Chapter 19: Hour al-Ain (Lovely Big eyes)
Chapter 19: Hour al-Ain[1] (Lovely Big eyes)
Khajeh Tusi, in chapter 19, said: “And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith]”[2] (Al-An’am:75). If the divine vision of the people of certainty is opened with the success of God, they can see the kingdom (realm) of heaven and earth like Prophet Abraham (A), and they can see the divine revelations that appear from the veil of the unseen. They can see God through a divine manifestation of Him in a particle of the entire universe. Each manifestation will appear for them with the most beautiful face of creatures, like what happened to Lady Maryam (A). “And He appeared to her as an immaculate human”[3] (Maryam:17). To see the divine manifestation of the unity world, it must be joined with a face, which is the necessity of the multiplicity world. So, each divine face is like a heavenly angel, a marriage of a manifestation essence with a face. “So it is, and We will wed them to lovely big eyes”[4] (Ad-Dukhan:57). The faces of these lovely big eyes are hidden from the people of multiplicity and contraction. “Hours (lovely ones), secluded in the pavilions”[5] (Ar-Rahman:72). The ones who remain in the world’s appearance and those who are vail from the inner world do not reach their connection. “In them are lovely ones restraining their glances, untouched before by any human or jinn”[6] (Ar-Rahman:56). Seeing those lovely ones each time is more enjoyable than the previous one; it is like a missed lovely one that came back.
Explanation
This chapter is about “Hour al-Ain” and the truth of divine revelations and visions that the seeker sees in sleep, wakefulness, or after death. Allameh Hassanzadeh said: “In this chapter, as in other chapters of this book, Khajeh Tusi has spoken secretly, which is enough. The divine prophets also spoke in secret so everyone could benefit from it according to their insight and knowledge. These divine people have brought meanings and truths in the form of words and the form of sensations and examples figures so that no one leaves the table of divine knowledge empty-handed. Like the other chapters of this book, the words of this chapter are esoteric interpretations of verses from the Holy Quran that are useful for certain people. “Hour”[7] and “Ain”[8] are both plural words for male and female. “Hour” is the plural of “Ahwar”[9] which is for male, meaning a man with dear eyes. “Hour” is also the plural of “Haura”[10] which is for female, meaning a woman with dear eyes. “Ain” is the plural of “A’yan”[11] which means a big eye man. “Ain” is also the plural of “Aina’”[12] which means a big eye woman. So, Hour al-Ain means man or woman with big eyes like deer”.
Divine ambassadors usually express truths in the form of sensations and material examples for ordinary people who are accustomed to sensations. Research people will understand the facts with these examples, and the rest will benefit from the facts in the form of sensations as much as their talent. In the system of existence, meanings, and truths descend from the immaterial world and reach the rank of the Methal world, and in this stage, facts obtain their proper exemplary form. After the Methal world, facts descend to the material world. The divine prophets also express the same facts and meanings, which are free from matter in the form of sensations so that ordinary people can understand them. Therefore, as man moves towards the inner world on the divine path, he is separated from sensations and reaches general truths. The topics presented in this chapter and other chapters and the mystical discussions are of the esoteric (inner) interpretation of the Quranic verses. “We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves (inner) until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth”[13] (Fussilat:53). When man’s inner eyes are opened, and he can observe the inner world, he will have intuitions and divine visions. Therefore, the actions of the human Nafs in the Methal world are embodied in the most beautiful form, like the human face. The most beautiful part of the human body is the eyes; that is one of the reasons God mentioned Hour al-Ain in the verse of the Holy Quran. For example, Gabriel appeared for Prophet Muhammad (S) in the form of Dehle Kalbi, one of the most beautiful young Arabs. Angel Gabriel (A) does not have a face by its essence because its truth is immaterial, and according to philosophers, it is the whole intellect. Still, it must have a face when it wants to appear in the Methal or material world. In general, angels are immaterial in nature, taking form and resembling to appear. They may have different forms for different people. Angel Izrail (Death angel) will be like a beautiful person for believers and a dreadful person for disbelievers.
The one whose inner eye becomes open and sees the realm of the heavens and the earth is a person of certainty because the veil has been removed from his inner eye. Khajeh Tusi said: “If the divine vision of the people of certainty is opened with the success of God, they can see the kingdom (realm) of heaven and earth like Prophet Abraham (A), and they can see the divine revelations that appear from the veil of the unseen. They can see God through a divine manifestation of Him in a particle of the entire universe. Divine revelations and imports enter a person’s heart. “The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down (193) Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] – that you may be of the warners – (194)”[14] (Ash-Shu’ara:193-194). “Say, “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought the Qur’an down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers”[15] (Al-Baqara:97). Human hearts are like houses; manifestations and divine intuitions are like house guests. A narration says: “The heart is the shrine of God, So do not make anyone reside there other than God”[16]. Many things might come to our hearts, but keeping God the only resident there is important. “We showed Abraham the location of the House: “Do not associate anything with Me; and purify My House for those who circle around, and those who stand to pray, and those who kneel and prostrate”[17] (Al-Hajj:28). One of the inner interpretation of the verse is to clean your heart for angels which is a specific manifestation.
Khajeh Tusi said: “Each manifestation will appear for them with the most beautiful face of creatures, like what happened to Lady Maryam (A). “And He appeared to her as an immaculate human” (Maryam:17). Angels will appear in people’s hearts or Nafs. This is also true for all manifestations that are perceived. So, manifestations and divine visions happen within Nafs, not in the outside world. So, people might see an angle or have a divine vision that others cannot see. In fact, they will see those divine intuition within themselves, not outside the world. It is like a dream that is happening in people’s Khial/Methal world. As we proved before, all perceptions will happen in the Khial/Methal world. For example, I see things that you do not, and you see things that I do not. You see walls, curtains, chairs, and carpets and think that I see the same. In reality, all our perceptions happen within our Nafs. Our Nafs must be purified before seeing divine intuitions. “These—He has inscribed faith in their hearts”[18] (Al-Mujadila:22). So, the heart is a book. Its pen and material are from its type.
Here is some part of Allameh Hassanzadeh’s poem in his “heart note” book:
Tamasul (intuition and divine vision) is from your perception and not outside your pure essence, o friend.
All of your status from the beginning to the end, All of your moods from enjoyments and pains,
It is from your perception of good or bad, You are the host of yourself, eating from your table,
After the mirror of your essence becomes lit, you see flowers from your garden,
Depending on your status and moods, you will perceive meanings in your Methal world,
The divine visions (angels or divine discoveries), which is your companion, will add your light and decrease your sadness
The companion of your loneliness on dark nights, will help you in your actions and tasks
They talk about the past and present; and also, will give you news about future
Ayatullah Qazi (R) told his student Allameh Tabatabaei, “Do not pay attention to things other than God while you pray”. Sahleh Mosque is one of the most famous Islamic mosques that was built in the first lunar century near the Kufa mosque. This mosque was the home and place of worship of many prophets, including Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), Idris (PBUH), Khidr (PBUH), and the place of some Shia imams, including Imam Sadiq (PBUH), Imam Sajjad (PBUH) and according to the narration of Imam Sadiq (A), Imam Mahdi (AJ) will dwell in it after appearing. There are special practices for it in the prayer books. Allameh Tabatabaei and Ayatollah Bahari narrate that they saw angels there while praying. Allameh Hassanzadeh said: “The main key to understanding “Tamasul”[19] (divine intuitions and visions) is the verse of the Holy Quran: “And He appeared to her as an immaculate human” (Maryam:17). It means Angel Gabriel (A) appeared as an immaculate human for her. We must pay attention to the word “La Ha” (for her). For her is the real ownership. Meaning the ownership was not outside of her but was from her essence. We discussed this topic before in unity of perceived and perceiver. When the Quran says, “His is everything in the heavens and the earth; all are obedient to Him”[20] (Al-Baqara:116). This is real ownership. As our imagination belongs to us, It means things belong to God in reality and are His manifestation. Therefore, the real meaning of Marriage in the following verse of the Quran is like the above fact. “So it is, and We will wed them to lovely companions” (Ad-Dukhan:54). I have written a book called “Human and Quran” which explains some of the discussions and traditions about “Tamasul” (Divine visions) and dreams. Readers will find more explanations that can open the doors for divine path seekers. Each verse, narration, and discussion is a light in the divine path. These narrations and discussions are gathered through the years and hopefully will be helpful for the people who are looking for the truth.
These truths (angels and divine visions) are not separate from us but are the rays of our essence that appear in the Methal world, embodied, and we will see them in beautiful faces. Figures and images in our dreams are not separate from us but within us. We enjoy and feel pain in dreams, but they are within our Nafs, not separate entities from us. Marriage in the Hereafter is the real one. In the material world, the ultimate closeness happens when people marry. In the immaterial world, the closeness of two things is their unity and oneness. So, Marriage in the Hereafter is not separate from us like Marriage in this world. So carefully understand Hour al-Ain and Marriage, which are mentioned in the Holy Quran.
Angels have two main stages of existence: immaterial existence and the other is related to their appearance in other worlds, other than the immaterial world. Abdullah Ibn Salam asked the Holy Prophet (S): What is the length and width of Gabriel? The Prophet (S) said that angels cannot be described by length and width because they are spiritual souls and not physical bodies, which means they are completely immaterial (this is immaterial truth before descending). But after the descent from the nonmaterial level, angels appear in different forms for humans. In a narration, Prophet Muhammad (S) said: “Gabriel often appeared to him with the face of a cheerful young man named Dahiya Kalbi[21]“. Some have said that He has six hundred wings decorated with pearls and fills the world in his majesty. These faces are the appearance of angels as embodied in our Methal world, but their real truth is hidden. Someone asked the Prophet of Islam: “Is Gabriel a woman or a man? The Prophet (S) said: It is in the form of a man”. This order is related to the appearance of Gabriel after descending, but Gabriel himself is neither male nor female because male and female have meaning for this material life. The Messenger of God asked Gabriel, I want to see you in your true form, Gabriel (A) said and you can’t bear it. When Prophet Muhammad (S) went to pray, Gabriel appeared in his true form, and the Messenger of God fainted. And when he regained consciousness, Gabriel filled the whole world. Because the material world is inside the immaterial world, and the non-material world contains the material world. Remember that these explanations are inaccurate, but we must give an example to understand them better.
“Our messengers came to Abraham with good news. They said, “Peace.” He said, “Peace.” Soon after, he came with a roasted calf. (69) But when he saw their hands not reaching towards it, he became suspicious of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said, “Do not fear, we were sent to the people of Lot.” (70) His wife was standing by, so she laughed. And We gave her good news of Isaac; and after Isaac, Jacob. (71) She said, “Alas for me. Shall I give birth, when I am an old woman, and this, my husband, is an old man? This is truly a strange thing.” (72) They said, “Do you marvel at the decree of God? The mercy and blessings of God are upon you, O people of the house. He is Praiseworthy and Glorious.” (73) When Abraham’s fear subsided, and the good news had reached him, he started pleading with Us concerning the people of Lot. (74) Abraham was gentle, kind, penitent. (75) “O Abraham, refrain from this. The command of your Lord has come; they have incurred an irreversible punishment.” (76) And when Our envoys came to Lot, he was anxious for them, and concerned for them. He said, “This is a dreadful day.” (77) And his people came rushing towards him—they were in the habit of committing sins. He said, “O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear God, and do not embarrass me before my guests. Is there not one reasonable man among you?” (78) They said, “You know well that we have no right to your daughters, and you know well what we want.” (79) He said, “If only I had the strength to stop you, or could rely on some strong support.” (80) They said, “O Lot, we are the envoys of your Lord; they will not reach you. So set out with your family during the cover of the night, and let none of you look back, except for your wife. She will be struck by what will strike them. Their appointed time is the morning. Is not the morning near?” (81)”[22] (Hud:69-81). In Genesis 18, Bible says: “7-Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree”. In the Bible, it is written that they ate the prepared food, but the Quran says against it. In fact, The food of angels is praising God, not material food, even though they might appear in the material world. This is one of the reasons we believe the Bible is changed from its original version. Material properties and rules can not be applied to angels. They will not be tired; They do not have doubt. It is mentioned after the morning prayers: “O God! Send greetings to your angels, whom you made free of food and drink with your glorification and worship”. The Messenger of God (S) says: “Angels do not eat or drink from the food of this world”.
In the material world, unity is not possible, but the necessity of the Hereafter is unity (the unity of perceived and perceiver, essence and form, essence and meaning). The divine visions, angels, and intuition that enter the hearts of the seekers are united with them; in other words, Marriage is the union of man with truths from the unseen world. All human beings do not deserve heavenly Marriage with these divine gifts and visions, so that they will remain behind the curtain. Until a person is prone to marrying angels, his essence does not match their truths; he cannot see them and unite with them. The faces of these lovely big eyes are hidden from the people of multiplicity and contraction. “Hours (lovely ones), secluded in the pavilions” (Ar-Rahman:72). The ones who remain in the world’s appearance and those who are vail from the inner world do not reach their connection. “In them are lovely ones restraining their glances, untouched before by any human or jinn” (Ar-Rahman:56). Seeing those lovely ones each time is more enjoyable than the previous one; it is like a missed lovely one that came back. “Whom no human has touched before, nor jinn”[23] (Ar-Rahman:74). The same applies to the Quran. The essence of man should be like the Holy Quran so that he can see its truths. Otherwise, he sees nothing but paper and ink. People should become like the Quran to see its inner truth. “It is a noble Quran. (77) In a well-protected Book. (78) None can grasp it except the purified. (79) A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. (80) Is it this discourse that you take so lightly? (81) And you make it your livelihood to deny it? (82) So when it has reached the throat. (83) As you are looking on. (84) We are nearer to it than you are, but you do not see. (85) If you are not held to account. (86) Then bring it back, if you are truthful. (87)”[24] (Al-Waqia:77-87).
All praise is to God to the extent that He deserves it.
[1] -حُورٌ عِينٌ
[2] -وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ
[3] -فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا
[4] -كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَاهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ
[5] -حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ
[6] -فِيهِنَّ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ
[7] -حور
[8] -عین
[9] -احور
[10] -حورا
[11] -اعین
[12] -عیناء
[13]– سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ
[14] -نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ ﴿١٩٣﴾ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ ﴿١٩٤﴾
[15]– قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[16] -القلب حرم الله و لا تسکن حرم الله غیر الله
[17] -وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
[18]– أُولَٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ
[19] -تمثل
[20] -لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ
[21] -دحیه کلبی
[22] -وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ ﴿٦٩﴾ فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۚ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ ﴿٧٠﴾ وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ ﴿٧١﴾ قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ ﴿٧٢﴾ قَالُوا أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ ﴿٧٣﴾ فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ ﴿٧٤﴾ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ ﴿٧٥﴾ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۖ إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنَّهُمْ آتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ ﴿٧٦﴾ وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ ﴿٧٧﴾ وَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ ﴿٧٨﴾ قَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ ﴿٧٩﴾ قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ ﴿٨٠﴾ قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ ۖ إِنَّهُ مُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ ۚ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ ﴿٨١﴾
[23]– لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ
[24] -إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٧٧﴾ فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ ﴿٧٨﴾ لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾ تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾ أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ ﴿٨١﴾ وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾ فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ ﴿٨٣﴾ وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾ فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾ تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾