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Articles
Section
> Two Parallel Systems [Physical +
Spiritual] by Imam Kalamazad Mohammed Sahib
[Based on Hazrat Mirza Sahib's
Writings] Two
Parallel Systems [Physical +
Spiritual]: (This is Our) way with Our messengers whom We sent before thee, and thou wilt not find a change in Our course (The Holy Quran, 17:77). Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Mujaddid of the 14th Century Hijrah, has identified a general law operating in the whole universe when he explains that there are two systems operating side by side in Allah’s creation – a physical system and a closely related spiritual system; the former, in fact, being a manifestation of the latter which is hidden, except to discerning spiritual eyes. In Taudhih-i-Maram, he has given a somewhat detailed example of this in his tafsir (commentary) of chapter 91 of the Holy Qur’an. An explanation of the first seven verses is given below. By the sun and his brightness! And the moon when she borrows light from him! And the day when it exposes it to view! And the night when it draws a veil over it! And the heaven and its make! And the earth and its extension! And the soul and its perfection! Mirza Sahib explains: "… all the splendours that have been listed with the various oaths have all been assembled in man. Thus the soul of a ‘perfect man’ contains within it the brilliance of the sun and its rays, the characteristics of the moon in being able to acquire benefit from others, and for his own good, acquire light (wisdom) from another source of light (wisdom). Man also has the characteristics of daylight. Just as in daylight labourers and workers are able to carry out their duties properly, in the same way the seekers of truth and those who tread the path of peace, by following the example of the ‘perfect man’, are able to carry out their religious functions with ease and comfort. Such a man, like daylight, can reveal himself with clarity and holds within himself all the characteristics of daylight. The ‘perfect man’ also bears resemblance to the pitch darkness of night. This is explained by the fact that despite the aloofness and separation from desires of the self that he acquires through the Grace of God, he sometimes reverts to those things that constitute human rights under Divine Wisdom and Guidance. Such desires are apparently opposed to and are a hindrance to the spiritual light, such as the functions of eating, drinking and resting, duties towards wives, love and care of the children. The ‘perfect man’ carries out these duties and for a little while accepts this darkness for himself, not because he is inclined towards such darkness, but because Almighty God directs him towards these things, so that he may gain a little rest from the exertions and endeavours in the path of the spirit and, having rested, be prepared to carry on with the burden of his efforts. A Persian poet expresses this in a single verse:‘Trainers sew the eyelids of a falcon Also, in explaining the following sentence from 2:25 of the Holy Qur’an, And give good news to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are Gardens in which rivers flow …, he says that the Holy Qur’an has likened faith to gardens, and good deeds to water. That is, just as gardens need water not only to exist but also to flower and bear fruit, so, too, man’s faith (garden) needs to be sustained by good deeds (water) in order for man to achieve falah (success), or perfect self-actualisation or a complete flowering of all the hidden talents that Allah has reposed in him. In the following extracts, in a tafsir (commentary) of 86:11-12, Mirza Sahib amplifies the theme of two co-existing and mutually related systems operating in the universe and draws many profound, enlightening and pertinent conclusions from this Divine arrangement. He says: "In short, in the laws of nature, you can observe that Allah has made two parallel systems – one physical and the other spiritual. Whatever arrangements are provided for the physical are also furnished for the spiritual. In Malfuzat, vol. 8, pp. 304-305, he explains that the counterpart of physical rain in the spiritual realm is really Divine revelation which is the source of all worldly knowledge, philosophical, scientific, spiritual; and just as wells become dry physically, so, too, the wells of worldly knowledge dry up or become stagnant, polluted and filthy if the purifying and vivifying rain of Divine revelation does not descend from above. In short, everything on earth depends for its existence upon Divine sustenance from above, as the Holy Qur’an tells us: And in the heavens is your sustenance, and that which you are promised (21:22); and, Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death …(57:17) by sending rain, physically and spiritually. In Chashmah-i-Ma’rifat, p. 102, Mirza Sahib points out that revelation will never be contrary to the laws of nature for there is a perfect consonance between the words of God and His works. This is why in the Holy Qur’an Allah, Most High, first swears by physical things and then presents spiritual matters, the clear inference being that the physical things are a verification of deep spiritual truths. This, he goes on to say, is a criterion for judging the veracity of a holy book, or if any scripture is contrary to the laws of nature, then it cannot have come from God. Everything that Allah has created works according to a Divinely-appointed system and what deeper purpose, one may well ask, do these parallel systems serve? It is that the fear of God and the appreciation of His majesty should be generated in our minds through our knowledge of the sciences and through this we may delve deeper into the hidden spiritual truths to which these sciences point, as he says: "Just as Allah, Most High, wants people to fear Him, so, too, He wishes that the light of scientific knowledge be born in them and through this they may transcend the boundaries of spiritual insight, because deep knowledge of the external world creates true fear in the heart on one hand, and on the other, worship of God is also born because of this knowledge. There are many unfortunate people who are so engrossed in worldly sciences that they are far removed from the appreciation of Divine decrees and thus fall into doubt concerning the very existence of Allah, Most High. Finally, in his tafsir (commentary) of Those who remember Allah standing and sitting and (lying) on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: Our Lord, Thou has not created this in vain! Glory be to Thee! Save us from the chastisement of the fire (3:190), Mirza Sahib reveals in its clarity the true purpose of these two systems: "If you wish to be successful, use your intellect in all your affairs, ponder and meditate. The Holy Qur’an has repeatedly emphasised the importance of deliberation and planning in our lives.
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