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(The Surah of the Divine Unity) on Qur'ān 12:7 This surah is being revised and corrected April 2006
Stephen Lambden Part VIII of the provisional translation of the Qayyúm al-asmā’ (= QA) of the Bāb (mid. 1844/1260) with brief introduction and selective notes consists of a full versified English translation of the Súrat al-tawh*īd (Surah of the Divine Unity). This translation was done in the early 1980s though not from any critical edition. I simply consulted several good mss. The versification of the surahs of the QA is often uncertain. The Bāb himself stated that there should be forty verses in each surah of the QA as accords with the abjad nunmerical value of lī meaning "before me" in Q. 12:4b (Ar. لۑ= l + ī = 30+10= 40+ 2 for the "sun" and the "moon") though I often cannot see quite how this figure is arrived at. In QA8 I tentatively count ADD verses and retain versification for the sake of reference and commentary. At times the versification of surahs of the QA at forty verses each may well be symbolic rather than a clear setting down of 40 bayts (verses) of rhymed prose (saj`), though this seems to hold good in QA1 and QA5.QA 8 opens with the basmalah followed by the citation of Q.12:7 upon which it briefly comments in rewritten fashion in the course of the Surah of the Divine Unity (Súrat al-Tawḥīd). Four isolated letters (al-ḥurūfāt al-muqaṭṭa`āt) open the Surah proper; the letters A-L-M-Ṣ (Alif - Lām - Mīm- S*ād, abjad 161) which also occur once at the opening of the 7th Surah of the Q. These same four isolated letters (A-L-M-Ṣ) also open another five or six Surahs of the QA (= Surahs 8+24+50+68+71+96 [+97?]). The qur’anic isolated letters A-L-M-S* (Q.7) have been understood chronologically and messianically by the Bab and Baha’-Allah as in certain Shi`i sources. ADD Aside from being neo-qur’anic their exact significance of A-L-M-S* in QA8 is unclear. God, QA 8:3 has it raised up Joseph through His "Name" making him a walī (Overseer ) stationed in the vicinity of the celestial Sinaitic Fire (nār). Verse [4] states that God made Joseph and his eleven other brothers (the son of Jacob = Israel) to be twelve in number which is equated withe the twelve letter kalimat al-taw*id (Word of the Divine Unity) the first portion of the shahada (testimony), lā illāha ilā Allāh meaning "Therevis no God but God". QA8:5 appears to indicate that the comic "Mother Book" (umm al-kitab) with the Lord God, contains this 12 letter "Word" written out in a cosmic alphabetic row which is inscribed in the vicinity of the line through which reality in spelled out (?) (fī al-sat*r al-musattār hawl al-sat*r mastúr an ). Three different letters make four words which composed the 12 lettered phrase la ilaha illa Allah [1] "A" [2] "L" and "H". The "H" was chosen by God for Jospeh "as a reward (jazā') for his incomparable rising up in truth upon the earth on behalf of the All-Merciful on an appointed [eschatological] Day". This numerological or quasi-qabbalistic understanding ofnthe 12 letter shahada is also related to those who ask or pose "questions" (li'l-sā'ilīn) though through the Bāb who is the Gate and who is evidently equated with the person of Jospeh. This al-sā’ilīn (such as pose questions) are referred to at the end of Q.12:7b. The questions are understood as those put to and resolved by the Bāb and the Gate, the one privy to the qabbalistic mysteries of the Divine Unity. Jospeh, his brothers and the concept of tawhīd (The Divine Unity) are interelated. Aside from the "questioners" such as are established within the abyss of the Divine Unicity (lujjat al-ah*adīya) or firmly established around the Gate (al-bāb) are likewise persons aware of the authority of the Bab by virtue of an investigative consciousness. From QA8:10-15 qur;anic rooted themes of questing and judgement are further elaborated. The issue of the eschatological questioning by God of his fearful creatures is dwelt upon. The morif od the setting up of the al-mizªn (the balance) on the Day of Judgement is also present. The covenant (ahd) which God made regarding his messianic "Word" has not let to insight but blasphemy. God created humaity fornthe purpose of prostration before the All-Merciful "according to the way of the promised Gate (al-bab)". There are those believers created "from water reckoned sweet in the Mother Book" (.Q.77:20, 27) and those whoae the unbelieving reality was created from "salt water, reckoned bitter in the depth of the blazing hell" (as*l al-jahīm). Receptive to the Bab are "such as desire God", those of his "sincere and pure towards the Gate" (al-bāb). QA8:26-29 states that by the name Joseph God "intended Our Exalted Word" (al-kalimat al-akbar), made manifest in the vicinity of the [Sinaitic] Fire. Joseph and the Dhikr-Bab seem again equated relative to eschatological realities. The Bab, furthermore, as a revealer of verses seems to be likened to a monk (rúhbān an), one "set apart in holiness" for the sake of God. There may be a glimpse here of the Bab’s aloneness and isolation as the largely misunderstood bearer of God’s message. Though himself "fearful" he is yet an object lesson for his contemporaries. According to QA 8:28 the Bab has taught the people "of such of His signs as the genesis of the hereafter (nash'at al-akhira) " perhcnace they might "be content with God and with His signs". At QA 8:29 God’s taking of a covenant (`ahd) is again mentioned. Obedience to it would have meant receptivity to the claims of the Dhikr-Bab. The covenant was taken with "all the worlds" to the end that people might midefully say "If God in His absence hath sent a man/`herald of good tidings' unto ??? Us, His Remnant (baqiyyatahu), then We did but follow him and have been guided by his judgement unto the True One Who is rightly guided.
THE QAYYŪM AL-ASMĀ' OF THE BĀB. Part VIII [8] سورة التوحيد Sūrat al-tawḥīd (The Surah of the Divine Unity) on Qur'ān 12:7 [1-2] بسم اللّه الرّحمن الرّحيم In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِلسَّائِلِينَ "Verily, in Joseph and his brothers are signs ( āyāt) for such as pose questions (al- sā'ilīn )" (Q.12:7)[3] ADD A-L-M-S* (Alif - Lām - Mīm- Ṣād) [4] Praise be to God Who hath raised aloft the verses in His Mighty Book. And He, God, watcheth over all things. [5] We, verily, have manifested the verses in that Book unto the people of the realm of the inmost hearts (ahl al-af'idat) among such as are possessed of intelligence; those, that is, who are incomparable in the vicinity of the Gate (al-bāb). [6] God raised Joseph aloft through Our Name and, in the Book, made him a walī ("Overseer") stationed in the vicinity of the [Sinaitic] Fire (nār).
[7] And God, verily, made Joseph and his brothers [twelve in number] the Word of the Divine Unity (kalimat al-tawḥīd = lā illāha ilā Allāh = 12 letters) for both the All-Merciful decreed twelve letters. [8] In the Mother Book which is with thy Lord, this Word was written in the [cosmic] line inscribed in the vicinity of the [alphabetical?] row (fī al-saṭr al-musattār ḥawl al-sat*r mastúr an ). [9] God especially chose the letter "H" (Arabic, al-hā' ) for Joseph as a reward (jazā') for his incomparable rising up in truth upon the earth on behalf of the All-Merciful on an appointed [eschatological] Day. [10] God, verily, established the Divine Unity (al- tawḥīd) for the sake of such as ask questions (li'l-sā'ilīn) through Our Gate (bi-bābina). [11] So too for such as, by Our leave, are established within the abyss of the Divine Unicity (lujjat al-aḥadīya) those in very truth firmly established around the Gate (al-bāb). [12] God is He Who, no God is there except Him, the True One. He, in very truth, is the God who is worshipped. [13] Be ye fearful, O servants of God, of a Day when, by the leave of God, the Exalted, you shall be questioned in the vicinity of the Fire (al-nār). [14] None among you will be able to speak except there be before him, by the leave of the Remembrance (al-dhikr), Our overseeing [guardian] angels (ready to record his words, Q. 50:18) . [15] Our servant, in Truth, shall not, that Day, be concealed from the sincere servants of God. [16] God, verily, created the Day of Resurrection for you (pl.) according to times rightly determined. [17] On the Day of Separation (yaum al-fas*l) the Balance (al-mīzān) will, by the leave of God as befits the Truth, be set between Our hands, each measure being weighed according to the Upright Trace [established Path] (al-khaṭṭ al-qā'im). [18] On that Day We will inform you of that which you comitted, whether publicly or secretly, relative to the religion of God. [19] O servants of God! Did We not make a covenant with you about Our Word; in truth a manifest covenant (`ahd)? Even so do some among you utter deceitful letters about Our servant! [20] Praised be He besides Whom there is none other God. He, God, is One Who[se knowledge] encompasseth all the worlds. [21] Naught did God desire in bringing you into being except that you should prostrate before the All-Merciful according to the way of the promised Gate (al-bab). [22] He, verily, is the One Who created the believers from water reckoned sweet in the Mother Book (cf.Q.77:20, 27). [23] And He is the One Who made the realities of the unbelievers from salt water, reckoned bitter in the depth of the blazing hell (as*l al-jahīm) [24] God, verily, made the verses of Our servant [ the Bab] elevated, as befits the Truth, for such as desire God and for His patrons who are sincere and pure towards the Gate (al-bāb). [25] We, assuredly established Our Word (al-kalimat) on the earth as a witness unto the believers. [26] And We raised him up unto an holy station as one foreseen. [27] We, verily, determined that he appear on Our part and, in very truth, made him to be one well established. [28] God, verily, established him upon a Firm Path as ordained in accordance with the unsullied Truth. [29] God, verily, set him upon the Balance (al-mīzān) owing to the decree of the Book and according to the decree of the Book, as an object of contemplation for such as are, in the estimation of God, the Exalted, possessed, in very truth, of insight. [30] He furthermore is an object of recollection [admonition] for such as are, in the vicinity of the [Sinaitic] Fire through the Fire of the All Wise, possessed of patience in the estimation of the All-Merciful. [31] By the name Joseph God, verily, intended Our Exalted Word (al-kalimat al-akbar), made manifest in the vicinity of the [Sinaitic] Fire. [32] He, verily is the one who, by the leave of God, sent Our verses unto you as, in very truth, a monk (rúhbān an) in a state of fear, an object of recollection [admonition] for such as will that they be mindful or fearful of the All-Merciful according to the decree of the True One which hath, in truth, been ordained. [33] He is the One Who hath taught you [pl.] of such of His signs as the genesis of the hereafter (nash'at al-akhira) perhcnace the people might, in very truth, be content with God and with His signs. [34] So, by the Lord of the heaven and of the earth, He, verily, is the True One from Us and He, verily, took Our covenant (`ahd) by the leave of God with all the worlds mayhap the people would say: `If God in His absence hath sent a man [or: `herald of good tidings'] ) unto Us, His Remnant (baqiyyatahu), then We did but follow him and have been guided by his judgement unto the True One Who is rightly guided. [35] Be ye fearful O servants of God of a Day [which is coming], for the decree of the Book is assuredly ordained in the Mother Book. [36] Do not entertain vain speculations about the Most-Great Remembrance of God (dhikr Allāh al-akbar) and Our Word for, by thy Lord the True One!, you do not know even a letter of his knowledge which God, in very truth, taught him in ancient times from the Mother Book. [37] Then recollect the Remembrance of God, the All-Merciful at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of night, just as God hath commanded you aforetime in His Book, for the decree of God hath been ordained in the Mother Book (cf. Q.11:111).
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