of light received from that Sun of Guidance, and how
ityielded thousands of such illustrious fruits as Abu Hanifa, Shafi'i,Bayazid al-Bistami, 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Shah Naqshband, ImamGhazzali,
and Imam Rabbani.Postponing the details of our observations, we should invoke
blessingson that worker of miracles and bringer of guidance that refer to some
of his certain miracles:Upon him—our master Muhammad—to whom the
All-Compassion-ate and All-Merciful One sent the Wise Criterion of Truth (the
Qur'an)from the Mighty Throne, be peace and blessings equaling the number
of his community's good deeds. Upon him whose Messengership was fore-told
by the Torah, Gospels, and Psalms; whose Prophethood was pre-dicted by wondrous
events prior to his Prophethood, and by the voicesof jinn, saints of humanity,
and soothsayers; and at whose gesture themoon split, may there be peace and
blessings equaling the number of hiscommunity's breaths.Upon him at whose
beckoning trees came; by whose prayer rain fell;whom the cloud shaded from the
heat; who made one dish of food satis-fy hundreds of people; from whose fingers
water flowed like the Springof Kawthar; to whom God caused the lizard, the
gazelle, the wolf, thecamel, the mountain, the rock, the pole, and the clod of
earth to speak;the one who made the Ascension (Mi'raj) and
whose eye did not waver,
may there be peace and blessings equaling the number of
letters (in theQur'an) formed in the words represented, with the
All-Compassionate'spermission, in the mirrors of the airwaves when
all reciters of the Qur'an,from the beginning of Revelation until the end
of time, recite its words.
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Forgive us and have mercy upon us, O God, for the sake of
each of those blessings. Amen.
Fourteenthdroplet:
The Qur'an, the treasury of miracles and itself
asupreme miracle, proves Muhammad's Prophethood and God's Onenessso decisively
that no further proof is needed. We now define this miracleand refer to one or
two flashes of its miraculousness that have beencriticized.The Qur'an, which
makes our Master known to us, is an eternal trans-lator of the great Book of
the Universe; the discloser of the DivineNames' treasures hidden in the pages
of Earth and the heavens; the keyto the truths lying beneath the lines of
events; the treasury of the All-Compassionate's favors; the eternal addresses
coming from the Unseenworld beyond this visible world's veil; the sun of
Islam's spiritual and in-tellectual world; the foundation, plan, and map of the
Hereafter's worlds;the expounder, lucid interpreter, articulate proof, and
clear translator of the Divine Essence, Attributes, and acts; humanity's
educator, trainer,guide, and leader; and true wisdom. It is a book of wisdom
and law,prayer and worship, command and summons, invocation and know-ledge of
God; a book that contains books for all of humanity's spiritualneeds, like a
sacred library offering books from which all saints, emin-ently truthful
people, and all purified and discerning scholars derivetheir particular
ways.Consider the flash of miraculousness in its reiterations, which are
ima-gined to be a fault. Yet such reiteration is desirable, for the Qur'an is
a book of invocation, prayer, and summons. In this context,
reiteration is amost necessary and beautiful eloquence, for invoking
God requires thatthe Qur'an be able to impress and enlighten hearts.
Through repetition,prayer acquires and gives strength and becomes ingrained in
hearts.Commands and summons need restatement to be confirmed andenforced.Moreover,
not everyone can read the whole Qur'an any time he or shewants, but usually he
or she can read one
sura
. This is why the Qur'an'smost important purposes are
reiterated in most of the longer
suras
,
eachof which thereby becomes like a small Qur'an. Such purposes andthemes
as Divine Unity, Resurrection, and the story of Moses are re-peated so that no
one is deprived of their benefits. Furthermore, spiritualtastes and needs vary,
just like bodily tastes and needs. Humanity is inneed of some at every breath.
Just like the body needs air, the spiritneeds the particle
Hu–Huwa
(He–God). It needs others every hour, like
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Bismillah
(In the Name of God). Reiteration therefore arises from
recur-ring need, and to point out those needs, make them deeply felt, andawaken
people to the need to satisfy them.Also the Qur'an is the founder and basis of
the perfect religion (Islam)and the foundation of its world. It came to change
humanity's social lifeand answer people's recurring questions. Repetition is
necessary for afounder to affirm, and reiteration is necessary to emphasize.
Establishingsomething new requires confirmation and strengthening, and
thereforerepetition.The Qur'an speaks of such important matters and subtle
truths that re-iteration is necessary in different contexts in order to impress
them onpeople's minds and hearts. Actually, such repetition is merely
apparent,for in reality each word has manifold meanings, numerous benefits,
andmany aspects and levels. The words or verses always occur in a
differentplace, way, context, and for a different meaning, purpose, and
benefit.Certain cosmological matters are mentioned in a concise, allusive
way.Doing so is not a fault, as some unbelievers and atheists assert, but
rathera flash of miraculousness, for the Qur'an came to guide humanity.
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