Al Khatib Abu al Rabi Muhammad ibn al Layth: The first thing Allah created
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Photo: Tunisian boy by Lehnert & Landrock
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'The first thing Allāh created is the light of Muhammad ﷺ and that light came and prostrated before Allāh. Allāh divided it into four parts and created from the first part the Throne, from the second the Pen, from the third the Tablet, and then similarly He subdivided the fourth part into parts and created the rest of creation. Therefore the light of the Throne is from the light of the Prophet ﷺ, the light of the Pen is from the light of the Prophet (s), the light of the Tablet is from the light of the Prophet ﷺ, the light of day, the light of knowledge, the light of the sun and the moon, and the light of vision and sight are all from the light of the Prophet ﷺ.'
(Al-Khātib Abū al-Rab‘i Muhammad ibn al-Layth in his book Shifā’ al-sudūr)
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Recommended Reading:
'The Other in the Light of the One: The Universality of the Qur'an and Interfaith Dialogue'
by Reza Shah-Kazemi (Author)
Purchase Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Description:
Based on a profound study of Sufi spiritual teachers that includes Ibn al-Arabi, Rumi, and Ghazali, this book attempts to answer questions about the place of the Qur'an in the world today, such as Does the Qur'an promote peace and harmony or discord and conflict? Does it contribute to pluralism or exclusivism? and Is its message spiritual or fanatical? As an invitation to study the universality that is undoubtedly present in the Qur'an, the book's aim is to relate some of the most profound interpretations of the Qur'an to philosophical and spiritual questions concerning interfaith dialogue. Rather than merely reproducing the ideas of the Sufis, it builds upon principles, takes advantage of insights, and applies them creatively to contemporary conditions, illustrating how a universalist perspective based on Sufi hermeneutics provides a third path between liberal pluralism and conservative exclusivism.
"A very honest and profound Sufi approach to the Qur'an and the problem of unity and variety in particular . . . the result of a very careful consideration of major issues, including important political issues of our time."
(Hermann Landolt, professor, Institute of Islamic Studies–London)
"A very honest and profound Sufi approach to the Qur'an and the problem of unity and variety in particular . . . the result of a very careful consideration of major issues, including important political issues of our time."
(Hermann Landolt, professor, Institute of Islamic Studies–London)
"Dr. Shah-Kazemi's approach and insights are extremely valuable."
(James S. Cutsinger, professor, University of South Carolina)
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