Written transcript of the lecture
The Meshkat-e Noor teachings series🌼🔆🌼Spring is a Pen of Beauty🌼🔆🌼
🌹🔅☘️ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ ☘️🔅🌹
🔅🌹 “Nourishment, too” · “With reason, the soul is always in spring” · “Spring means an upward movement” · “Watering the soul” · “An exposition of Supplication 6 of al-Ṣaḥīfa al-Sajjādiyya” and more … An abridged summary, with additions 1405.01.13 Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141(903) 🌹🔅
✳️✅ ❇️ 🔆✨💫🔆 🌸☘️🌷🌹🌻 🌼 🕋 🌙 🤲 🌙 🕌 📖 🍃🪴
❇️Spring is the season of opening
If we open up, the light of faith—or the sediment of disbelief—will emerge from within us.
The human being is a mine, rich in subtle virtues or base qualities!
One day, everyone will be fully opened up.
🔅🌼 Life and death are two acts of will by the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting 🌼🔅
🌻🔆Āl ʿImrān: 27 تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهارِ وَ تُولِجُ النَّهارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَ تُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَ تُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَ تَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ
🔆You cause the night to enter the day, and the day to enter the night; You bring the living out of the dead and the dead out of the living; and You provide for whomever You will without measure.
❇️Trial is inevitable
🌸With each passing year, a person enters a new trial!
🌸With the passing of each year, the transformation of the very substance of the human soul must be felt!
🌸Give divine trial a fitting expression through a tree laden with fruit!
🌻🔆Al-Tawba: 16 أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تُتْرَكُوا وَ لَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذينَ جاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَ لَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ لا رَسُولِهِ وَ لاَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ وَليجَةً وَ اللَّهُ خَبيرٌ بِما تَعْمَلُونَ
🔆Did you think you would be left alone, before God had made known those of you who strive and who take none besides God, His Messenger, and the believers into their confidence? (You must be tested, and the ranks set apart.) God is fully aware of what you do! [1]
❇️The human being, too, has an inward passage and an ascent
🌸Human beings and all creation, with their constituent parts, are in a state of mutual interpenetration; they draw from and assimilate one another!
🌸The human being, too, has an earth and a heaven! At every moment, the human being manifests anew, for each is a unique sign of God!
🌻🔆Al-Ḥadīd: 4 هُوَ الَّذي خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ في سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يَعْلَمُ ما يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ ما يَخْرُجُ مِنْها وَ ما يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ وَ ما يَعْرُجُ فيها وَ هُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ ما كُنْتُمْ وَ اللَّهُ بِما تَعْمَلُونَ بَصيرٌ
🔆He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days [six periods], then established Himself upon the Throne (and undertook the governance of the world). He knows what enters the earth and what emerges from it, what descends from heaven and what ascends to it. Wherever you may be, He is with you, and God sees all that you do!
❇️The integrated system of night and day
🌸Night and day exchange with one another; they are joined and connected, and each is assimilated by and nourishes the other. Human beings, too, relate to one another and to all creation in this way!
🌸The changing conditions of the year and of each moment are occasions for the transformation and transmutation of the soul’s very substance!
🌷🔆 al-Bāqir (peace be upon him)— مَا یَنْقُصُ مِنَ اللَّیْلِ یَدْخُلُ فِی النَّهَارِ وَ مَا یَنْقُصُ مِنَ النَّهَارِ یَدْخُلُ فِی اللَّیْلِ.
🔆 Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him): Whatever is taken from the night becomes part of the day, and whatever is taken from the day becomes part of the night.
❇️A *walījah* reaches deeper than the soul
🌸Place God’s proof before your own soul! Let love for God’s proof be the adornment of your body and soul! Place your trust only in God’s *walī*! O soul, O companion of the heart, may we become the unbreakable rope of God alone, so that the system of our being may function at its highest in this world!
🌷🔆 قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُفْيَانُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الضُّبَعِيُّ قَالَ: كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْوَلِيجَةِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى- وَ لَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ لا رَسُولِهِ وَ لَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مَنْ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَاهُنَا فَرَجَعَ الْجَوَابُ الْوَلِيجَةُ الَّذِي يُقَامُ دُونَ وَلِيِّ الْأَمْرِ وَ حَدَّثَتْكَ نَفْسُكَ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ هُمْ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ فَهُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَيُجِيزُ أَمَانَهُمْ.[2]
🔆 Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): Sufyan ibn Muhammad al-Dab‘i said: “I wrote to Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him), asking him about *walījah* in this word of God عزّوجلّ: وَ لَمْ یَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِ Allah وَ لاَ رَسُولِهِ وَ لاَ الْمؤْمِنِینَ وَلِیجَةً . I wondered to myself: I did not write *walī* in my letter; who, in your view, are the believers referred to here?” The answer to my question came back to me: “A *walījah* is someone chosen in place of the *walī al-amr*. And you wondered who the believers referred to here are? They are the Imams, who grant protection with God’s guarantee, and God ratifies their protection. We are those very ones.”
❇️*Walā’ij* penetrate the spirit and soul
🌸Let your desires be guided by *wilāyah*!
🌷🔆 زَيْدٌ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: اطْلُبُوا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ مَعْدِنِ الْعِلْمِ، وَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْوَلَائِجَ؛ فَهُمُ الصَّادُّونَ from God.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: ذَهَبَ الْعِلْمُ وَ بَقِيَ غُبَّرَاتُ الْعِلْمِ فِي أَوْعِيَةِ سَوْءٍ، فَاحْذَرُوا بَاطِنَهَا؛ فَإِنَّ فِي بَاطِنِهَا الْهَلَاكَ، وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِظَاهِرِهَا؛ فَإِنَّ فِي ظَاهِرِهَا النَّجَاةَ.[3]
🔆 Zayd said: I heard Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) say:
“Seek knowledge from its source, and beware of *walā’ij*, for they are those who turn people away from God.”
Then he said: “Knowledge has departed, and only the remnants of knowledge remain in lowly vessels. Beware of what lies within them, for within them is ruin. Turn instead to what appears on their surface, for there lies salvation.”
🌸This noble hadith is from Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him). Here, *walā’ij* (those admitted to one’s inner circle) refers to people who claim to be religious and learned but in reality lead others away from the truth. *Ghubbārāt al-‘ilm* means the remnants of knowledge: what is presented outwardly as knowledge, but is false and dangerous.
🔅🌼Apart from God’s proof, *walā’ij* are a fire in the soul🌼🔅
🌸Through *wilāyah*, the human soul is forever in spring.
🌷🔆 قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا أَبَا الصَّبَّاحِ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْوَلَائِجَ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ وَلِيجَةٍ دُونَنَا فَهِيَ طَاغُوتٌ أَوْ قَالَ نِدٌّ.[4]
🔆 Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him): I warn you against a *walījah* (one admitted to your innermost circle), for every *walījah* other than us is a tyrant.
🔅🌼A deaf ear is deprived of spring’s sweet song🌼🔅
🌸Divine artistry calls for an awakened heart!
✨🔆An-Nahl: 65 وَ اللَّهُ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأَحْيا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ
🔆God sends down water from the sky and gives life to the earth after it has lain dead. Surely in this is a clear sign for people who listen attentively.
🌸Amid the beauty of song, the revealed Word, the ceaseless heavenly revelation, the all-pervading knowledge and the encompassing divine wisdom, the deaf remain deaf, untouched.
🔅🌼 With reason, keep your heart in an everlasting springtime 🌼🔅
🌸Spring is a work of art by the All-Beautiful! Reason is the soul’s springtime vision! Reason is every person’s artistic way of seeing!
✨🔆Al-‘Ankabut: 63 وَ لَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأَحْيا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِها لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لا يَعْقِلُونَ
🔆If you ask them, “Who sent down water from the sky and brought the earth back to life after its death?” they will surely say, “اللَّه”! Say, “Praise belongs to God!” Yet most of them do not understand.
🌸Reasoned knowledge is not the same as ignorant knowledge!
Only reasoned knowledge can show us the way to servanthood. If we truly understood the truths through reason, we would build every part of our lives upon them! If reason tells us that He sends water down from the sky, why then do we look to anyone but Him for His bounty?
🌸Provision comes from heaven, so our hearts must be heavenly and our aspirations high!
✨🔆Adh-Dhariyat: 22 وَ فِي السَّماءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَ ما تُوعَدُونَ
🔆Your provision is in heaven, as is what you have been promised.
✨🔆Adh-Dhariyat: 23 فَوَ رَبِّ السَّماءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مِثْلَ ما أَنَّكُمْ تَنْطِقُونَ
🔆By the Lord of heaven and earth, this is as true as the fact that you speak!
❇️Make your heart celestial, not earthly
🌸God Most High has placed our provision in heaven so that we may always turn our faces upward, spread our wings, and take flight!
💫🔆 عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ حَدِيثٌ طَوِيلٌ وَ فِيهِ: ثُمَّ سَأَلَ مَلِكُ الرُّومِ مِنْ أَرْزَاقِ الْخَلَائِقِ؟ فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَرْزَاقُ الْخَلَائِقِ فِي السَّمَاءِ الرَّابِعَةِ تَنْزِلُ بِقَدَرٍ وَ تَبْسُطُ بِقَدَرٍ.[5]
🔆A long hadith is narrated from al-Hasan ibn Ali (peace be upon them both), in which it is said: Then the Roman king asked about the provisions of all creatures. Al-Hasan (peace be upon him) replied: “The provisions of all creatures are in the fourth heaven; they are sent down in due measure and apportioned in due measure.”.
❇️See the world through a Quranic lens
🌸If the Quran is with God and holds the highest station, then our Quranic thought and vision, too, must be elevated like the Quran.
Make your thought and reason divinely inspired!
Our thought must reach toward the infinite!
A superficial reading of the Quran demeans the divine Word. فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْحَدِيثِ وَ أَبْلَغُ الْمَوْعِظَةِ وَ تَفَقَّهُوا فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ وَ اسْتَشْفُوا بِنُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفاءٌ لِما فِي الصُّدُور
Deep understanding of God’s Word is springtime for the soul!
✨🔆Az-Zukhruf: 1 Ḥā Mīm
🔆Ḥā Mīm
✨🔆Az-Zukhruf: 2 وَ الْكِتابِ الْمُبينِ
🔆By the clear Book,
✨🔆Az-Zukhruf: 3 إِنَّا جَعَلْناهُ قُرْآناً عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
🔆We have made it an eloquent Arabic Qur’an, so that you may understand.
✨🔆Az-Zukhruf: 4 وَ إِنَّهُ في أُمِّ الْكِتابِ لَدَيْنا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكيمٌ
🔆And it is exalted and firmly established with Us in the Mother of the Book.
❇️The servant of God Most High must always aspire to ascend.
🌸A person’s hands and heart must reach the Throne of God!
🌸The springtime of God’s Throne can be apprehended with an awakened, pure heart!
💫🔆 فِي كِتَابِ التَّوْحِيدِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ حَدِيثٌ طَوِيلٌ لَهُ مَعَ بَعْضِ الزَّنَادِقَةِ، وَ فِيهِ قَالَ السَّائِلُ: فَمَا الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ أَنْ تَرْفَعُوا أَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ بَيْنَ أَنْ تَخْفِضُوهَا نَحْوَ الْأَرْضِ؟ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: وَ ذَلِكَ فِي عِلْمِهِ وَ إِحَاطَتِهِ وَ قُدْرَتِهِ سَوَاءٌ.
وَ لَكِنَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَمَرَ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ وَ عِبَادَهُ بِرَفْعِ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ نَحْوَ الْعَرْشِ لِأَنَّهُ جَعَلَهُ مَعْدِنَ الرِّزْقِ.[6]
🔆In Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, there is a lengthy hadith, related through its chain of transmitters from Abū ʿAbd Allāh (peace be upon him), concerning a debate he had with certain heretics. In that hadith, the questioner asked: “Then what is the difference between raising one’s hands toward the sky and lowering them toward the earth?” Abū ʿAbd Allāh (peace be upon him) replied: “As far as His knowledge, encompassing power and might are concerned, the two are the same. Yet He, Mighty and Majestic, commanded His friends and servants to raise their hands toward the sky, toward the Throne, because He made it the source of provision.”
🌸Only a rational and illumined confession is acceptable to the Most High Lord!
Life-giving water flows across the earth of the solar system, across the earth of human existence, and through the human heart and soul.
The water of the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt brings Qur’anic and Ahl al-Bayt-centered life into being!
The water of each of God’s Most Beautiful Names manifests a life of its own!
Do not neglect the water of beauty, the water of majesty, the water of gentleness, or the water of knowledge and wisdom…
Reflect deeply on the noble verse!
❇️Do not forget to water the soul.
🌸Put the noble verses into practice through God-consciousness!
💫🔆 قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع التَّقْوَى عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ تَقْوَى بِاللَّهِ وَ هُوَ تَرْكُ الْخِلَافِ فَضْلًا عَنِ الشُّبْهَةِ وَ هُوَ تَقْوَى خَاصِّ الْخَاصِّ وَ تَقْوَى مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَ هُوَ تَرْكُ الشُّبُهَاتِ فَضْلًا عَنِ الْحَرَامِ وَ هُوَ تَقْوَى الْخَاصِّ وَ تَقْوَى مِنْ خَوْفِ النَّارِ وَ الْعِقَابِ وَ هُوَ تَرْكُ الْحَرَامِ وَ هُوَ تَقْوَى الْعَامِّ وَ مَثَلُ التَّقْوَى كَمَاءٍ يَجْرِي فِي نَهَرٍ وَ مَثَلُ هَذِهِ الطَّبَقَاتِ الثَّلَاثِ فِي مَعْنَى التَّقْوَى كَأَشْجَارٍ مَغْرُوسَةٍ عَلَى حَافَّةِ ذَلِكَ النَّهَرِ مِنْ كُلِّ لَوْنٍ وَ جِنْسٍ وَ كُلُّ شَجَرَةٍ مِنْهَا يَسْتَمِصُّ الْمَاءَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ النَّهَرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ جَوْهَرِهِ وَ طَعْمِهِ وَ لَطَافَتِهِ وَ كَثَافَتِهِ ثُمَّ مَنَافِعُ الْخَلْقِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ الثِّمَارِ عَلَى قَدْرِهَا وَ قِيمَتِهَا
قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى صِنْوانٌ وَ غَيْرُ صِنْوانٍ يُسْقى بِماءٍ واحِدٍ وَ نُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَها عَلى بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ فَالتَّقْوَى لِلطَّاعَاتِ كَالْمَاءِ لِلْأَشْجَارِ وَ مَثَلُ طَبَائِعِ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ الْأَثْمَارِ فِي لَوْنِهَا وَ طَعْمِهَا مَثَلُ مَقَادِيرِ الْإِيمَانِ فَمَنْ كَانَ أَعْلَى دَرَجَةً فِي الْإِيمَانِ وَ أَصْفَى جَوْهَرَةً بِالرُّوحِ كَانَ أَتْقَى وَ مَنْ كَانَ أَتْقَى كَانَتْ عِبَادَتُهُ أَخْلَصَ وَ أَطْهَرَ وَ مَنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَقْرَبَ وَ كُلُّ عِبَادَةٍ مُؤَسَّسَةٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ التَّقْوَى فَهِيَ هَبَاءٌ مَنْثُورٌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَ فَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيانَهُ عَلى تَقْوى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ رِضْوانٍ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيانَهُ عَلى شَفا جُرُفٍ هارٍ فَانْهارَ بِهِ فِي The Fire جَهَنَّمَ وَ تَفْسِيرُ التَّقْوَى تَرْكُ مَا لَيْسَ بِأَخْذِهِ بَأْسٌ حَذَراً مِمَّا بِهِ الْبَأْسُ وَ هُوَ فِي الْحَقِيقَةِ طَاعَةٌ بِلَا عِصْيَانٍ وَ ذِكْرٌ بِلَا نِسْيَانٍ وَ عِلْمٌ بِلَا جَهْلٍ مَقْبُولٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُود[7]
🔆Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said:
Piety is of three kinds:
First: piety before God, which means refraining from disobedience—indeed, from anything doubtful. This is the piety of the “most elect of the elect”.
Second: piety on God’s account, which means avoiding doubtful matters—indeed, refraining from what is forbidden. This is the piety of the “elect”.
Third: piety out of fear of the Fire and its punishment, which means refraining from what is forbidden. This is the piety of the “common people”.
Piety is like water flowing in a river, and these three ranks of piety are like trees of every kind and colour planted along its banks. Each tree draws water from the river according to its own nature, taste, subtlety and density. The benefits people derive from those trees and their fruits correspond to their worth and value.
God Most High has said: “Trees whose fruits are alike and unlike are all watered with the same water, yet We make some of them excel others in what they yield.” Piety, then, is to acts of obedience what water is to trees; and the way trees and fruits differ in colour and taste is like the varying degrees of faith. The higher one’s degree of faith, and the purer one’s substance in spirit, the greater one’s piety. The greater one’s piety, the purer and more sincere one’s worship; and whoever is thus is nearer to God. Any worship not founded on piety is like scattered dust.
God Most High has said: “Is one who has founded his building upon piety toward God and His good pleasure better, or one who has founded it on the edge of a crumbling bank, so that it collapses with him into the Fire of Hell?”
Piety is defined as refraining from what brings no harm to take, for fear of what would bring harm. In truth, piety is obedience without disobedience, remembrance without forgetfulness, and knowledge without ignorance—accepted and not rejected.
❇️ The people of piety are the most springlike, most alive and most flourishing of all
✨🔆 Al-Hujurat: 13 O أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْناكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَ أُنْثى وَ جَعَلْناكُمْ شُعُوباً وَ قَبائِلَ لِتَعارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَليمٌ خَبيرٌ
🔆 humanity! We created you from a male and a female, and made you peoples and tribes so that you might come to know one another. (These are not measures of distinction.) The noblest of you in the sight of God is the most mindful of Him. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware!
💫🔆 إِنَّكَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوى وَ أَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ,
🔅🌼He is the artist who displays His artistry through life🌼🔅
✨🔆Ar-Rum: 19 يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَ يُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَ يُحْيِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها وَ كَذلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ
🔆He brings the living forth from the dead, and the dead from the living; He gives life to the earth after its death. And in the same way, you will be brought forth (from your graves) on the Day of Resurrection!
🌸The gems must be brought forth from the heart and the mine of the believer!
The heart is ever flourishing through the authority of God’s Proof; with God’s Proof, a person’s life flourishes!
May you always be springlike, joyful and flourishing, and ever growing toward perfection!
❇️The Imam of the Age, peace be upon him, is God’s life-giving water
💫🔆 عَمَّةِ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: بِيتِي اللَّيْلَةَ عِنْدَنَا فَإِنَّهُ Seyyed [سَيُولَدُ] الْمَوْلُودُ الْكَرِيمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِي يُحْيِي اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا، فَقُلْتُ: مِمَّنْ يَا سَيِّدِي؟ وَ لَسْتُ أَرَى بِنَرْجِسَ شَيْئاً مِنْ أَثَرِ الْحَبَلِ، فَقَالَ: مِنْ نَرْجِسَ لَا مِنْ غَيْرِهَا، قَالَتْ: فَوَثَبْتُ إِلَيْهَا فَقَلَبْتُهَا ظَهْراً لِبَطْنٍ فَلَمْ أَرَ بِهَا أَثَرَ الْحَبَلِ، فَعُدْتُ إِلَيْهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَأخْبَرْتُهُ بِمَا فَعَلْتُ، فَتَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: إِذَا كَانَ وَقْتُ الْفَجْرِ يَظْهَرُ لَكَ الْحَبَلُ لِأَنَّ مَثَلَهَا مَثَلُ أُمِّ مُوسَى لَمْ يَظْهَرْ بِهَا الْحَبَلُ وَ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَى وَقْتِ وِلَادَتِهَا، لِأَنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ كَانَ يَشُقُّ بُطُونَ الْحَبَالَى فِي طَلَبِ مُوسَى، وَ هَذَا نَظِيرُ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام[8]
🔆The paternal aunt of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan, peace be upon them both, related: “I was with my father, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Naqi, peace be upon him. He said, ‘Stay with us tonight, for the noble child of God, Mighty and Glorious, is soon to be born—the one through whom God will bring the earth to life after its death.’
I asked, ‘My master, from whom?’ I saw no sign of pregnancy in Narjis. He said, ‘From Narjis, and no one else.’ So I hurried to her and turned her from her back onto her stomach, but saw no sign of pregnancy. I returned and told His Eminence, peace be upon him, what I had done. He smiled and said, ‘When dawn comes, her pregnancy will become apparent to you. Her likeness is that of Moses’ mother: her pregnancy was not apparent, and no one knew of it until he was born, because Pharaoh used to cut open the bellies of pregnant women in search of Moses. This child is like Moses, peace be upon him.’”
🔅🌼The intellect is an artist whose artistry is displayed through the light of knowledge🌼🔅
✨🔆Ar-Rum: 24 وَ مِنْ آياتِهِ يُريكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفاً وَ طَمَعاً وَ يُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَيُحْيي بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
🔆And among His signs is that He shows you lightning and thunder, inspiring both fear and hope—fear of the lightning strike, and hope for rain. He sends down water from the sky, bringing the earth back to life after its death. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect!
🌸Reasoning is like ploughing the earth!
Hard ground is no place for anything to grow!
🔅🌼Immerse yourself in the power of the All-Powerful🌼🔅
✨🔆Al-Rum: 50 فَانْظُرْ إِلى آثارِ رَحْمَتِ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْيِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها إِنَّ ذلِكَ لَمُحْيِ الْمَوْتى وَ هُوَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَديرٌ
🔆Look at the traces of God’s mercy: how He brings the earth back to life after its death. Surely the One who brings the dead earth to life will bring the dead back to life at the Resurrection; He has power over all things!
🔅🌼The breeze of divine mercy is life-giving, reviving beyond compare🌼🔅
✨🔆Fatir: 9 وَ اللَّهُ الَّذي أَرْسَلَ الرِّياحَ فَتُثيرُ سَحاباً فَسُقْناهُ إِلى بَلَدٍ مَيِّتٍ فَأَحْيَيْنا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها كَذلِكَ النُّشُورُ
🔆God is the One who sends the winds to set the clouds in motion. Then We drive them towards a lifeless land and bring the earth back to life after its death through them. Such, too, will be the Resurrection!
🔅🌼The alternation of night and day is a means of multiplying beauty and vitality🌼🔅
✨🔆Al-Jathiyah: 5 وَ اخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهارِ وَ ما أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ مِنْ رِزْقٍ فَأَحْيا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها وَ تَصْريفِ الرِّياحِ آياتٌ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
🔆And in the succession of night and day, in the provision—the rain—that God sends down from the sky, giving life to the earth after its death, and in the changing winds, there are clear signs for people who reflect!
🔅🌼Only the intellect drinks the draught of knowledge🌼🔅
✨🔆Al-Hadid: 17 اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآياتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
🔆Know that God brings the earth back to life after its death! We have made the signs clear to you, so that you may reflect!
💫🔆 عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها قَالَ: يُحْيِي اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِالْقَائِمِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا، يَعْنِي بِمَوْتِهَا كُفْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَ الْكَافِرُ مَيِّتٌ.[9]
🔅🌼A dead heart has a dead spring.🌼🔅
🌸What would happen if a dead heart came to life?!
What if devotion were revived, and our primordial nature blossomed into spring?! What would happen?!
Spring is awakening—spring after spring, awakening within awakening! Growth upon growth!
🔅🌼Spring is the radiance and blossoming of God’s words🌼🔅
🌸Spring is a manifestation of God, the Most Great, the Greatest—Light of all lights.
Spring is the heart’s clarion call to rise and stand firm.
Spring is the time when seeds split open and the essence of humanity comes to the fore.
Spring interprets the hidden beauty within.
To become springlike amid spring, in step with spring, is the natural outcome of a springtime way of thinking.
At every moment, creation brings a new flavour and a new sensation.
What can barren hearts gain from the Imam of the Age, peace be upon him? Make your heart receptive to the Imam of the Age, and it will flourish!
At every moment, the world is renewed, made anew and transformed; but we must be able to perceive this renewal.
To fail to perceive it is surely the death of the heart. Stagnation is death for both the mind and the heart.
The one who is cheated by life lies buried in the past; blind to the signs of the Day of God, they cannot see.
Why must we grow? So that we may advance toward excellence and nearness to God!
To stop growing and moving is death!
❇️The soil of faith dusted over a pretender to faith is temporary
✨🔆البقرة : 264 يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا لا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَ الْأَذى كَالَّذي يُنْفِقُ مالَهُ رِئاءَ النَّاسِ وَ لا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرابٌ فَأَصابَهُ وابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْداً لا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلى شَيْءٍ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا وَ اللَّهُ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكافِرينَ
🔆O you who believe! Do not nullify your charitable gifts by reminders of your generosity or hurtful words, like one who spends his wealth to be seen by people, while believing neither in God nor the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock covered with a thin layer of soil: when a heavy rain falls upon it, it washes away the soil and seeds, leaving the rock bare. Such people gain nothing from what they have done. And God does not guide the unbelieving people.
🌸Faith must take root in a person’s soul so that the downpour of God’s merciful blessings may make it flourish into a beautiful garden of spirituality and the heavenly realm!
🔅🌼Look with an awakened heart upon the life-renewing power of existence🌼🔅
✨🔆يس : 33 وَ آيَةٌ لَهُمُ الْأَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْناها وَ أَخْرَجْنا مِنْها حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ
🔆A sign for them is the dead earth: We bring it to life and bring forth from it grain for them to eat.
🔅🌼Bring your soul to life with divine breezes🌼🔅
💫🔆وَ قَالَ ع إِنَّ لِرَبِّكُمْ فِي أَيَّامِ دَهْرِكُمْ نَفَحَاتٍ أَلَا فتعرضين [فَتَعَرَّضُوا] لَهَا بِكَثْرَةِ الِاسْتِعْدَاد[10]
🔆Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said: “Your Lord has breezes of grace for you throughout the days of your lives. Be alert, and prepare yourselves abundantly to receive them.”
🔅🌼Open your eyes to spring🌼🔅
🌸Spring is among the most beautiful of the Lord’s breezes. May we not, through heedlessness, be deprived of this heavenly grace.
🌸Spring, and every season God brings, is God’s word, God’s book, God’s gaze, God’s kindness, serenity, freshness and smile.
🔅🌼Choose, with artistry, to make your choices springlike🌼🔅
🌸See it as the honeybee does, and choose!
🌸The honeybee has answered God’s revelation with wholehearted obedience!
💫🔆خُذْ مِنْ كُلِّ عِلْمٍ أَحْسَنَهُ فَإِنَّ النَّحْلَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ كُلِ زَهْرٍ أَزْيَنَهُ فَتُولَدُ مِنْهُ جَوْهَرَانِ نَفِيسَانِ: أَحَدُهُمَا فِيهِ شِفاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَ الْآخَرُ يُسْتَضَاءُ بِهِ.[11]
🔆Take the finest from every kind of knowledge. The honeybee, after all, feeds on the finest of every blossom, and from it come two precious substances: one contains a healing for humankind, and the other provides light.
❇️A believer devoted to the Household is a peerless treasure.
💫🔆 عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ وَ احْجُبُوا بِالتَّقِيَّةِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا تَقِيَّةَ لَهُ إِنَّمَا أَنْتُمْ فِي النَّاسِ كَالنَّحْلِ فِي الطَّيْرِ لَوْ أَنَّ الطَّيْرَ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي جَوْفِ النَّحْلِ مَا بَقِيَ فِيهَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا أَكَلَتْهُ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ عَلِمُوا مَا فِي أَجْوَافِكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُحِبُّونَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتَ لَأَكَلُوكُمْ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَ لَنَحَلُوكُمْ فِي السِّرِّ وَ الْعَلَانِيَةِ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً مِنْكُمْ كَانَ عَلَى وَلَايَتِنَا[12]
💫🔆It is narrated from Abā ʿAbd Allāh (peace be upon him) that he said: “Be mindful of God in safeguarding your faith, and conceal yourselves through taqiyya; for one who does not practise taqiyya has no faith. You are among the people like honeybees among the birds. If the birds knew what was inside a bee, nothing of it would remain without being devoured. And if people knew what is within you—that you love us, the People of the Household—they would consume you with their tongues, slandering you in private and in public. May God have mercy on a servant among you who remained devoted to our authority.”
❇️Be a lover of beauty, and it will show you the way.
✨🔆 العنكبوت : 69 وَ الَّذينَ جاهَدُوا فينا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنينَ
🔆As for those who strive in Our cause with sincere intent, We shall surely guide them to Our ways; and God is with those who do good.
🌱Be a honeybee, and He will show you the way, the sustenance and the home.
✨🔆النحل : 68 وَ أَوْحى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذي مِنَ الْجِبالِ بُيُوتاً وَ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَ مِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ
🔆And your Lord revealed to the honeybee: “Choose your homes in the mountains, in the trees, and in the trellises people build
✨🔆النحل : 69 ثُمَّ كُلي مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَراتِ فَاسْلُكي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلاً يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِها شَرابٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوانُهُ فيهِ شِفاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
🔆Then eat from every kind of fruit and follow with ease the paths your Lord has made for you.” From within them emerges a drink of varied colours, in which there is healing for humankind. Surely in this is a clear sign for people who reflect.
💫🔆كُنْ كَالنَّحْلَةِ إِنْ أَكَلَتْ أَكَلَتْ طَيِّباً وَ إِنْ وَضَعَتْ وَضَعَتْ طَيِّباً وَ إِنْ وَقَعَتْ عَلَى عُودٍ لَمْ تَكْسِرْهُ. [13]
🔆“Be like the honeybee: when it eats, it eats what is pure; when it leaves something, it leaves what is pure; and when it settles on a branch, it does not break it.”
❇️The believers are the honeybees of the Commander of the Faithful
🌸Believers, under the rule of the king of sweetness, are the confectioners of the universe.
💫🔆وَ قَالَ لَهُ الرَّسُولُ ص الْيَعْسُوبُ أَمِيرُ النَّحْلِ وَ أَنْتَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِين[14]
🔆And the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said to him: “Ya‘sūb is the leader of the honeybees, and you are the leader of the believers.”
🌼Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) 110.141(903)🌼
(مبسّط، مُتَوَسَّع، مُتَکَمِّل، مُزَیَّن، مُنِیر)
❇️Spring: A Return to Fitrah
🌸 Spring recalls the human being’s original fitrah—the primordial nature first illuminated by the light of divine oneness at the dawn of creation.
🌸 Fitrah is the spring of the soul, planted within every human being and awaiting divine nourishment.
✨🔆al-Rūm: 30 وَ فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنيفاً فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْها لا تَبْديلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ
🔆So set your face toward the pure religion—the fitrah upon which God has created humankind. There is no altering God’s creation. That is the upright religion.
🌸 Fitrah is the human being’s innate spring; each year, the natural spring reminds us of the spring within our fitrah.
🌸 If we recognize the natural spring, we will recognize the spring of fitrah, too.
❇️Spring and Inner Transformation
🌸 Spring is a time of transformation, when the world awakens fully from its winter sleep.
🌸 We, too, must awaken from heedlessness and reach a spiritual spring.
✨🔆al-Zumar: 9 أَ وَ مَنْ كانَ مَيْتاً فَأَحْيَيْناهُ وَ جَعَلْنا لَهُ نُوراً يَمْشي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُماتِ لَيْسَ بِخارِجٍ مِنْها
🔆Can one who was dead, whom We brought to life and for whom We appointed a light to walk among people by, be like one who remains in darkness and cannot emerge from it?
🌸 Spring symbolizes emerging from darkness and entering the light.
🌸 Every natural spring heralds a spiritual spring.
❇️Spring and the Descent of Divine Mercy
🌸 Spring rain is a manifestation of divine mercy upon the earth.
🌸 Divine mercy, too, descends upon the human soul, rescuing it from spiritual death.
✨🔆al-A‘rāf: 57 وَ هُوَ الَّذي يُرْسِلُ الرِّياحَ بُشْرى بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ حَتَّى إِذا أَقَلَّتْ سَحاباً ثِقالاً سُقْناهُ إِلى بَلَدٍ مَيِّتٍ فَأَنْزَلْنا بِهِ الْماءَ فَأَخْرَجْنا بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَراتِ كَذلِكَ نُخْرِجُ الْموْتى لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
🔆And He is the One who sends the winds as heralds of His mercy. When they have carried heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land, send down water through them, and bring forth every kind of fruit. In this way We bring the dead to life, so that you may take heed.
🌸 Divine mercy reaches everywhere, but only hearts prepared to receive it can do so.
❇️Spring and Prayer: Watering the Soul
🌸 Prayer is the soul’s constant nourishment.
🌸 Just as the earth dies without water, the soul withers without prayer.
✨🔆Al-Baqarah: 43 وَ أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ وَ ارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعينَ
🔆Establish prayer, give zakat, and bow with those who bow.
🌸 Prayer is the springtime of the heart; every prayer brings a new spring to the soul.
🌸 Whoever abandons prayer has lost their springtime.
❇️Spring and Repentance: New Shoots
🌸 Repentance is planting fresh seeds in the soil of the heart.
🌸 The springtime of repentance is the loveliest of all springs.
✨🔆Az-Zumar: 53 قُلْ يا عِبادِيَ الَّذينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَميعاً إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحيمُ
🔆Say: “O My servants who have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of God’s mercy. Surely God forgives all sins; surely He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”
🌸 Repentance is a return to the original springtime of our innate nature.
🌸 Every act of repentance is an inner spring.
❇️Spring and Knowledge: A Source of Light
🌸 Knowledge is a lamp that lights the way through darkness.
🌸 Divine knowledge is the springtime of thought.
✨🔆Al-Hadid: 19 أَ وَ مَنْ كانَ مَيْتاً فَأَحْيَيْناهُ وَ جَعَلْنا لَهُ نُوراً يَمْشي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُماتِ لَيْسَ بِخارِجٍ مِنْها
🔆Is one who was dead, whom We brought to life and for whom We appointed a light by which to walk among people, like one who is in darkness and cannot emerge from it?
🌸 Knowledge without action is a tree without fruit.
🌸 Knowledge joined with action creates an everlasting spring.
❇️Spring and Sincerity, the Soul’s Fragrance
🌸 Sincerity is a fragrance that rises from the heart.
🌸 Spring without sincerity is autumn.
✨🔆الکوثر : 1 إِنَّا أَعْطَيْناكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
🔆Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar (abundant good).
🌸 Al-Kawthar is the eternal spring of Paradise, bestowed upon sincere believers.
🌸 Sincerity is the root of all goodness.
❇️Spring and Jihad,
🌸 Striving against the self is the hardest and most precious form of jihad.
✨🔆الصف : 11 يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبيلِ اللَّهِ وَ لا يَخافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لائِمٍ
🔆They strive in the way of God and fear no blame from any critic.
🌸 Striving against the self means slaying carnal desires and bringing virtues to life.
🌸 This striving brings an everlasting spring.
❇️Spring and Patience, the Fruit of the Tree of Steadfastness
🌸 Patience is a tree whose fruits are gathered in spring.
🌸 Patience is the springtime of hope.
✨🔆ال عمران : 200 يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَ صابِرُوا وَ رابِطُوا وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
🔆O you who believe! Be patient, encourage one another to be patient, stand firm, and be mindful of God, so that you may prosper.
🌸 The fruit of patience is victory.
❇️Spring and Remembrance, a Divine Melody
🌸 Remembrance is a melody that brings spring to the heart.
🌸 Remembrance is the heart’s eternal spring.
✨🔆الأحزاب : 41 فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَ اسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كانَ تَوَّاباً
🔆So glorify and praise your Lord, and seek His forgiveness; indeed, He is ever accepting of repentance.
🌸 Remembrance carries the heart from the winter of heedlessness into the spring of recollection.
🌸 Every act of remembrance is an inner spring.
❇️Spring and Love: The Flowers of the Heart
🌸 Love is a flower that blooms in the springtime of the heart.
🌸 Love for the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is the loveliest of spring flowers.
✨🔆Āl ʿImrān: 31 قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُوني يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَ اللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحيمٌ
🔆Say: “If you love God, follow me; God will love you and forgive your sins. God is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
🌸 True love leads to obedience.
🌸 Love is the root of spiritual springtime.
❇️Spring and Unity: The Garden of the Community
🌸 Unity is a garden where everyone blossoms in spring.
🌸 Discord is winter in the heart.
✨🔆Al-Anfāl: 46 وَ اعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَميعاً وَ لا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْداءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْواناً
🔆And hold fast, all together, to the rope of God, and do not become divided. Remember God’s blessing upon you: you were enemies, and He brought your hearts together, so that by His grace you became brothers.
🌸 Unity is the springtime of the Muslim community.
🌸 Discord is winter in society.
❇️Spring and Hope: Seeds of Tomorrow
🌸 Hope is a seed sown in spring.
🌸 Hope in God’s mercy is springtime for the heart.
✨🔆Yūsuf: 87 بَني اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِنْ يُوسُفَ وَ أَخيهِ وَ لا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكافِرُونَ
🔆“My sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of God’s mercy. None despair of God’s mercy except the unbelieving people.
🌸 Hope is the other half of faith.
🌸 Spring has no meaning without hope.
❇️Spring and Deeds: Sweet Fruit
🌸 A deed is a tree that bears the fruits of spring.
🌸 A righteous deed is fruit to be gathered in the springtime of the hereafter.
✨🔆Al-Baqarah: 25 وَ بَشِّرِ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَناتٍ تَجْري مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهارُ كُلَّما رُزِقُوا مِنْها مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقاً قالُوا هذا الَّذي رُزِقْنا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ أُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشابِهاً
🔆Give glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds: they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are given fruit as provision, they will say, “This is what we were given before,” and they will be given fruit resembling it.
🌸 Deeds are the seeds of spring.
🌸 The fruit of good deeds is an everlasting spring.
❇️Spring and trust in God: peace of heart
🌸 Trust in God is the peace that spring brings to the heart.
🌸 Trust in God means letting go and entrusting matters to Him.
✨🔆At-Talaq: 3 وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَ مَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرا
🔆And He provides for them from where they could never expect. Whoever puts their trust in God, He will be enough for them. Surely God brings His command to pass; God has set a measure for everything.
🌸 Trust in God is the spring of peace.
🌸 Anxiety is winter in the heart.
❇️Spring and gratitude: flowers of destiny
🌸 Gratitude is the flowers that bloom in the garden of the heart.
🌸 Gratitude is the springtime of blessings.
✨🔆Ibrahim: 5 وَ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنا مُوسى بِآياتِنا أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَ ذَكِّرْهُمْ بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكورٍ
🔆We sent Moses with Our signs, saying, “Bring your people out of darkness into light, and remind them of the days of God.” Surely in this are signs for everyone who is patient and grateful.
🌸 Gratitude increases blessings.
🌸 The spring of gratitude bears a summer of blessings.
❇️Spring and Hajj: a journey towards God
🌸 Hajj is a spiritual spring that leads a person towards God.
🌸 Hajj is the renewal of a covenant with God.
✨🔆Al-Hajj: 27 وَ أَذِّنْ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجالاً وَ عَلى كُلِّ ضامِرٍ يَأْتينَ مِنْ كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَميقٍ
🔆And proclaim the pilgrimage to all people: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, from every distant road.
🌸 Pilgrimage is a pledge of allegiance to God.
🌸 The springtime of pilgrimage is the summer of faith.
❇️Spring and Family: A Little Garden
🌸 A family is a little garden that must be kept in bloom.
🌸 Raising children is like sowing seeds in spring.
✨🔆الكوثر : 2 أَعْطَيْناكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
🔆Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar (abundant goodness).
🌸 Al-Kawthar is a righteous lineage and offspring.
🌸 The springtime of family life lies in sound upbringing.
❇️Spring and Youth: The Springtime of Life
🌸 Youth is the springtime of a person’s life.
🌸 Youth is an opportunity to be cherished.
✨🔆يوسف : 22 وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْناهُ حُكْماً وَ عِلْماً وَ كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنينَ
🔆When he reached maturity, We granted him wisdom and knowledge; thus do We reward those who do good.
🌸 Youth is the time to gain knowledge and put it into practice.
🌸 The springtime of youth gives way to the autumn and winter of old age.
❇️Spring and the Night of Decree: A Heavenly Spring
🌸 The Night of Decree is a heavenly springtime, when the angels descend.
🌸 The Night of Decree is the springtime of the Qur’an.
✨🔆القدر : 1 إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
🔆Indeed, We sent it (the Qur’an) down on the Night of Decree.
✨🔆القدر : 2 وَ ما أَدْراكَ ما لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ
🔆And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is?
✨🔆القدر : 3 لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
🔆The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
🌸 The Night of Decree is the spiritual springtime of the year.
🌸 On the Night of Decree, destinies are written.
❇️Spring and insight: a fountain of light
🌸 Insight is a spring flowing from the divine springtime.
🌸 Insight is the most illuminating springtime.
✨🔆al-Raʿd: 17 يُنَزِّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَتَجْري الْأَوْديهُ بِقَدَرِهِ وَ يَحْمِلُ السَّيْلُ زَبَداً رابِياً
🔆God sends down water from the sky, and riverbeds flow according to their measure; the flood carries rising foam.
🌸 Insight is like water that brings the earth back to life.
🌸 Without insight, the land of the heart remains barren.
❇️Spring and worship: a heavenly melody
🌸 Worship is a melody that brings spring into the heart.
🌸 Worship is a taste of Paradise in this world.
✨🔆al-Dhāriyāt: 56 وَ ما خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
🔆I did not create jinn and humankind except that they might worship Me.
🌸 Worship is the purpose of creation.
🌸 The springtime of worship is everlasting.
❇️Spring and God-consciousness: the fruit of the tree of faith
🌸 God-consciousness is fruit that grows on the tree of faith.
🌸 God-consciousness is the springtime of the garden of faith.
✨🔆al-Baqarah: 197 وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقينَ
🔆Be mindful of God, and know that God is with those who are mindful of Him.
🌸 God-consciousness is the highest degree of faith.
🌸 The springtime of God-consciousness brings a summer of security.
❇️Spring and character: the adornment of the human being
🌸 Good character is the human being’s springtime adornment.
🌸 Character is the flowers in the garden of personality.
✨🔆al-Qalam: 4 وَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظيمٍ
🔆And indeed, you possess a sublime character.
🌸 The Prophet’s character (صلى الله عليه وآله) is our model for spring.
🌸 The springtime of good character is evergreen.
❇️Spring and maintaining family ties: the roots of affection
🌸 Maintaining family ties is like roots that keep the family tree firmly grounded.
🌸 Maintaining family ties brings springtime to our relationships.
✨🔆Women: 1 وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذي تَسائَلُونَ بِهِ وَ الْأَرْحامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقيباً
🔆Be mindful of God, in whose name you make appeals to one another, and be mindful of your kinship ties. Surely God is ever watchful over you.
🌸 Maintaining family ties brings blessings.
🌸 The springtime of family ties lasts forever.
❇️Spring and enjoining what is right: tending the garden of society
🌸 Enjoining what is right is planting seeds of goodness in society.
🌸 Forbidding what is wrong is pulling out the weeds.
✨🔆The Family of Imran: 104 وَ لْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
🔆Let there be among you a community that calls to goodness, enjoins what is right, and forbids what is wrong. They are the ones who will prosper.
🌸 Enjoining what is right brings springtime to society.
🌸 Silence in the face of wrongdoing is a winter of the soul.
❇️Spring and the economy: prosperity in the garden of life
🌸 A healthy economy brings prosperity to the garden of life.
🌸 Contentment is financial springtime.
✨🔆The Winnowing Winds: 19 وَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِلسَّائِلِ وَ الْمَحْرُومِ
🔆And in their wealth there is a share for the beggar and the deprived.
🌸 Charitable giving is springtime for wealth.
🌸 Extravagance is an economic winter.
❇️Spring and health: a great blessing
🌸 Health is springtime for the body.
🌸 Those who appreciate their health are those who recognize its springtime.
✨🔆Al-Furqan: 49 قُلْ مَنْ كانَ فِي الضَّلالَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمنُ مَدًّا
🔆Say: “As for one who is lost in error, the All-Merciful (al-Rahman) will grant him more time.”
🌸 Illness is the body’s winter.
🌸 Gratitude for health is its spring.
❇️Spring and knowledge bestowed directly by God
🌸 Knowledge bestowed directly by God is given to a person from the divine spring.
🌸 Quranic knowledge is the heart’s spring.
✨🔆Al-Nisa: 163 إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ كَما أَوْحَيْنا إِلى نُوحٍ وَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
🔆Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him.
🌸 Knowledge bestowed directly by God comes from the spring of revelation.
🌸 Human knowledge comes from the spring of experience.
❇️Spring and wilayah, the axis of existence
🌸 Wilayah is the axis around which everything revolves.
🌸 The wilayah of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is the spring of existence.
✨🔆Al-Ma’idah: 55 إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا الَّذينَ يُقيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ راكِعُونَ
🔆Indeed, your wali is God, His Messenger, and those who believe—those who establish prayer and give alms while bowing.
🌸 Wilayah is the root of the spiritual spring.
🌸 Following wilayah brings an everlasting spring.
❇️Spring and expectation: hope for the advent
🌸 Expectation is a spring flourishing in the hearts of the faithful.
🌸 Hope for the advent turns winter into spring.
✨🔆Al-Anbiya: 105 وَ لَقَدْ كَتَبْنا فِي الزَّبورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُها عِبادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ
🔆And indeed, We wrote in the Psalms, after the Torah, that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.
🌸 The advent is the spring of justice.
🌸 Expectation is the spring of hope.
❇️Spring and the Resurrection: Return to Spring
🌸 The Resurrection is a return to eternal spring.
🌸 The Day of Resurrection is the day of everlasting spring.
✨🔆القيامة : 12 يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لا تَخْفى مِنْكُمْ خافِيَةٌ
🔆On that Day you will be brought forth; not one secret of yours will remain hidden.
🌸 The spring of the Resurrection is the spring of justice.
🌸 The spring of Paradise is eternal.
❇️ Everlasting Spring
🌸 True spring is the spring that blossoms in a believer’s heart through devotion to the Walaya.
🌸 This spring does not fade with the changing seasons.
🌸 This spring is the everlasting spring of Paradise.
✨🔆الرحمن : 46 وَ لِمَنْ خافَ مَقامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتانِ
🔆And for whoever fears standing before their Lord are two gardens.
🌸 Everlasting spring is for those who feared God and sought refuge in Him.
🌸 This spring begins in this world and reaches its fullness in the Hereafter.
🌼🔆🌼Spring is a beautiful brushstroke🌼🔆🌼
🌻🔆Spring is the artist of existence’s canvas🔆🌻
🌼Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)🌼
[1]Ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Abbas, *Gharib al-Qur’an fi Shi‘r al-‘Arab*, 1 vol., Mu’assasat al-Kutub al-Thaqafiyya, Beirut, Lebanon, 1st ed., 1413 AH.
[2] Al-Kafi (Islamic edition), vol. 1, p. 508 Al-Kulayni, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, Tehran, 4th ed., 1407 AH.
[3] Al-Usul al-Sittata ‘Ashar (Dar al-Hadith edition), p. 124 A group of scholars, Mu’assasat Dar al-Hadith al-Thaqafiyya, Qom, Iran, 1st ed., 1423 AH / 1381 SH.
[4] Wasa’il al-Shi‘a, vol. 27, p. 133 Shaykh al-Hurr al-‘Amili, Mu’assasat Al al-Bayt عليهم السلام, Qom, 1st ed., 1409 AH.
[5] Tafsir Nur al-Thaqalayn vol. 5 124 Huwayzi, Abd Ali ibn Jum‘a, Isma‘iliyan, Qom, Iran, 4th ed., 1415 AH.
[6] Tafsir Nur al-Thaqalayn vol. 5 125 Huwayzi, Abd Ali ibn Jum‘a, Isma‘iliyan, Qom, Iran, 4th ed., 1415 AH.
[7] Miṣbāḥ al-Sharīʿa; p. 38 Attributed to Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad (peace be upon him), Aʿlamī Press—Beirut, first edition, 1400 AH.
[8] Tafsīr Nūr al-Thaqalayn vol. 4 173 Ḥuwayzī, ʿAbd ʿAlī ibn Jumʿa, Ismāʿīliyān—Qom, Iran, fourth edition, 1415 AH.
[9] Tafsīr Nūr al-Thaqalayn vol. 5 242 Ḥuwayzī, ʿAbd ʿAlī ibn Jumʿa, Ismāʿīliyān—Qom, Iran, fourth edition, 1415 AH.
[10] ʿAwālī al-Laʾālī al-ʿAzīziyya fī al-Aḥādīth al-Dīniyya; vol. 4; p. 118 Ibn Abī Jumhūr, Dār Sayyid al-Shuhadāʾ Publishing—Qom, first edition, 1405 AH.
[11] ʿUyūn al-Ḥikam wa-l-Mawāʿiẓ (al-Laythī); p. 243 Laythī Wāsiṭī, Dār al-Ḥadīth—Qom, first edition, 1376 SH.
[12] al-Maḥāsin; vol. 1; p. 257 Barqī, Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Khālid, Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya—Qom, second edition, 1371 AH.
[13] ʿUyūn al-Ḥikam wa-l-Mawāʿiẓ (al-Laythī); p. 392 Laythī Wāsiṭī, ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad, Dār al-Ḥadīth—Qom, first edition, 1376 SH.
[14] al-Yaqīn fī Ikhtiṣāṣ Mawlānā ʿAlī (peace be upon him) bi-Imrat al-Muʾminīn; text; p. 517 Ibn Ṭāwūs, ʿAlī ibn Mūsā, Dār al-Kitāb—Qom, Iran, first edition, 1413 AH.
