The Twenty-Eighth Word

This Word is about Paradise

[This Word is about Paradise and consists of two Stations. The First indicates some of the subtle wonders of Paradise. However, it does not prove the existence of Paradise, since this has been proved in brilliant fashion by the twelve decisive Truths of the Tenth Word and by the firm and clear consecutive arguments in Arabic which form the basis and summary of the Tenth Word and the Second Station of this Word. This Station discusses in question and answer form a number of the aspects of Paradise which have been the cause of criticism. If Divine assistance is forthcoming, a great Word will later be written about that mighty truth. God willing.]

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

And give glad tidings to those who believe and act righteously that theirs shall be gardens beneath which flow rivers. Everytime they are fed with fruits therefrom, they will say: “Why, this is what we were fed with before.” For they will be given things in similitude. And they shall have therein spouses pure, and shall abide there for ever.(*)

The brief answers to a number of questions about eternal Paradise.

The descriptions of the Qur’an’s verses about Paradise, which are more beautiful than Paradise, more lovely than the houris, and sweeter than the water of Salsabil, leave nothing to be said about it so that anyone should say it. However, in order to bring closer to the understanding those shining, pre-eternal, post-eternal, elevated and exquisite verses, we shall mention a number of steps, and, as samples of that Qur’anic Paradise, a number of fine points which are like samples of its flowers. We shall point to these through five allusive questions and answers. Indeed, Paradise is the means both to all spiritual and non-physical pleasures, and to all physical pleasures.

QUESTION:What connection with eternity and Paradise has faulty, deficient, changing, unstable, and suffering corporeality? Since the spirit has elevated pleasures, that is sufficient. Why is bodily resurrection necessary for bodily pleasures?

THE ANSWER: Because, just as in relation to water, air, and light, earth is dense and dark, but since it is the source and means of all the varieties of Divine artefacts, in meaning it rises above the other elements; and just as in regard to the mystery of its comprehensiveness and on condition it is purified, the human soul, which is also dense, rises above all the other human subtle faculties; so too corporeality is the richest and most comprehensive and all-embracing mirror to the manifestation of the Divine Names. All the tools and instruments for measuring the contents of the treasuries of mercy and reckoning their balances lie in corporeality.

For example, if scales to the number of sorts of food and their pleasures did not originate in the sense of taste in the tongue, it could not taste and weigh them all up, and recognize and experience them.

Also, the instruments for experiencing and knowing the manifestations of most of the Divine Names, and tasting and recognizing them, again lie in corporeality. And the faculties for experiencing all the infinitely various pleasures are also in corporeality. As is proved in the Eleventh Word, it is understood clearly from the disposition of the universe and man’s comprehensiveness that the universe’s Maker wants to make known all the treasuries of His mercy,

and all the manifestations of His Names, and to make experienced all the varieties of His bounties. The abode of bliss, therefore, which is a vast pool formed from the flood of the universe and a great exhibition of the textiles woven on the loom of the universe and an everlasting store of the crops produced in the arable field of this world, will resemble the universe to a degree. And it will preserve all its fundamental matters, both corporeal and spiritual.

Its All-Wise Maker, the Most Compassionate One, will also give as recompense for the duties of the physical tools and instruments, pleasures worthy of them; and to His servants, as a wage and reward for the particular worship of each. Otherwise a situation would occur that was contrary to His wisdom, justice, and mercy, which is in no way fitting for the beauty of His mercy and perfection of His justice, and in no way compatible with them.

QUESTION:If a body is living, its parts are constantly being formed and dissolved; it is doomed to extinction and cannot be eternal. Eating and drinking are for the perpetuation of the individual, and sexual relations are for the perpetuation of the species. These are fundamental to this world, but there is no need for them in the world of eternity and hereafter. So why are they among the greatest pleasures of Paradise?

THE ANSWER: Firstly, the bodies of living creatures are doomed to annihilation and death in this world because of an imbalance between what is taken in and what is expended. From childhood until maturity much is taken in, and after that what is expended increases; the balance is spoilt, and the body dies. In the world of eternity, however, the particles of the body remain constant and are not subject to composition and dissolution, or else the balance remains constant.(*)Like a closed circle or perpetual motion, the body of the living creature becomes eternal together with the functioning of the machine of bodily life for pleasure.

Although in this world eating and drinking and sexual relations arise from need and perform a function, various delights and pleasures have been placed within them as an immediate wage for the duty performed, and these are superior to other pleasures. Since in this abode of sorrows eating and sexual relations are the means to so many wonderful and various pleasures, certainly in Paradise, which is the abode of pleasure and bliss, those pleasures will take on a sublime form. The recompense of the duties pertaining to the hereafter performed here will also be added to them as pleasure, and they will be augmented by worldly needs which have taken the form of agreeable, otherworldly appetites, so will become an all- embracing, living source of pleasure worthy of Paradise and suitable to eternity.

Indeed, according to the meaning of the verse, And what is the life of this world but amusement and play? But indeed the Abode of the hereafter, that is life indeed,(*) substances, matters, which are inanimate and without consciousness and life in the abode of this world, there will be living and conscious. Like human beings and animals here, the trees and stones there will understand commands and carry them out. If you tell a tree to bring you such-and-such a fruit, it will bring it.

And if you tell such-and-such a stone to come, it will come. Since stones and trees will take on this elevated form, it surely necessitates that, together with preserving their bodily realities, eating, drinking, and sexual relations also will take on a form higher than their worldly form, higher to the degree that Paradise is higher than this world.

QUESTION: According to the meaning of: Everyone will be together with those he loves,(*) in Paradise, friend will be together with friend. Therefore, love for God’s sake kindled in a simple nomad during one minute’s conversation with the Prophet (PBUH), means he has to be with the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) in Paradise. But since God’s Noble Messenger (PBUH) receives limitless effulgence, how can it be united with that of a simple nomad?

THE ANSWER:We shall allude to this elevated truth with a comparison. For example, a magnificent personage set up a vast banquet and finely-adorned spectacle in a splendid garden. He prepared it in such a way that it included all the delicious foods that the sense of taste can experience, and all the fine things that please the sense of sight, and all the wonders that amuse the faculty of imagination, and so on; he included in it everything that would gratify and give pleasure to the external and inner senses. Now, there were two friends and they went together to the banquet and sat down at a table in a pavilion. But the sense of taste of one of them was very limited, so he received only minor pleasure. His eyes could see only a little, he had no sense of smell, and he could not understand the wondrous arts nor comprehend the marvels. He could only benefit from and take pleasure in a thousandth or even a millionth of that beautiful place, to the extent of his capacity. The other man however had developed his outer and inner senses, his mind, heart, emotions, and subtle faculties so perfectly and to such a degree that although he was next to his friend, he could perceive and experience all the subtleties and beauties and marvels and fine things in the exhibition, and receive their different pleasures.

Since this confused, sorrowful, and narrow world is thus, and although the greatest and the least are together, the difference between them is as great as from the ground to the Pleiades, surely in Paradise, the realm of bliss and eternity, while friend is together with friend, each will receive his share from the table of the Most Merciful and Compassionate One in accordance with his capacity and to the extent of his abilities. Even if the Paradises in which they are found are different, it will not be an obstacle to their being together. For although the eight levels of Paradise are one above the other, the roof of all of them is the Sublime Throne.(*)

If there are walled circles round a conical mountain, one within the other and one above the other from its foot to the summit, the circles are one over the other and look to one another, but do not prevent each other seeing the sun. There are also various narrations of Hadiths indicating that the Paradises are in a manner close to this.

QUESTION:It is said in Hadiths: “Although the houris are clothed in seventy garments, the marrow of their leg-bones may be seen.”(*)What does this mean? What sort of meaning can it have? What sort of beauty is this?

Elcevap: Manası pek güzeldir ve güzelliği pek şirindir. Şöyle ki: Şu çirkin, ölü, camid ve çoğu kışır olan dünyada; hüsün ve cemal, yalnız göze güzel görünüp, ülfete mani olmazsa yeter. Halbuki güzel, hayattar, revnaktar, bütün kışırsız lüb ve kabuksuz iç olan cennette; göz gibi bütün insanın duyguları, latîfeleri cins-i latîf olan hurilerden ve huriler gibi ve daha güzel, dünyadan gelme, cennetteki nisa-i dünyeviyeden ayrı ayrı hisse-i zevklerini, çeşit çeşit lezzetlerini almak isterler. Demek, en yukarı hullenin güzelliğinden tut tâ kemik içindeki iliklere kadar, birer hissin birer latîfenin medar-ı zevki olduğunu hadîs işaret ediyor.

Evet “Hurilerin yetmiş hulleyi giymeleri ve bacaklarındaki kemiklerin ilikleri görünmesi” tabiriyle hadîs-i şerif işaret ediyor ki: İnsanın ne kadar hüsün-perver ve zevk-perest ve ziynete meftun ve cemale müştak duyguları ve hâsseleri ve kuvaları ve latîfeleri varsa, umumunu memnun edip doyuracak ve her birisini ayrı ayrı okşayıp mesud edecek, maddî ve manevî her nevi ziynet ve hüsn-ü cemale huriler câmi’dirler. Demek, huriler cennetin aksam-ı ziynetinden yetmiş tarzını, bir tek cinsten olmadığından birbirini setretmeyecek surette giydikleri gibi; kendi vücudlarından ve nefis ve cisimlerinden, belki yetmiş mertebeden ziyade ayrı ayrı hüsün ve cemalin aksamını gösteriyorlar.

وَفٖيهَا مَا تَش۟تَهٖيهِ ال۟اَن۟فُسُ وَتَلَذُّ ال۟اَع۟يُنُ   işaretinin hakikatini gösteriyorlar.

Hem cennette lüzumsuz, kışırlı ve fuzulî maddeler olmadığından ehl-i cennetin ekl ve şürbünden sonra kazuratı olmadığını, hadîs-i şerif beyan ediyor. Madem şu süflî dünyada, en âdi zîhayat olan ağaçlar, çok tagaddi ettikleri halde kazuratsız oluyorlar. En yüksek tabaka-i hayat olan cennet ehli, neden kazuratsız olmasın?

Sual: Ehadîs-i şerifede denilmiştir ki: “Bazı ehl-i cennete, dünya kadar bir yer veriliyor, yüz binler kasır, yüz binler huri ihsan ediliyor.” Bir tek adama bu kadar şeylerin ne lüzumu var, ne ihtiyacı var, nasıl olabilir ve ne demektir?

Elcevap: Eğer insan yalnız camid bir vücud olsaydı veyahut yalnız mideden ibaret nebatî bir mahluk olsaydı veyahut yalnız mukayyed, ağır ve muvakkat ve basit bir zat-ı cismaniye ve bir cism-i hayvanîden ibaret olsaydı; öyle çok kasırlara, çok hurilere lâyık ve mâlik olmazdı.

Fakat insan, öyle câmi’ bir mu’cize-i kudrettir ki hattâ şu dünya-yı fânide, şu kısa bir ömürde, şu inkişaf etmemiş bazı letaifinin ihtiyacı cihetiyle bütün dünyanın saltanatı, serveti ve lezaizi verilse belki hırsı tok olmayacaktır.

Halbuki ebedî bir dâr-ı saadette, nihayetsiz istidada mâlik, nihayetsiz ihtiyaçlar lisanıyla, nihayetsiz arzular eliyle, nihayetsiz bir rahmetin kapısını çalan bir insan; elbette ehadîste beyan olunan ihsanat-ı İlahiyeye mazhariyeti makuldür ve haktır ve hakikattir. Ve şu hakikat-i ulviyeye bir temsil dürbünüyle rasad edeceğiz. Şöyle ki:

Bu dere bahçesi gibi (Hâşiye) şu Barla bağ ve bahçelerinin her birinin ayrı ayrı mâliki bulunduğu halde; Barla’da gıdası itibarıyla ancak bir avuç yeme mâlik olan her bir kuş, her bir serçe, her bir arı “Bütün Barla’nın bağ ve bostanları, benim nüzhetgâhım ve seyrangâhımdır.” diyebilir. Barla’yı zapt edip daire-i mülküne dâhil eder. Başkalarının iştiraki onun bu hükmünü bozmaz.

Hem insan olan bir insan diyebilir ki: “Benim Hâlık’ım bu dünyayı bana hane yapmış, güneş benim bir lambamdır, yıldızlar benim elektriklerimdir, yeryüzü çiçekli miçekli halılarla serilmiş benim bir beşiğimdir.” der, Allah’a şükreder. Sair mahlukatın iştiraki, onun bu hükmünü nakzetmez. Bilakis mahlukat onun hanesini tezyin eder. Hanenin müzeyyenatı hükmünde kalırlar.

Acaba bu daracık dünyada insan, insaniyet itibarıyla hattâ bir kuş dahi böyle bir daire-i azîmede bir nevi tasarruf dava etse, cesîm bir nimete mazhar olsa geniş ve ebedî bir dâr-ı saadette, ona beş yüz senelik bir mesafede bir mülk ihsan etmek, nasıl istib’ad edilebilir?

Hem nasıl ki şu kesafetli, karanlıklı, dar dünyada güneşin pek çok âyinelerde bir anda aynen bulunması gibi öyle de nurani bir zat, bir anda çok yerlerde aynen bulunması –On Altıncı Söz’de ispat edildiği gibi– mesela, Hazret-i Cebrail aleyhisselâm bin yıldızda bir anda hem arşta hem huzur-u Nebevîde hem huzur-u İlahîde bir vakitte bulunması hem Hazret-i Peygamber aleyhissalâtü vesselâmın haşirde bir anda ekser etkıya-ı ümmetiyle görüşmesi ve dünyada hadsiz makamlarda bir anda tezahür etmesi ve evliyanın bir nevi garibi olan ebdalların bir vakitte çok yerlerde görünmesi ve avamın rüyada bazen bir dakikada bir sene kadar işler görmesi ve müşahede etmesi ve herkesin kalp, ruh, hayal cihetiyle bir anda pek çok yerlerle temas edip alâkadarane bulunması, malûm ve meşhud olduğundan…

Elbette nurani, kayıtsız, geniş ve ebedî olan cennette, cisimleri ruh kuvvetinde ve hiffetinde ve hayal süratinde olan ehl-i cennet, bir vakitte yüz bin yerlerde bulunup yüz bin hurilerle sohbet ederek yüz bin tarzda zevk almak; o ebedî cennete, o nihayetsiz rahmete lâyıktır ve Muhbir-i Sadık’ın (asm) haber verdiği gibi hak ve hakikattir. Bununla beraber, bu küçücük aklımızın terazisiyle o muazzam hakikatler tartılmaz.

İdrak-i maâlî bu küçük akla gerekmez.

Zira bu terazi o kadar sıkleti çekmez.

سُب۟حَانَكَ لَا عِل۟مَ لَنَٓا اِلَّا مَا عَلَّم۟تَنَٓا اِنَّكَ اَن۟تَ ال۟عَلٖيمُ ال۟حَكٖيمُ

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذ۟نَٓا اِن۟ نَسٖينَٓا اَو۟ اَخ۟طَا۟نَا

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى حَبٖيبِكَ الَّذٖى فَتَحَ اَب۟وَابَ ال۟جَنَّةِ بِحَبٖيبِيَّتِهٖ وَ بِصَلَاتِهٖ وَ اَيَّدَت۟هُ اُمَّتُهُ عَلٰى فَت۟حِهَا بِصَلَوَاتِهِم۟ عَلَي۟هِ، عَلَي۟هِ الصَّلَاةُ وَ السَّلَامُ

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَد۟خِل۟نَا ال۟جَنَّةَ مَعَ ال۟اَب۟رَارِ بِشَفَاعَةِ حَبٖيبِكَ ال۟مُخ۟تَارِ اٰمٖينَ

CENNET SÖZÜNE KÜÇÜK BİR ZEYL

Cehenneme Dairdir

İkinci ve Sekizinci Sözlerde ispat edildiği gibi iman, manevî bir cennetin çekirdeğini taşıyor. Küfür dahi manevî bir cehennemin tohumunu saklıyor.

Nasıl ki küfür, cehennemin bir çekirdeğidir. Öyle de cehennem, onun bir meyvesidir.

Nasıl küfür, cehenneme duhûlüne sebeptir; öyle de cehennemin vücuduna ve icadına dahi sebeptir. Zira küçük bir hâkimin küçük bir izzeti, küçük bir gayreti, küçük bir celali bulunsa bir edepsiz ona serkeşane dese: “Beni te’dib etmezsin ve edemezsin.” Herhalde o yerde hapishane yoksa da tek o edepsiz için bir hapishane teşkil edecek, onu içine atacaktır.

Halbuki kâfir, cehennemi inkâr ile nihayetsiz izzet ve gayret ve celal sahibi ve gayet büyük ve nihayetsiz kadîr bir zatı tekzip ve isnad-ı acz ediyor, yalancılıkla ve acz ile ittiham ediyor, izzetine şiddetle dokunuyor, gayretine dehşetli dokunduruyor, celaline âsiyane ilişiyor. Elbette farz-ı muhal olarak, cehennemin hiçbir sebeb-i vücudu bulunmazsa da şu derece tekzip ve isnad-ı aczi tazammun eden küfür için bir cehennem halk edilecek, o kâfir içine atılacaktır.

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَق۟تَ هٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُب۟حَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

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