The Higher Realms

When the sources of knowledge converge to universal truth One of the glorious features of the religion of Allah is the verification of realities from multiple sources. By sources we mean the Holy Quran, and the authentic traditions, supplications, and visitations associated with the holy infallibles. We may list these four sources as follows:  Quran : Allah communicating with man Hadith : Infallible communicating with man Du'a : Infallible communicating with Allah Ziyarat : Man communicating with infallible The focus of this discussion will be verses 54-55 of Chapter 5 of the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Ma'idah - Primarily, verse 54.  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ...

There is something worth pondering over in Chapter Al-Imran, verses 190-194 and verse 195. (Indeed, all the verses of the Holy Quran are worth pondering over.) Verses 190-194 refer to some individuals who are in communication with their Lord. These people call out to Allah five times, by exclaiming Rabbana (Our Lord!). Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intellect. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [and say], ‘ Our Lord  , You have not created this in vain! Immaculate are You! Save us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord  , whoever that You make enter the Fire will surely have been disgraced by You, and the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Our Lord  , we have indeed heard a summoner calling to faith, declaring, ‘‘Have faith in your Lord!’’ So we believed. Our Lord...

There is no doubt that the Abrahamic religions are based in the Middle East. All the prophets mentioned within the Quran came from the same general region of ancient Arabia. The animals and foods mentioned in the Quran are of Arab origin. There is abundant mention of deserts and oasis in the holy book, but none of snow. Some of the cultural practices that the Quran refers to in condemnation or approval may be irrelevant to a European living at the time of Prophet Muhammad. However, none of this is incompatible with the Quran being a “universal” book. The message of Islam is Tawheed, which is a universal message. Everything else, including prophet hood are only means to deliver that message. When we say that the Quran is universal, it implies that it’s core message of Tawheed applies to everyone. In fact, the vast majority of the verses of the Quran are such that any human being can admire them and be guided by them, regardless of race, nationality, religion or ethnicity. ...