Pre-Existent Soul: Why God Is Hidden
Pre-Existent Soul: Why God Is Hidden
Pre-Existent Soul: Why God Is Hidden
1. In the beginning, when there were no creatures yet, there was only the sea. Floating on this sea was a
thing resembling a ball. This was the abode of God the Most High. When he wanted to bring out his creations, the
ball split; one half of it rose and became heaven (with seven levels) and the lower half remained and became the
earth (with seven levels). Now the sea on which the ball was floating was called Baharun Nur [Bahar, great waters,
mighty rivers; Nur, light], meaning, this was the ancestor of all which floated on it. Symbolically, the part which was
lifted up was the father, and the grandfather was the sea on which it floated. Now at the same time of the splitting
of the ball, and as God willed it, all men and all the creatures on earth have already been believed as being in it.
2 From the time of our ancestors up to the present, the original content of that thing is what we have been
looking for.
Pre-Existent Soul
3 And Nur Muhammad [technical term for the pre-existence of the soul of the Prophet] was then already
risen. When Allah the Most High was already in the highest heaven, he willed and his radiance scattered and
became a man---Nur Muhammad. Now, when the latter became aware of himself, he asserted that he was God.
Looking left and right, he saw that he was alone. So he said to himself, ―There is nobody but me, so I must be
God.‖ He then went around, and after walking some distance
he said, ―Arastum Murabbikum,‖ meaning, ―I am God.‖ Then all of a sudden, a voice answered, ―Kahal
Bala,” and Nur disintegrated.
4 When Nur disintegrated, all the elements contained in the earth and the heavens were drawn out of him.
All creatures then appeared. From the single light [Nur] was taken the elements that became the moon, the sun,
the stars, the trees, and all living things. They were all there. And this was begun on a Sunday and was completed
on a Friday.
6 God then summoned the angel, Jibra‘il [Gabriel]. God then said to him, ―Go on to earth and get a handful
of soil.‖ When Jibra‘il descended and tried to pick up some earth. The earth cursed and refused to be taken, Jibra‘il
returned empty-handed, and God said to another angel, Mika‘il, ―You go.‖ When Mikail reached the earth, the
same refusal met him. Then the angel, Israfil, took his turn, but the earth likewise refused. Then the fourth angel,
Idjara‘il [Izra‘il or Azra‘el], immediately went down and forthwith grabbed the earth. One of his fingers was on the
west, another on the east, a third one on the south, and a fourth one on the earth. And he scooped a handful.
7 Then God said to Jibra‘il, ―Make it into a man.‖ When it had assumed the form of a man, Jibra‘il said,
―My Lord, the man is here, but it cannot speak, and his joints are no t connected.
8. Then God said, ―Get a ganta of rice and grind it into powder and apply it to him.‖ Then the joints were
connected and the man became whole, but he still could not speak. Then God commanded Nur Muhammad, ―Go
inside Adam‖ (for that was the name of the man). But Nur Muhammad said, ―I refuse. You created Adam from the
four elements (fire, water, wind, and earth), whereas I came from Your light.‖ Then God said to Nur Muhammad,
―Be willing, for you and I are one, and you can meet me five times a day during prayer.‖ So Nur Muhammad went
inside Adam through his forehead and Adam became a living man.
9. And God made Adam into a Caliph and commanded all creatures including angels to pay homage to him.
And every creature did, except Iblis (the Evil One) who said to God, ―How can I worship Adam seeing he was
created of four elements whereas I have served you for hundreds of years.‖ In spite of God‘s entreaty, Iblis
continued to refuse. Then, Iblis asked God to grant him four wishes. First, that he would be the richest of all;
second, that he would be the most exalted of all; third, that he can steal the riches of those who have; and fourth,
that those riches he cannot steal, he kills. And this is the origin of the evil desire for material goods and for worldly
fame which leads to envy and killing. Those whom Iblis enters are led to evil. For he had an agreement with God
that those he can mislead are his and those he cannot are God‘s.
BY GROUP (5 MEMBERS EACH)
Under the first column, write down all the ideas you have about how the world was created.
On the second column, write what you want to know about it.
The third column (Do not answer yet) will be completed at the end of the lesson.
1. a place of residence
B 2. said hurtful words
E 3. special honor or respect shown
G publicly
N 5. a humble request
or
Which of the following information is presented by the text? Write the paragraph numbers that
provide the mentioned information.