Freedom

The word “Rahayee or Freedom” is a combination of two words. “Rah” which means “path” and “Ayee” which means “come to”. Namely, it means “to come onto path”. Whoever comes onto path is free. And, “Path” is not a place beyond; “path” is placed within your inherent characteristics.  Good for the one who sees his own inherent characteristics and stays on it.  Such a person drinks from his own springs (Such a person searches for “truth” within himself)

                                         فِطْرَتَ اللَّـهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا

            The Fitrah of Allah upon which He has created all people

Interpretation of Freedom

Introduction

I have no doubt that in order to understand Qur’an; we need to understand its internal or esoteric system.  This matter is decisive for me.  Despite the fact that this understanding includes hierarchy and degrees, but anyway, to think about it and to learn it is necessary.  Whoever understands this matter well, without a doubt, its external or exoteric system of Qur’an will be feasible and understandable for him.  But, if before finding out what is inside he pays attention to the outside; sometimes, such a leaning could be very harmful and even irrecoverable.  The root of deviation of Islamic sects during the history lies from this matter.  As in many of the infidelities, killings, assaults and offenses, and trampling the right of others, it is rooted from this foolishness and idiocy

كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ

Each faction, in what it has, rejoicing

It’s enough that someone to consider himself and his own understanding as right and that’s the end of it.  Others are voided and invalidated! And the adventure starts.  And this is the event that has been happening more often in this one thousand four hundred and few years.  Now in this article, the purpose is to explain the internal or esoteric essence in a way that fits the present time, since I know the world of Islam more than any other times need to have such an understanding.  Understanding which naturally is in relative form and it is far from any absolute thought.  Because, it is clear to the learned and well-educated that only “Allah” Himself knows thoroughly and perfectly the meaning of the words of Right. Paying attention to the superficial, exoteric, or Afaqi (out of self) essence during the history has been done in many different ways and with a look at the interpretation books and other related notes it is quite evident.  But, it has been a less attention spent unbiased and rationally to the internal (esoteric) essence.  Now, you who have problem in understanding the verses of Qur’an do yourself a favor and pay attention to the internal essence like a mystic with a soft, open, and free mind till you are rewarded by it

Visualize the “Qur’an” as a bright and luminous “Human”.  In order to enter into its internal essence, looking at it this way is very important and necessary.  In this “Human”, both Allah and Satan talk to human.  Both, the people of faith and the people of disbelief are present.  Verses of friend and verses of enemy are both available.  There are both, the light and the darkness.  In this “Human”, there are both Moses and Pharaoh.    There are both forces of “Aad” and forces of “Thamud”.  A system which tramples people’s rights and makes them weak with unjust exploitation (Estez’af), and on the other hand, a system in which some people become powerful by using power and cruelty (Estekbar).  As is in this “Human”, the divine forces with the names of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon him) exist; there are also forces as Iblis (Satan), Nimrod, Qaroon, and Abu Lahib.  In this “Human”, there is a mention of ignorance and science (wisdom), as well.  It has been spoken of both, astray and guidance.  This is a perfect human.  It has all in itself.  Nothing is left out.  There are both, the Jinn (devil) and the Human (as oppose to mankind).  There’s both, the Human and the Angels. There are the earth and the sky, the sun and the moon, the cold and the heat.  There are the inanimate things, the plants and the animals. The male and the female……  This Human, this Live, and this Whole have fitted everything in themselves.  It has given the permission to everyone to talk and to show himself off.  Anyone or anything has his own or its own place.  Till

إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ  إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

“Until the Day of the time well-known.” “for a specified term”

This “Human”, who has everything in himself, it refers to the “Whole”. It does not have good or bad. All are present in the “Whole”.   And we accept the whole Qur’an.  We are committed to this “Whole”, both Qur’an and Hadiths.  We have been forbidden to divide Qur’an.  We cannot divide it into sections.  We cannot say we accept a section and not to accept another section.  People who believe Qur’an, they are committed to the whole Qur’an.  They have faith in this shining whole.  They are not dividing it into good and bad.  This Whole, it is completely good.  Because, the collision process between the good and the evil forces will be resulted in absolute goodness

وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَىٰ

And that to your Lord is the finality

Now, take a good look. “You are the smaller sample of this Whole”.  All the forces of the good and the evil that I mentioned earlier have an active agent in you.  You have both, the might of unique viewing and multiple thoughts and multiplicity.  Both forces are hidden in you; male and female; both operant (Fa’el – a person who acts with his own will) and impressible (Monfa’el – a person who is affected by the act of an operant).  You have both the sun and the moon.  You deserve both; the quality of Heaven attributes and also Hell.  The sense of fighting and confrontation, and also a force of dignity and tranquility, they are both in you.  You are exactly a smaller sample of this Whole.  If you look deep into those description and the stories that under verses (Ayat) have been described, you will see them in yourself.  Which verse do you want to deny?  The denial of the verses of Allah is to deny you.  Any verse that you deny, you have denied a part of yourself.  If you look carefully, every day in any situation, all those descriptions even all those wars and escapes are happening in you.  You have even your own Badr and Ohod war.  It is the picture of you.  How can you deny yourself?  Qur’an, this bright and shining “Human”, this “Live”, this “Whole”, refers to you.  Like a mirror, it reflects you back to you in its every verse.  That’s why Imam Sadeq has said: “Read the Qur’an as if it had been revealed to you”.  And that is your book.  It’s your adventures.  It’s your up and down in life.  It is only this view which can guide you to the internal (esoteric) essence of Qu’ran and to take you in a beautiful way to within yourself

وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

And in yourselves. Then will you not see?

When you find yourself and your qualities in the Qur’an, you are now becoming the Qur’an reader.  You have just found the way to be saved

اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ

[It will be said], “Read your record

Read your book.  Like the so-called intellectuals, you do not say that why the male inheritance is double that of a woman.  Since deep in yourself, you have seen this male and female force.  You have recognized the “operant” and the “impressible” one in yourself.  You understand that why the operant of the act, namely male, must have double forces.  You have experienced the practical meaning of these two male and female forces.  You’ve got insight relative to the affair.  When you deal with the “killer” verses, you know how to suppress your own Pharaoh in yourself.  You have got insight relative to the affair.  When you deal with the “killer” verses, you know how to suppress your own Pharaoh in yourself.  You understand that what the “to drown it in ‘sea’” means?  What does it mean to get rid of oppression?.  Because, you have practically experienced it and you have gotten yourself free from your own oppression and powerfulness.  When you deal with the amputation of hand and leg specially in opposite direction in Quran’s verses, you have already seen its concept in battle with the self.  You know how to curtail their Ugly and deterrent hands and legs in yourself; and how to stop their mobility power and show-off.  They must be ruined.  Hand and leg are the symbols of power and act.  The imperious self must be stopped from its source of power and act; and it must be dominated.  Until the light of you will get rid of it.  Until you become pure.  When torture in Islam is forbidden and the Prophet (SAW) does not approve or prescribe it, well, understand that this verse refers to another inner (esoteric) meaning. That is the method to dismiss the imperious self.  The great esoteric masters, namely, those who have supreme Qur’anic understanding are aware of the subtleties of this verse; and they use its nested equations in battle with self.  They educate the seekers.  This seeking is a great battle (Jihad).  In fact, it is to get rid of you from yourself.  There are both in you, the “blasphemy” and the “faith”

فَمِنكُمْ كَافِرٌ وَمِنكُم مُّؤْمِنٌ

And among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer

To where are you looking at?  Who are condemning?  Correct and improve your own horrific jungle.  Anyone who before refining himself addresses the fault and flaw of others, it’s despicable and debased.  How can it be that without drowning my inner Pharaoh to address the committing oppression of others!  How is it possible that without burying my own greed (assuming or excessive demands) and Qaroon characteristics in me, to be able to address the battle with arrogance or cruelty and selfishness of others!  How is it possible that despite suppressing blasphemy, atheism, and hypocracy in me, still like Daesh to be able to behead peoples here and there!  Drowned in lust, and then, like the Taliban, to throw stones at people’s heads.  I consider this lack of refinement as a disease for myself.  This is a malicious duplicity. And, from this lethal disease I seek refuge in great God.  The lack of refinement is the great disease of our age, and the Islamic world is also severely suffering from this illness and suffering.  The people of the Qur’an are those who are diligent in their quest for purification of the self. The people of Qur’an are the people of refinement and they get rid of the accessories.  And they know, the world will experience peace and security when all people individually pay attention to refinement and purification of self from thoughts and destructive understandings and act upon it.  Until this is not happening, the world even with severe laws will not be a peaceful and safe place.    It cannot be.  And, you see that it hasn’t happened.  In my view, The Qur’anic wisdom is the purifier of the unpleasant features (indecent acts).  It is the savior of the seeker from a dark thought mind.  It is the destroyer of all unkindness and frustrations; all selfishness and brags.  Qur’anic wisdom delivers bright and luminous “Human”. The human who he could like all creatures of Allah; he could love all; and he could be in their service in a best way.  Qur’anic wisdom brings freedom and liberation.  It results in freeing from stupid and foolish perceptions.  If it is other than this, it is not Qur’anic conduct.  The people of Qur’an have always Qur’anic behavior and attitude.  And these are the ones that are continuously respected by the earth and the sky

Masoud Riaei

Translated By: Mehrdad Rahmani