Bismillah-hir-Rahmaan-nir-Raheem.

This part attempts to answer the fourth question in the series of six:

 

This question, and its response, should basically wrap up the crux of the discussion in a comprehensive-like manner Inshallah. It hits at the heart of the matter. And indeed there are acts that are witnessed in this world and recorded that cannot be explained within the domain of nature. Examples (besides the above) are Musa (as) splitting the sea, Jesus (as) raising the dead, Muhammad (sawa) ascending to Heavens and descending back, Ali (as) dislodging the super-heavy door of khaybar and using as a shield, etc...

 

Until now the discussion was about nature. Now we will also discuss what is not nature. But to recap- As we know linguistically, and have been discussing all along, nature is what makes us who we are. All humans are the same family because they share the same basic nature of humanity (one of the attributes of this nature is free-will). And what makes us exclusively humans is also what separates us from the non-human creation like Angels, Jinn, Animals, Plants etc... This has already been previously discussed.

 

The seeming paradox comes when we witness acts that cannot be perceived to be natural (such as Hz. Sulaymaan listening to Ants, ordering the winds, etc.) But it is as simple as basically this is not nature, this is mojza (Miracle). Nature is that which is part of someone's essence and attributes, whereas Mojza is an 'interference' of the Almighty in bestowing an extra gift (super-natural) to a person for a given term, at a given place for a specific purpose (usually as a sign for the people to recognize the person as a messenger or prophet of Allah (swt)).

 

Yes, there are also situations where un-natural acts occur that do not pertain to prophets or even to believers in God (such as those by Christian healers, strong meditates, witches, etc), but each of these abilities is not a part of the actor, but rather a temporal gift in recompense for something (or then magic - as in witchcraft). We know from Imam Sadiq (as) that the limited un-natural acts performed by non-believers are because Allah (swt) decided to bring forward their reward, since they would not be given any in the hereafter, but yet He is Just (Adil) in recompense. In the same story Imam (as) tells a converted believer that the reason for losing his 'super-natural' ability was he became a muslim and now his reward is rightfully placed back into the hereafter, which is better in his favor. I will not get into detail on non-believers since our discussion relates to believers, infact the best of believers and saints.

 

The original question regarded the ability of Hz. Sulaymaan (as) to listen to ants. And we've mentioned in the beginning other occurrences of un-natural or super-natural acts performed by men of God. We said these were Miracles that are specific to a time and place and are bestowed for a particular purpose. The occurrences are not part of the nature of the one who has got a chance (or order) to execute it at a particular time and place. To get an understanding, let us take the case of Hz. Musa (as). When he was summoned to the burning bush, he was shown (or bestowed with) the sign of the radiant hand as well as throwing his staff which turned into a snake. Now then, did Musa (as) always have a radiant hand? Was it part of his nature? No. Did Musa's (as) staff always turn into a snake when he threw it down? No! By Miracle of Allah (swt), Musa split the Nile, but could he split the Nile (or any water body for that case) whenever he wanted? We do not have any reason to believe so. Infact each of these occurrences was purposeful. The hand was firstly a sign to Musa (as) himself. The staff turning to a snake was a sign shown to him with intention to take it to Firawn as a sign from Allah (swt). And the splitting of the Nile was for aiding the Bani Israel in their exodus and escape from Firawn, the accursed.

 

Purpose can be traced for all miracles. Examples are the cooling of the fire for Ibrahim (as) [we cannot say it was in his nature that fire was always cool for him], Raising of the dead by Hz. Isa [we cannot say that he could raise whoever he wanted at any place and time], Ascension to heavens by Muhammad (sawa) [We cannot say that he could ascend to the heavens and have audience with God in such setting whenever he wanted], etc. Thus the un-natural or super-natural occurrence of miracles is a purposeful 'interference' of Allah (swt) to bend nature, or cause its bending through anyone of his choice, for the achieving of a known purpose. The purpose is connected with (is basically for) the persons who are part of the miracle and /or those who are made to witness it.

 

Let us now take one last special case before discussing Hz. Sulaymaan. The case of Imam Ali (as) and the miracle of Khaybar. Different narrations mention differing weights of this gate. Some say it took tens to lift or push, some slightly more or less... What is accepted is that it took might of several strong persons to nudge this gate, but then the blessed Imam Ali (as), was able to seamlessly jerk it out in the heat of battle, and skillfully use it as his shield ! Such miraculous power was amazing ! Infact, this level of power could eliminate whole armies. This power, however, could not have been the power that Imam (as) used in other battles. No doubt Imam Ali (as) was an extremely brave and courageous man, and also Allah (swt) supplements the power of those who fight in His cause- yet this level of power was not any ordinary (supplemented) power. Had Imam (as) had this power in all battles he fought, he alone would have fully wiped out the enemy (with only earthquakes by hitting the ground). But it was not so. He was the bravest in all battles, but in Khaybar he was not (simply) bravest- he was miraculous! How come Khaybar was different? And why Imam (as) did not have that level in all his battles? The answer is simple. It was not Imam's super-nature. Rather it was miracle of Allah (swt), and He had promised that He would bestow victory on His wali, irrespective of odds. There was a purpose, and God fulfilled it through Imam Ali (as).

 

Having thus traversed the fields of miracles, lets proceed to the wonderful world of yet another servant of the Almighty, Hz. Sulaymaan, the prophet of God. Sulaymaan (as) had a position that few others held in the history of the world. Like his father, Dawood (as), Sulaymaan (as) was tasked with Kingship. These two prophets were perhaps the only ones given this status, or then among the only few known. As a King, Sulaymaan (as) was tasked with authority over a certain land (Kingdom) and all inhabitants of that Kingdom. This meant that Sulaymaan (as) was appointed by God to be (in that land) king of jinn, king of men, king of birds, king of animals, etc.  and yes, even king of ants ! His kingship was for an appointed term- From the time he took over office from his Father Dawood (as), to the time he passed away.

 

And so Allah (swt) favored him with the Mojza (Miracles) to fulfill the purpose he was appointed for. The tools that Allah (swt) favored him for this task were vast, and included dominion over the winds, languages of the animals, communication with the species, and yes - communication with the Ants ofcourse involved being able to hear them. Allah (swt) best knows the full extent of what was given to Sulaymaan for a task [Kingship] that few if any prophets (other than Dawood (as)) have been bestowed with. Some other points to note about the times of Hz. Sulaymaan was that it was a time of vast magic (as we know from Qur'an) and also a time of much technology and advancement (as is also seen from Qur'an). It makes sense that Sulaymaan (as) was endowed with abilities not only of full governance, but also commensurating with his time-period. This is also why Sulaymaan's (as) Mojza was continuous for a long period of time (as opposed to the usual instantaneous completion Mojzas of other Prophets) because his task was a continuous period, unlike a one-time splitting of Nile, a one-time ascension to Heavens, a one-time shearing off the gate of Khaybar, etc....

 

Yet still, Sulaymaan's (as) gift had its limitations of purpose. Although he commanded the winds and living species of his kingdom, and could hear the ants... yet his perception and ability did not exceed that.. for he did not even know about the existence of Sheba and her people who lived in a distant land. When he learnt of them from the hoopie, he wrote a letter to them to make first contact, and gage their beliefs and learn what kind of people they were. Besides these examples of limitations, we very well know that the reign of Sulaymaan (as) with the ability provided for this Kingship, died with him. For once dead, his appointed task was sealed. And we've previously mentioned both the need and confirmation (from Qur'an) regarding the separation of the world of living (sowing), from the world of the dead (reaping). It goes without saying that death does not mean extermination from existence, but transference out of this world into the other world (known as barzakh).

 

As far as the masoomeen (as) are concerned, the were not given Mulk (Kingdom). There were therefore understandably not given abilities similar to Sulaymaan (as) that commensurated with governing Mulk. They were given another task- Hidaayah ! And this they fulfilled by constantly teaching and guiding people, bringing them out of darkness (ignorance) into light (enlightenment). For us to be part of their (grandest) mission of Hidaayah, then as their followers, we must stick to the guidance they brought, firstly in the Qur'an and secondly in those narrated ahadith that do not contradict the Quran (for contradictions are fabrications), and always seek the help of Allah (swt) in seeking the path taught by them. Such path (following in their footsteps) would be the Siraat-al-Mustaqeem. It is unfortunate that their purpose has been put aside by many people, who have instead embarked on making them the focus and purpose of everything. Infact their teachings purely point mankind to make Allah (swt) the focus and purpose in everything.

 

Hopefully now the difference between nature and Mojza is clarified, along with the implications.

Mojza is bestowed for a purpose. A mojza for hearing and seeing all supplicants and attending to their needs one way or another (everywhere all the time, at each instant of time) is unheard of, and such a thing is effectively Rububiyah (Lordship) reserved for Allah (swt). Such mojza would be void of sense and purpose because Allah (swt) is the Master in direct Full Control of this Administration of affairs (and in such a manner that none can be). Nature, on the other hand is a cause-effect relationship world created for the purpose of our test, and in case of Muslim Ummah, the test is following guidance of Thaqalayn.

 

With best regards, and with dua to Allah (swt) for guidance, knowledge, wisdom and success.

Was-salaam,

~Ali..