Salaams.

This is a continuation of attempt to adequately reply to the 6 questions posed. The third one was: Q3. Has human being completely understood cause-effect relationship of nature ? A simple example is before the discovery of ultraviolet and infra red rays, human beings thought that rays of light visible to human eyes were the only rays that existed in nature. And today we know that there are many type of EM rays all around us. 

Indeed a valid example. And there could be innumerable examples along these lines. From video-phones to medical laser surgery to nuclear energy from reactors. And who knows whats to come? Infact man has actually had great technology even in ancient times and is progressing further more today. Kind of an upward-downward-upward trend. Take for example, the ancient Egyptians had the knowledge of dead-body preservation (something not known to the general world until not too long ago). That was a couple thousand years ago. It is believed that the ancients had lots more technology some of which we might yet discover. Even the Qur'an mentions about the event of bringing the queen of Sheba- It says in Surah Naml that the vizier of Hz. Sulaymaan (as) had the book knowledge (learned man) and was able to teleport her in twinkle of an eye. It thus lends credence to the theory of molecular-teleportation (better known as "beaming up" in current day science fiction). Some day we might also be able to construct such devices, Allaho Aalam.

 

However, we must differentiate two things here. The knowledge of workings of nature vs. the leveraging of this knowledge of nature. To have (theoretical) knowledge of the workings of nature, does not give one power over nature, but it is rather the construction of mechanisms or technology (based on the knowledge) that allows one to leverage the workings of nature. So let us now look at examples from this perspective:

 

Someone might have knowledge of the working of electricity, current, voltage, etc. However, this does not mean that the person can "magically" provide you with electricity. Lets give a clearer example- Th world's top nuclear physicist might have great knowledge of the workings of atomic energy- However, this does not empower him to provide anyone with nuclear energy without construction of reactors that would achieve this purpose.

 

In the old days when people from scientifically advanced civilizations traveled to scientifically ignorant nations, they were sometimes thought of as gods due to the powerful devices they brought along. That was simply because the people did not understand that these 'alien/ foreign humans' had in their world not only learned relatively advanced science, but had also tarried to leverage its applicability by creating the corresponding technology.

 

Take the case of Imam Sadiq (as). The great Imam taught so much (theoretical) scientific knowledge to the people, because Allah (swt) had given them knowledge (they were after all wholesome guides). But he himself was not known to have labs where he used the knowledge to create technology that leverages the power of nature. He knew his purpose and mission was far above spending time in that- and was better served in fulfilling a greater mission- assigned from Allah (swt) to him. However, his students like Jabir-ibn-Hayyan and others, utilized the (theoretical) knowledge to create (practical) labs and forward the quest for leveraging the knowledge.

 

Coming back to the question of how this relates to the grander issue of invocations to saints- once again they (the saints) did not exhibit practical leveraging of the theoretical workings of nature. For example, Imam Ali (as) mentioned that he could make fire out of water. Now some people thought this means that Imam (as) had some magical-like powers or was formed of super-nature that allowed him to perform this super-natural act. Maybe imaginatively by pointing his finger to water and it suddenly turns to fire.. However, the intellectual way of viewing this is that he, in his position as a wholesome guide endowed with knowledge from Allah (swt), could impart the (theoretical) knowledge to people who could have then leveraged it to build dams that do exactly that ! I.e. leverage the power of water to create electricity which generates heat !

 

So having knowledge of the workings of nature is different from leveraging the powers of nature and the Imams have lived the lives of people not developing technology for leveraging nature's powers and using that to raise their societal position, less so for people to make them a focus. Their teachings and impartations were geared towards man recognizing the might and signs of Allah's (swt) power and recognize their Master, their Lord, who alone must be the focus of devotional rituals geared towards seeking needs when man fails to seek them within the nature created by Allah (swt).

 

It is prudent here to mention that we do not know of any natural mechanism or technology to communicate with the dead. And before recent times, we did not know any such fast mechanism to communicate with those far away. The Imams did not impart a technology that allowed this, so at their times people communicated via the available means (letters). Basically they could not call, email, video-conference, etc.. The Imams themselves did not have (or did not proceed to produce) such technology and so were restricted to use the available means themselves. They therefore also communicated by letters and messengers. They relied on sending ambassadors and representatives to verify affairs and position at different places. Like Imam Husain (as) sent Hz. Muslim (as) to check on affairs in Kufa. Prophet (sawa) and Imam Ali (as) used to send reconnaissance parties to check on locations and advances of enemy battles parties. Etc.

 

We have now developed long-distance communication technology, but still haven't developed such technology to communicate with the dead. And I believe we cannot because Allah (swt) has emphatically and unequivocally relayed the separation of the living from the dead in the [Qur'an 35: 19-22] and has challenged it as our impossibility. So He has in other words confirmed its being out of the domain of natural possibility. Magic is a different thing, and I do not know much about that domain, other than it is a forbidden art (that maybe involves some invocation of evil jinn, shaytaan or spirits).

 

Infact, communication with the dead is contradictory with the cause-effect belief of this world. We believe that this world was created (caused) for the testing of Mankind and Jinn. Specifically for the testing of their worship to Allah (swt) [Qur'an 51:56]. To generally join or bridge the world of the being tested with the world of the already tested, is contrary to the progression of the test. It defies the test of Imaan bil Ghaib. And the very basis of judgment of belief. I mean, does it make any sense to judge someone on if the red ball in front of him is Red? But the domain of testing the belief of Ghaib, basically the belief of Allah (swt) who is unseen and belief in him without explicit witness of the resulting position of those who believed either way (yes party, and no party) and to witness their recompense for what they believed, is contrary to test itself. Contemplating this phenomenon, makes itself clear. Basically there is a logical need of a separation between the two worlds: The world of sowing, and the world of reaping.

 

There are however still some related unanswered questions that arise (as a consequence) but the following question # 4 (along those lines) with its response should clarify that Inshallah.

 

Inshallah I Pray for the help of Allah (swt) in all our affairs and understanding. Ameen. May he protect us and guide us and bestow on us his Mercy and knowledge and Wisdom from Him. All belongs to Him, comes from Him and returns unto Him. Praised be He.

 

And may His peace and blessings be upon the chosen guides He sent unto the nations.

Was-salaam,

~Ali..