art ~ spirit ~ transformation
e*lix*ir

e*lix*ir   #6
autumn 2017
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Editorial

  • His Pen

  • Translations

  • O Nightingales!
    by Nader Saiedi and Anthony A. Lee
  • Tablet addressed to Ali
    by Nader Saiedi
  • Arabic Devotional Writings
    by Stephen Lambden
  • Tablet of the Sun of Reality
    by Stephen Lambden

  • Essays

  • The Art of Translation
    by Brian Miller
  • Signs: Quranic Themes in the Writings of the Báb
    by Todd Lawson

  • Personal Reflections on Bahá’í Texts

  • O Pen!
    by Sandra Lynn Hutchison

  • Photo Narrative

  • Bahá’u’lláh in the Holy Land: Dwellings, Gardens, and Resting Place
    by Dean Wilkey

  • Voices of Iran

  • A Glimpse of the Glorious Landscape of Freedom
    by Rojin Ghavami

  • Art

  • Calligraphy
    by Dr. Muhammad Afnan

  • Looking Back on Books

  • Days of Remembrance: Selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh for Bahá’í Holy Days


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    Photocopy of first page of oldest surviving copy of the Qayyum al-Asma, damaged by sword of religious official to whom it was presented.

    Signs: Quranic Themes in the Writings of the Báb

    by Todd Lawson

    The Báb was an independent Manifestation of God, Author of a discrete revelation and Founder of a new religion. He was also the Herald of the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh. He knew and loved the Quran thoroughly. Indeed, it is His intimate acquaintance with and love for the Quran that lends power and authority to His own Writing, in which His singular vision, teachings and laws have a strong Quranic elan and may be thought to be in deep and respectful conversation with that Book through the hallowed process of interpretation. With the composition of the unprecedented Qayyum al-asma — a consummate and simultaneously incisive and enchanting work of interpretation — the Báb demonstrated the truly incredible breadth and depth of His knowledge and that He had fully interiorized, indeed embodied, the Quran. It is very difficult, therefore, to choose just a few verses or surihs and claim that they are key to His teaching. One could say that every word of the Quran, every letter and every space in the text is key to the Báb’s vision.

    In order to give some idea of the Quranic themes that occupied the Báb in His writing, a few verses have been singled out here, in addition to two short surihs. The translation used is the one by Arthur J. Arberry. Arberry’s translation is one of the most respected translations of the Quran by either a Muslim or a non-Muslim scholar. It is highly poetic and philologically sound. In this translation, Arberry employs King James English, with its archaic pronouns “thee,” “thou,” “thine” and so on, an English that is also used in translations of the Bahá’í Writings. The Arberry translation, however, does not reflect the perspective that might be gained on various fine points of translation offered by a knowledge of the revelation of the Báb and His immediate milieu and audience. On occasion, therefore, I have made very slight changes to Arberry’s translation. I have indicated these changes by the use of italics.

    The first two excerpts in this brief compilation consist of complete, short, surihs of the Quran that are important to the entire Muslim world, and, therefore, were important to the Báb. The first excerpt is the opening surih of the Quran. This surih is one of the first to be committed to memory by children, and is used throughout the Muslim world in the obligatory prayers and on many other occasions: births, deaths, and marriages. It is called “The Overture” or Opening. The Arabic word is al-fatiha. There is no more important surih in the Quran than the Fatiha. A well-known tradition from the Imam Ali says: “The Quran contains all the knowledge of all previous scriptures and the Fatiha contains everything in the Quran. The basmala (see below) contains everything that is in the Fatiha and the “b” (ب) of the basmala contains everything in the basmala. The point (nuqta) under the “b” contains everything in the “b” and I am that point.”

    The first two items, the short surihs, have the same opening verse. In Arabic, this verse is called the basmala since it runs, in Arabic: bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim. Like virtually all translations of this important phrase, the one by Arberry here is woefully inadequate but it is retained largely out of habit and respect for the music of the language. A much better rendering would include the idea of unconditional love since the word “divine mercy” — here rahma — the word from which the two divine names, al-rahman and al-rahim derive, actually comes from the Arabic word rahim “womb”. Thus, the basmala indicates the unconditional love of a mother for her children. The divine attribute of rahma “unconditional, protecting and nurturing loving mercy” is the most frequent of all the dozens of other divine attributes and names mentioned in the Quran.

    With the second surih, one of the more distinctive and characteristic Islamic spiritual ideas is articulated in matchless language rhythms. This surih is also frequently used in the obligatory prayers of Muslims, is memorized by virtually all believers as it is recited in times of special need and, like the Fatiha above, is the subject of countless commentaries or interpretations in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and all Islamic languages, among which English may now be counted. The important theological or spiritual and philosophical idea enunciated is that God is completely unknowable and utterly beyond and above all attempts to describe or characterize. This is to the extent that early Muslim thinkers spoke of God as being above both being and non-being. This orientation, needless to say, is one of the essential Bahá’í teachings as well. Surih 112, also known as the surih of purity or sincerity (al-ikhlas), is not the only passage in the Quran that teaches this divine unknowableness (termed apophatic theology by scholars); however, it is certainly the locus classicus for the idea.

    Surih of the Opening
    (Quran 1:1-7)
    In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
    Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being,
    The All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate,
    The Master of the Day of Judgment.
    Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour.
    Guide us on the straight path.
    The path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.
    Surih of Divine Transcendence
    (Quran 112: 1-4)
    In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
    Say: ‘He is God, One,
    God, the Everlasting Refuge,
    Who has not begotten, and has not been begotten,
    And equal to Him is not any one.’
    Signs

    In Islamic thought, everything other than God is God’s creation, and, therefore, a sign of the knowledge, creative power and existence of God. The Islamic theory of signs is very compelling and permeates the writings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. The word for divine sign — aya — is also the word for a Quranic verse. Below are three important passages on this topic.

    I
    (Quran 41:53-4)
    We shall show them Our signs throughout creation and in their souls,
    Till it is clear to them that this is the truth.
    Suffice it not concerning thy Lord that He is witness over everything?
    Are they not in doubt about the meeting with their Lord?
    Does He not comprehend everything?
    II
    (Quran 2:164)
    Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day and the ship that runs in the sea with profit to men, and the water God sends down from heaven therewith reviving the earth after it is dead and His scattering abroad in it all manner of crawling thing, and the turning about of the winds and the clouds compelled between heaven and earth — surely there are signs for a people who use their minds.
    III
    (Quran 30:17-27)
    So glory be to God both in your evening hour and in your morning hour.
    His is the praise in the heavens and earth, alike at the setting sun and in your noontide hour.
    He brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living,
    And He revives the earth after it is dead.
    Even so you shall be brought forth.
    And of His signs is that He created you of dust.
    Then lo, you are mortals, all scattered abroad.
    And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves, spouses, that you might repose in them.
    And He has established amongst you love and mercy.
    Surely in that are signs for a people who consider.
    And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and the variety of your tongues and hues.
    Surely in that are signs for all living beings.
    And of His signs is your slumbering by night and day, and your seeking after His bounty.
    Surely in that are signs for a people who hear.
    And of His signs He shows you lightning, for fear and hope,
    And that He sends down out of heaven water
    And He revives the earth after it is dead.
    Surely in that are signs for a people who understand.
    And of His signs is that the heaven and earth stand firm by His command.
    Then, when He calls you once and suddenly, out of the earth, lo you shall come forth.
    To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth.
    All obey His will.
    And it is He who originates creation, then brings it back again, and it is very easy for Him.
    His likeness is exalted beyond any comparison with anything in the heavens and the earth.
    He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.
    Interpretation as Revelation

    The Quran makes it clear that one of the roles of the Prophet — what Bahá’ís refer to as a Divine Manifestation — is to interpret previous revelations. Indeed, this is one of the ways in which a new revelation occurs. There are numerous Quranic verses that speak of this. The interpretation of divine signs, including verses of revelation, is one of the prime means by which a Manifestation of God generates a new revelation and a new dispensation. The verse below is among those that have generated much commentary and controversy, depending on how it is punctuated. In general, Sunni commentators place a full stop after “save only God.” Shi‘i commentators punctuate it as follows to allow for the prophetic role of interpreter, as in the story of Joseph, which is shared by the Imams:

    (Quran 3:7)
    It is He who sent down upon thee the Book, wherein are verses clear that are the Essence of the Book, and others ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is swerving, they follow the ambiguous part, desiring dissension, and desiring its interpretation; and none knows its interpretation, save only God and those firmly rooted in knowledge. Say, ‘We believe in it; all is from our Lord’; yet none remembers, but men possessed of minds.
    Divine Presence, Prophecy, Covenant, Oneness of Humanity and Judgment

    In the remaining verses, a number of characteristic themes are presented: the unconditional love of God for humanity, the continuity of divine revelation, the oneness of humanity, that all humans have received divine revelation, that there is no chosen people, and that though God is utterly unknowable “He” is at the same time overwhelmingly “present” to creation. It is not really possible to use gender at all when referring to the Supreme Being, for whom the word Allah is perhaps the most convenient. This is done only out of habit and for convenience.

    Seal of the Prophets
    (Quran 33:40)
    Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but the Messenger of God, and the very Emblem of the Prophets; God has knowledge of everything.
    Verse of Divine Intimacy
    (Quran 50:16)
    We indeed created man; and We know what his soul whispers within him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.
    Verse of Self Revelation of Divine Glory (tajallí)
    (Quran 7:143)
    And when Moses came to Our appointed time and his Lord spoke with him, he said, ‘Oh my Lord, show me, that I may behold Thee!’ Said He, ‘Thou shalt not see Me; but behold the mountain — if it stays fast in its place, then thou shalt see Me.’ And when his Lord revealed His glory to the mountain He made it crumble to dust; and Moses fell down swooning. And when he awoke, he said, ‘Glory be to Thee! I repent to Thee; I am the first of the believers.’ Said He, ‘Moses, I have chosen thee above all men for My Messages and My Utterance; take what I have given thee, and be of the thankful.’
    Endless Revelation
    I
    (Quran 31:27)
    Though all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, up to seven seas after it to replenish it were ink, yet would the Words of God not be spent. God is All-mighty, All-wise.
    II
    (Quran 18:109)
    Say: ‘If the sea were ink with which to record the Words of my Lord, the sea would be spent before the Words of my Lord are spent, though We brought replenishment the like of it.’
    III
    (Quran 40:34)
    Joseph brought you the clear signs before, yet you continued in doubt concerning that which he brought you until, when he perished, you said, “God will never send forth a Messenger after him.” Thus does God lead astray the prodigal and the doubter.
    Oneness of Humanity, No Chosen People
    I
    (Quran 49:13)
    O mankind, We have created you male and female, and made you races and tribes, that you may recognize one another. Surely the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most godfearing of you. God is All-knowing, All-aware.
    II
    (Quran 4:14)
    We have sent no Messenger save with the language of his people, that he might make all clear to them; then God leads astray whomsoever He will, and He guides whomsoever He will; and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.
    III
    (Quran 5:48)
    And We have sent down to thee the Book with the truth, confirming the Book that was before it, and assuring it. So judge between them according to what God has sent down, and do not follow their caprices, to forsake the truth that has come to thee. To every one of you We have appointed a right way and an open road. If God had willed, He would have made you one nation; but that He may try you in what He has given you He did not. So be you avid in good works; unto God shall you return, all together; and He will explain to you of that whereon you were at variance.
    Divine Presence and Covenant
    I
    (Quran 24:35)
    God is the Light of the heavens and the earth;
    the likeness of His Light is as a niche wherein is a lamp
    (the lamp in a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star)
    kindled from a Blessed Tree,
    an olive that is neither of the East nor of the West
    whose oil wellnigh would shine, even if no fire touched it;
    Light upon Light;
    (God guides to His Light whom He will.)
    (And God strikes similitudes for men, and God has knowledge of everything.)
    II
    (Quran 7:172-3)
    And when thy Lord took from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed, and made them testify about themselves, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we testify’ — lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘As for us, we were heedless of this,’ or lest you say, ‘Our fathers were idolaters aforetime, and we were only descendants following them. What, wilt Thou then destroy us for the deeds of the vain-doers?’
    III
    (Quran 48:26)
    When the unbelievers set in their hearts fierceness, the fierceness of ignorance, then God sent down His divine peace upon His Messenger and the believers, and fastened to them the word of godfearing to which they have better right and are worthy of; and God has knowledge of everything.
    Judgment Day
    (Quran 39:67-70)
    They measure not God with His true measure. The earth altogether shall be His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens shall be rolled up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above what they associate with Him! For the Trumpet shall be blown, and whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth shall swoon, save whom God wills. Then it shall be blown again, and lo, they shall stand, beholding. And the earth shall shine with the glory of its Lord, and the Book shall be set in place, and the Prophets and witnesses shall be brought, and justly the issue be decided between them, and they not wronged. Every soul shall be paid in full for what it has wrought; and He knows very well what they do.




    Bio:   Todd Lawson has been a member of the Bahá’í community since 1968. He is Emeritus Professor of Islamic Thought at the University of Toronto, where he teaches courses on the Quran, Islam, Mysticism and Shi‘ism. He has published widely in these areas.