The Holy Quran: "They
ask thee concerning the Spirit." surah 17:85
They
Ask You Concerning The Spirit
They
ask thee concerning the Spirit.
Say: "The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord:
Of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to
you."
If it were Our Will, We could take away that which We have
sent thee by inspiration:
Then wouldst thou find none to plead thy affair in that
matter against Us.
surah
17: 85-86 Al Isra’ (The Night Journey)
Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The
Holy Qur'an, 1989.)
"Islam
for Modern Students
(Spirit by Hamid S. Aziz)
Some
people have asked about the concept of Spirit in Islam, and
there appear to be several views about this. Here, this
concept will be examined using all references to it in the
Quran.
The
word spirit is connected with breath and, therefore, with air.
The breath is what keeps us alive and yet air was a mystery in
that it was invisible. Spirit, therefore, stands for something
very subtle. It refers to inner experiences — consciousness,
conscience and will. It is responsible for revelation,
inspiration, intuition and insight as opposed to knowledge
which comes through the outer senses. The Spirit is by the
Command of Allah:-
"They
ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by
command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed
but little." 17:85
"It
is naught save mercy from thy Lord." 17:87
We
may suppose that it refers to something very fundamental which
cannot be explained in terms of anything else. It is by or
comes by the command of Allah. It may refer to a fundamental
force in the Universe which carries information or Truth, for
Allah has created everything with his Word and with Truth. It
is likely that the stage by stage condensation of the Spirit
is responsible for all levels of the heavens and earths.
"Allah
it is who created seven heavens and of the earth the like
thereof. The Commandment cometh down among them slowly, that
ye may know that Allah is Able to do all things, and that
Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge." 65:12
"But
His command when he intendeth a thing, is only that he says
unto it: Be! And it is " 36:82
"He
created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped
you and made good your shapes and unto Him is the
journeying." 64:3 and 6:73
"His
Word is Truth, and His will be the Sovereignty on the day
when the trumpet is blown." 6:74
The
Spirit ascends into Heaven and descends into the earth.
"From
Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways whereby the angels
and the spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is
fifty thousand years." 70:3-4
"The
Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels
and the Spirit descend therein by the permission of their
Lord, with all decrees. Peace until the rising of the
Dawn." 97:3-5
These
two verses speak about two different cycles of events —
there appears to be a spiritual circulation.
"Lord
of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them,
the Beneficent; with Whom none can argue. On the Day when
the angels and the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not,
saving him whom the Beneficent allows and who speaks right.
That is the True Day. So whoso will should seek recourse
unto his Lord." 78:38
This
refers to the Final Day of Judgement. The Universe itself is a
cycle and will be wound up (28:88). Things begin with the
Spirit and end with it. The Divine Spirit has been breathed
into man and this is what gives him consciousness:-
"So
when I have made him (man) and have breathed into him of My
Spirit, do ye (angels) fall down, prostrating yourselves
unto him." 15:29 also 38:72
"He
directed the ordinance from the heavens unto the earth; then
it ascends unto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a
thousand years of that ye reckon. Such is the knower of the
invisible and the visible, the Mighty, the Merciful, who
made all things good which He created, and He began the
creation of man from clay; then He made his seed from a
draught of despised fluid; then He fashioned him and
breathed into him of His spirit; and appointed for you
hearing, and sight and hearts. Small thanks give ye! And
they say: When we are lost in the earth, how can we then be
re-created? Nay but they are disbelievers in the meeting
with their Lord." 32:7-10
Note:
—
(1)
the change of person from the third to the second — he has
become aware of himself. He has received some of the qualities
of the creator.
(2)
Three faculties are mentioned — hearing, seeing and feeling.
These should be understood as referring not just to outer
senses, but to inner ones, in particular to conscience,
consciousness and will.
(3)
that "small thanks" refers to ungratefulness —
people do not act according to the spirit in them. The spirit
has become dormant.
(4)
The possibility of resurrection is connected with the spirit.
However,
we have to distinguish Nafs (soul) from Ruh (spirit). Whereas
the Spirit is a Universal principle, each person has his own
soul and it can degenerate or it can be made to grow.
"Be
careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a
single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain
has spread abroad a multitude of men and women." 4:1
and 7:189
"And
the soul and Him who perfected it and inspired it with
(conscience of) what is wrong for it and what is right for
it. He indeed is successful who causes it to grow, and he
indeed is a failure who stunts it." 91:7-10
"Surely
We created man in the best stature, then We reduced him to
the lowest of the low, save those who believe and do good
works and theirs is a reward unfailing. So who henceforth
will give the lie to thee about the judgement? Is not Allah
the most conclusive of all judges?" 95:4-8
"Whosoever
does right, it is only for the good of his own soul that he
does right, and whosoever errs, errs only to its hurt. No
laden soul can bear another's load. We never punish until We
have sent a messenger." 17:15
Also
2:223,231, 3:25,30, 5:105, 6:12,20,70,164, 7:53, 9:42, 10:108,
11:21, 14:51, 20:15 and many more.
The
soul may be regarded as a local organisation of the spirit and
contains the information relating to the individual (his
inherited and acquired characteristics and those created by
his own efforts at integration). That consciousness is
connected with the soul can be seen from the fact that sleep
and death are alike:-
"Allah
receives souls at the time of their death, and the soul
which dies not in its sleep. He keeps that soul for which he
has ordained death and dismisses the rest till an appointed
term. Lo! Herein verily are signs for people who take
thought." 39:42
The
existence of the Spirit within man makes him a Vicegerent, a
person who ought to be serving Allah, and exercising the
faculties he has received on behalf of Allah. He was made as
an instrument through which Allah can act more directly.
"When
thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a
Vicegerent in the earth, they said: Wilt Thou place therein
one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we,
we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know
that which ye know not. And He taught Adam all the Names,
then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform me of the
Names of these if ye are truthful. They said: Be glorified!
We have no knowledge saving that which Thou hast taught us.
Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower, Wise." 2:30-32.
Man,
having been given some of the divine powers could act partly
independently with his own initiative, creativity and sense of
responsibility, though still dependent for these powers on
Allah. This independence is not possible for the angels. In
particular man was given the capacity to form concepts (the
Names may also refer to the Attributes of Allah). It is this
which gave him the power to do the evil and chaos which the
angels feared, but Allah knew better. He could through
experiences and trials lead them towards voluntary surrender.
The
spirit exists in man as a Trust:-
"Lo!
We offered the Trust unto the heavens and the earth and the
hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of
it. And man assumed it. Lo! He has proved a tyrant and a
fool." 33:72
Here
again we see that man is accused of not allowing it operate on
behalf of God.
"Nay
verily man is rebellious that he thinks himself independent.
lo! Unto thy Lord is the return." 96:6-8
This
dormant spirit in man can be reactivated by the Messengers.
These are persons who have already been chosen by Allah to be
guided by the Spirit.
"He
sends down the angels with the Spirit of His Command unto
whom He will of His bondmen saying: Warn mankind that there
is no god save Me, so keep your duty unto Me. He hath
created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He
exalted above all that they associate with Him." 16:2-3
"The
Exalter of ranks, the lord of the Throne, He casts the
Spirit of His command upon whom He will of His slaves, that
He may warn of the Day of Meeting." 40:15
"O
you who believe! Obey Allah and the Messenger when He calls
you to that which quickens you (brings you alive), and know
that Allah comes in between the man and his own heart, and
that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered." 8:24
"Even
as We have sent unto you a messenger from among you, who
recites unto you Our revelations and causes you to grow, and
teaches you the Scripture and Wisdom, and teaches you that
which ye knew not." 2:151
Muhammad
was such a messenger:-
"Say
(O Muhammad): The Holy Spirit hath revealed it (the Quran)
from thy Lord with Truth, that it may confirm the faith of
those who believe and as a guidance and Good Tidings
(gospels) for those who have Surrendered (to Allah)."
16:102
"And
thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our
Command. Thou knowest not what the Scripture was nor what
the Faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom
We will of Our bondmen. And lo! Thou verily dost guide unto
a right path., the path of Allah, unto whom belongs
whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth.
Do not all things reach Allah at last?" 42:52-53
"And
lo! It (the Quran) is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds
which the True Spirit hath brought down upon thy heart, that
thou mayest be one of the warners in plain Arabic
speech." 26:192-195
Note
that there is a connection between the notion of Spirit and
Light. The spiritual regeneration or resurrection is brought
about thus:-
"Is
he who was dead and We have raised him unto life, and set
for him a light wherein he walks among men, as him whose
similitude is in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge?
Thus is their conduct made fair seeming for the
disbelievers." 6:123
Other
Prophets were also inspired:-
"Lo!
We inspire thee as We inspired Noah and the Prophets after
him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob
and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and
Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms. And
messengers We have mentioned unto thee before and messengers
We have not mentioned unto thee; and Allah spake directly
unto Moses." 5:163-164 and many other verses.
Believers
are also strengthened with the Spirit:-
"Thou
wilt not find folk who believe in Allah and the Last Day
loving those who oppose Allah and His messenger, even though
they be their fathers or their sons or their brethren or
their clan. As for such, He hath written faith upon their
hearts and had strengthened them with the Sprit from Him,
and He will bring them into Gardens underneath which rivers
flow, wherein they will abide. Allah is well pleased with
them and they are well pleased with Him. They are Allah's
Party. Lo! Is it not Allah’s Party who are the
successful?" 58:22 Compare this with 89:27-30
Jesus
was such a Messenger:-
"And
verily We gave unto Moses the scripture and we caused a
train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave Jesus,
son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the
Holy Spirit. Is it ever so, that when there comes unto you a
messenger from Allah with that which you yourselves desire
not, you grow arrogant, and some disbelieve and some you
slay." 2:87
"And
those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel
others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake,
while some of them He exalted above others in degree; and We
gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and We supported him
with the Holy Spirit. And if Allah had so willed it, those
who followed after them would not have fought one with
another after the clear proof had come unto them. But they
differed, some of them believing and so disbelieving. And if
Allah had so willed they would not have fought one with
another, but Allah does what He will." 2:253
"When
Allah said: O Jesus son of Mary! Remember My favour unto
thee and unto thy mother; how I strengthened thee with the
Holy Spirit, so that thou spakest unto mankind in the cradle
as in maturity; and how I taught thee the Scripture and
Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel and when I inspired the
disciples saying: Believe in Me and My Messenger, they said:
We believe. Bear witness that we have surrendered unto Thee
(i.e become muslim)" 5:110-111
"And
when Jesus, son of Mary, said; O children of Israel! Lo! I
am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which
was revealed before me in the Torah, and bringing good
tidings of a messenger who comes after me, whose name is the
Praised One. yet when he hath come unto them with clear
proofs, they say; This is mere magic." 61:6 See also
3:50
"But
when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried:
Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples
said: We will be Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah and
bear thou witness that we have surrendered unto Him (i.e
become muslim)." 3:52
Since,
the Spirit is in all human beings, the Quran does not regard
Jesus as being more than human.
"The
Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger,
messengers the like of whom had passed away before him. And
his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat
food. See how We make the revelations clear for them and see
how they turn away!" 5:75
"O
people of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion
nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The
Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah
and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from
Him." 4:171
"Lo!
The likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam.
He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! And he
is." 3:59
This
is, of course, how Allah created all things.
"When
the angel said: O Mary! Lo! Allah gives thee glad tidings of
a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of
Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of
those brought near (unto Allah)." 3:45
"Then
We sent unto her (Mary) Our Spirit and it assumed for her
the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge
in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art God-fearing. He
said: I am only a Messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow
on thee a faultless son. She said: How can I have a son when
no mortal has touched me, neither have I been unchaste? He
said: So it will be. Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And
it will be that We may make of him a revelation for mankind
and a mercy from Us, and it is thing ordained."
19:17-21
Note
that:-
1.
The Spirit is a Messenger from God, something which transmits
truth.
2.
The Spirit appeared in the form of a man. This appearance has
been called Gabriel. Gabriel is said to be an Archangel made
of spirit as angels are made of light and jinn of fire.
3.
Jesus is the Messiah, and a Revelation for mankind which had
been pre-ordained. He is a revelation in the same sense that
the Quran is a revelation.
The
conception of Jesus is described as follows:-
"And
she who was chaste, therefore We breathed into her something
of Our Spirit and made her and her son a token for all
people." 21:91 and also 66:12
This
is, of course, how Allah introduced the Spirit into man."
H.S.
Aziz, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1998, 9:57 AM
“The Primordial Mother
(Ruh of Allah)
was the Primordial Power of Divine Love. The Power of God
(Ruh of Allah)
separated from God
(Allah) itself.
God was the Witness — Witness of the Play of the Divine Power
(Ruh of Allah).
There is no difference between the Two. God Almighty
(Allah) and His
Power
(Ruh of Allah)
are just like the sun and his rays. For us, for human beings it is
impossible to conceive the mystery. Moreover, in our ego, we think
we can understand Him."
Shri Adi Shakti Devi
The Mystery Of God, U.K. — June 8, 1981
“Adi
Shakti’s Power is divine; is described in every religion; same
in Islam called Ruh. In Bible is called the All- Pervading
Power. It’s called as Alak — that cannot be seen; Niranjana,
the One that is beyond any attachment . . .
All these words are used for this Divine Power. People have
heard about it; people have sung about it but unfortunately
very few people felt it. And when they felt it they didn’t
know how to give it to others; how to make others feel it.
So whatever they talked became sort of story or
some nonsensical thing. Nobody could believe that they have felt
anything like that or could imagine that there is such a Power
really existing.
Now luckily it has become quite a universal fact
for all of you — that you know there is this Power. You are sure
about this Power because you can feel it within yourself. And
when you feel it you feel very joyous . . . the Power of Adi
Shakti
(Ruh of Allah) — She
tells you the Truth."
Shri Adi Shakti Devi
Cabella, Italy — June 9, 1996
“Sadashiva
is the God Almighty (Allah) and He is a Writer of the Play of the
Primordial Mother (His Ruh). The combination between Sadashiva and the
Primordial Mother is just like the moon and the moonlight or
the sun and the sunlight. We cannot understand such
relationships in human marriages or human relations.
Whatever the Adi Shakti is creating, which is the desire of
Sadashiva, is being witnessed by Him and when He is watching
this Creation, He is witnessing all of it. He witnesses the
whole Universe and He witnesses this Mother Earth. All the
Creation, that is done by the Adi Shakti. His Power is of
Witnessing. The Power of Adi Shakti is thus All-Pervading
Power."
Shri Adi Shakti Devi
Delhi, India — March 14, 1994
