Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds: Lecture 4
The World of al-Thar (Particles)
Author: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei
The World of al-Thar (Particles)
Has there been any world before this physical world? Or to be more precise, is there any world other than the world of matter? Did creation begin with the creation of the physical world or are there other types of life beyond this matter?
Many Ayaat in the Quran and numerous Ahadith indicate that there has been a world of spirit prior to this physical world. All humans had a form of existence in that world. It was in that world that the Almighty Allah introduced Himself to mankind and took a covenant from them not to worship other than Him. Mankind in that world witnessed the Almighty God and was free from the filth of polytheism and doubts. The late Allamah Tabatabei suggested in his al-Mizan that the world of al-thar does not have a temporal preceding to this, our physical, world rather it does exist with it and encompasses it. It is the world of Sovereign ( malakout ) that the Almighty Allah showed to Prophet Ibrahim. [6:75] It was in the world where the instinct of knowing God was enforced in man`s nature.
The following Ayaat reveals the existence of the world of al-Thar:
“And when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed and made them testify as to themselves (saying): Am I not your Lord? They said: Yes! We testify, lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: Verily, we have been unaware of this.” [7:172]
“How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life and then unto Him you will return.” [2:28]
One of the most complicated philosophical issues is about the relation of a changeable to the Unchangeable, i.e. the relation between the creation and the Creator. Muslim philosophers have dealt with this issue under the topic of ‘actuality and potentiality`. It is proven in Islamic mysticism as well as transcendental metaphysics of Mulla-Sadra that the Almighty Allah is the Extended Existence ( wujud munbasit ) in all respects. The first being who appeared by God and became His first manifestation, must be the nearest to God and demonstrate the most possible divine Names and Attributes.
Other Links:
Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds: Lecture 1
Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds: Lecture 2
Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds: Lecture 3
Source:
www.ihic.org.au
Author: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei
