Messenger Audio 3.2 (22-Oct-1982)

The purpose of humanity's creation is to worship God and recognize Him as the only Master, demonstrating this to Satan and the angels. Angels are physical creatures.

(0:00) You cannot see the fourth dimension. (0:07) It's very clear in the Koran that when they ate from the tree, their bodies became visible to them. (0:13) But the angels could see, of course, they have to see the fourth dimension. (0:17) I mean, they are God's helpers there. (0:19) They are supposed to have access to any dimension. (0:24) Other questions? (0:28) First, I think we are going a little bit too fast. (0:34) This idea of what needs, maybe we should go and spend some more time on it. (0:43) Basically, we compare it with the, we are not studying the Bible, the Jews and Christians, (0:50) but I think if we go deeper, we might find something, maybe. (0:56) For example, one difference is this. (0:59) In the Bible of the Jews and Christians, it does not say that God taught Adam. (1:11) It is, Adam, on his own accord, began to give names to the animals and the plants. (1:27) This is already one difference. (1:29) In Koran, Allah teaches Adam names, whatever these names are. (1:35) But in the Bible of the Jews, Adam, without, there is no suggestion that Allah teaches Adam. (1:43) It is Adam who goes to the garden and he starts to name the things that God created. (1:49) I think this is very important. (1:52) Because the way Moses Maimonides, who is the greatest Jewish philosopher, describes how (1:59) Adam is naming animals and plants, you would think that Adam was a professor of botany and geology. (2:08) And I would think that Allah would go on, there are bigger things for him to worry about. (2:16) So, many Muslims, in their tafsir, guided by the readings of the Jewish Bible, (2:24) and to demonstrate to other Muslims that they know something else. (2:28) Beyond Koran, began to teach us that what Allah taught Adam were the names of animals and plants. (2:39) So this time, it is Allah who becomes the professor of botany and geology. (2:46) Now, it seems there is something in the names which the angels do not know, or maybe cannot know. (2:54) But they can know some. (2:58) Now, this is very interesting. (3:01) There have been many interpretations about this, and with your kind tolerance and indulgence. (3:08) There is a standard teaching among some Sufi writers, that these names refer to the names of Allah. (3:20) Now, first of all, I think among the Arabs, knowing a name is more than knowing a name, like Setha. (3:29) No. As you start to say, name refers to more than the name of someone, it refers to knowledge. (3:36) This I accept. You mentioned it. (3:39) And most people who have made commentaries will agree that these names refer to knowledge. (3:46) Some say knowledge for abstraction. (3:50) That is the intelligence of man. (3:52) He can go from the concrete to the abstract. (3:55) He can go and rationalize, or rationally say. (4:01) In other words, he can know logic. (4:03) But, I am very much inclined to accept the hints of the Sufis, (4:09) when they say that Allah taught Adam the names of His qualities. (4:19) Now, this is knowledge of the highest form. (4:22) And the angels cannot know all. (4:23) For example, Allah, one of the names of Allah is, he is one who gives death. (4:30) Now, angels, it seems, don't know what is death. (4:34) Death. (4:36) Allah, who means? (4:39) But Adam can understand, eventually, the meaning of death. (4:43) Another thing. (4:45) An angel, as philosophers arise, cannot understand the meaning of patience, or the care of children. (4:54) Because they don't have children. (4:57) So when Allah tells us, be patient, we understand that. (5:00) If Allah helps us, we understand Allah, if He tells us to be patient. (5:03) This is the quality which Allah helps us develop. (5:06) But the angels cannot have this. (5:10) In other words, the angels, belonging to another dimension, and not having a physical body like us, (5:16) cannot exemplify some of the virtues which Allah already wants us to demonstrate. (5:24) And I think, many of these names of Allah, like for example, Musawwir, and also, Allah is the Muhib, He gives life. (5:37) In some ways, we do give life, we give Allah. (5:39) When we have children, we are in some ways creating, not really, to the help of Allah, we are creating life. (5:47) And I do not think angels understand that. (5:51) They cannot know this thing. (5:53) Be careful now, you don't want to make them angry (5:57) They're watching you now (6:09) Well watch what you say about the angels because you're going to make them angry (6:15) And so, the way I look at it is that, (6:19) I agree that these names refer to knowledge, (6:22) and I would just like to submit for your thinking, for you to develop on your own, or reject, (6:28) that maybe these names is a special form of knowledge. (6:32) They refer to those special qualities of Allah, (6:36) which He gave us the ability to exercise when He, as was just mentioned, gave part of Himself to us as a source. (6:45) He breathed unto us something of His Spirit, that is our soul. (6:52) And this gives us the capacity to understand certain things. (6:56) And the angels can never know this. (6:58) It seems to me, therefore, that in our test in life, (7:03) you need a body, and you need the combination of this body with part of ourselves, which is Allah, (7:12) to exercise certain things in order to have a certain knowledge. (7:16) And this is what Allah has given us. (7:21) And that is why He has sent us to a material world, (7:23) because only we can interact in this material world with our bodies, (7:28) and exemplify certain potentialities. (7:30) And the angels cannot, by virtue of their nature. (7:32) Yes, they can. (7:33) They can? (7:34) They carried, the place of the queen of sheba (7:39) from... (7:39) physical, they actually started from... (7:45) Well, I don't say everything, but some they can, for example... (7:49) What I'm saying is, they are very physical. (7:51) A lot of people think of angels as birds, (7:54) who will go through this wall, they can't tear it down, but they are very physical. (7:58) No, I agree with you, they are forces, they can do. (8:01) But I cannot imagine an angel having a toothache, (8:04) and telling Allah, Allah, strengthen me with my patience to tolerate this toothache. (8:09) Peace upon you. (8:10) Certain cases. (8:11) Not all, because the idea here is that angels seem to know certain things. (8:15) The only problem with the names of Allah, (8:18) is that the next verse says that God showed these things to the angels, (8:23) and said, tell me the names of these. (8:25) So they are objects, they are the names of objects, (8:29) rather than just names, figures. (8:31) Yeah, but verse 32 suggests that the angels... (8:33) But it's a very good... (8:34) No, no, angels know some of the names, in 32. (8:39) They say, we have no knowledge except what you already have taught us. (8:43) So angels know. (8:45) But what I'm saying is, God showed the angels something, objects, (8:50) and said, give me the names of these. (8:52) It says, presented them to the angels and asked them, give me the names of these. (8:57) So there is something being presented, and the angels asked to give the names of these. (9:02) Yeah, but angels do not seem to know. (9:04) Right, they didn't. (9:05) They didn't know. (9:06) Is there a way in arabic can show the difference between what we believe, (9:10) or creatures, or people, or animals? (9:13) No, it just says these, objects. (9:17) Well, it could be qualities. (9:19) How would God show us qualities? (9:23) How can He show us clemency? (9:26) Yes, you cannot see clemency, but you can see the effect on material things. (9:30) No, but you cannot present clemency to someone and say, what is this? (9:35) For example, on a hot day, we need rain. (9:39) This is something physical, but we can say it is an expression of the quality of Allah or mercy. (9:47) It is not the quality itself. (9:48) Or punishment. (9:49) Or punishment, it may be. (9:50) Because Allah, one of His names, He punishes. (9:53) He gives a strong punishment. (9:54) Anyhow, this is just a form of knowledge, for reflection. (9:59) Very good point. (10:00) But I don't want to go deep there, or insist on it. (10:03) This is for some who would like to... (10:04) It's really very simple. (10:07) A straightforward verses, and this is a very good point. (10:12) The names can be anything. (10:14) Let's go back to Angel, because it's time to get the other two teachers. (10:19) Okay, 35. (10:23) Adam lived a life in paradise, and each year a slave would come across a tree. (10:27) Just setting the scene for what he knows is going to happen. (10:30) the tree represents God's law (10:35) And man, because the devil beat them. (10:42) So God has enemies to each other. (10:44) I don't know if each other refers to the devil and mankind, or if it means Adam, man, and woman. (10:51) All of them. (10:52) All three. (11:05) and Adam received God's words (11:08) Receieved from his Lord words whereby ... so I assume he was back at the tree of time (11:17) No it was right there (11:19) God told him that this offense that you did is forgiven. (11:23) Period. (11:24) Because the ultimate objective was to send Adam and all his descendants to earth, (11:28) in order to show Satan and the angels that this creature who worshiped God is out without ever seeing him. (11:35) That's the second objective of our creation. (11:38) As far as we're concerned, we are here to worship God, to discover that God is the only Master. (11:49) Which is really what 38 is all about. We say that go down there from all of you and when guidance comes to you from Me, those who follow My guidance will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve (11:56) ... mankind was placed on earth and now forgotten ... looking at the opportunities. (12:15) As for those who disbelieve and reject revelations, they have deserved Hell, wherein they abide forever.