The Qur’an and Philosophy

And consider also the opening verses of the surahsChapters of the Qur’an. that begin with

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِAll praise belongs to Allah.

سَبَّحَHe glorified Allah; he declared Allah free from all imperfection.

and

يُسَبِّحُHe glorifies; he declares Allah’s transcendence and perfection.

so that you may catch a glimpse of this profound mystery. Likewise, reflect on the opening passages of the surahsChapters of the Qur’an. beginning with

الۤمۤAlif Lām Mīm; one of the disjoined letters that appear at the beginning of certain chapters of the Qur’an. Their ultimate meaning is known only to Allah.

الۤرAlif Lām Rā; one of the disjoined letters that appear at the beginning of certain chapters of the Qur’an. Their ultimate meaning is known only to Allah.

and

حٰمۤHā Mīm; one of the disjoined letters that appear at the beginning of certain chapters of the Qur’an. Their ultimate meaning is known only to Allah.

that you may understand the Qur'an's lofty station in in Allah’s sight.

If you have grasped the precious mystery of this Fourth Principle, you will understand why revelation to the prophets is, for the most part, conveyed through angels, whereas inspiration generally comes without an intermediary. You will also understand why even the greatest awliyā(sing. walī) Those who seek the pleasure of Allah and attain elevated spiritual ranks through worship, obedience, and sincerity. can never attain the rank of a prophet. Furthermore, you will comprehend the majesty of the Qur'an, the exalted dignity of its sacredness, and the mystery of its miraculous inimitability.

You will also come to understand the profound wisdom behind the necessity of the MirājThe miraculous ascension of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through the heavens by Allah’s permission.. In other words, you will understand the mystery of the Prophet's (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) journey through the heavens to the Sidrat al-MuntahāThe Lote Tree at the utmost boundary of the heavens. and to Qāb-i QawsaynThe utmost nearness granted to Prophet Muhammed (saw) during the Mirāj., where he conversed with Allah, Who is nearer to His servant than his jugular vein, before returning in the twinkling of an eye.

Indeed, just as the splitting of the moon was a miracle of his prophethood, demonstrating his prophethood to humanity and the jinnSpiritual beings created from smokeless fire., so too was the MirājThe miraculous ascension of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through the heavens by Allah’s permission. a miracle of his worshipful servanthood, revealing to the angels and the spirits that he was the Beloved of Allah.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰۤى اٰلِهِ كَمَا يَلِيقُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ وَبِحُرْمَتِه اٰمِينِْO Allah, bestow Your blessings and peace upon him and upon his family in a manner befitting Your mercy and his noble rank. Āmīn.