SIR MAZHAR

[swamidada]

During question/answer session, Sir Mazhar was asked," What is the significance of ع (Ayn)and غ (Ghayn)in sufism and Ginanic literature"?

Sir said, one explanation is that Ayn ع represents Ali and Ghayn غ stands for 'Ghayr' those who have no faith in Ali.

Ayn: Vision, Source, Knowledge, Essence.

Ghayn: Mystery, Veil, Manifestation, Distinction.

In Sufism, the Arabic letters 'Ayn (ع) and Ghayn (غ) are significant not only as phonetic characters but as essential symbols in ‘ilm ul huruf' (the science of letters), representing profound cosmological, spiritual, and mystical realities. They are often interpreted in the context of divine attributes and the journey of the soul.

The relationship between the two letters Ayn (ع) and Ghayn (غ) is often interpreted through the single dot (Nuqta) above the Ghayn. This dot acts as a "veil" or a "separation" between the known/witnessed (Ayn) and the hidden/mysterious (Ghayn).

The Nuqta assumes a powerful symbolic status in Islamic Sufism and Shia philosophy. A celebrated statement attributed to Mowla Ali, central to Shia theology, is often quoted in this context. “All that is in the Quran is in the Fatiha, all that is in the Fatiha is in the Bismillah, all that is in the Bismillah is in the letter ba ( ب), and I am the dot beneath the Ba. "I am the Point (al-Nuqta) beneath the letter B".
If a person understand and attain this spiritual Nuqta will see Noor e Ali with Ayn (eye) of his soul.

EEK NUQTA MA'RIFAT KERA
MURSHID JIS KU BATLAWEY
SO WASIL HOWEY ZAAT E HAQQ MEIN
ASAL APNI KU PAAWEY
Kalam e Mowla

Sir quoted a couplet from Bhuj Nirinjin;

JUB TAWHID ILAHI AAWAY
TUBB AYN GHAYN UUTH KAR JAAWAY

When Tawhid is attained, the separation between Ayn and Ghain disappears.
(Hum tum donu saiyan eek hain)

Sir gave example of Baba Bhulley Shah;

Aina Te Gainaa nuu main samajh na jaana,
Gal Alaf samjhaai

Bulleyaa Kaul Alaf De Purey,
Jehrey Dil Di Karan Safaaii

I don't understand Ayn and Ghayn that is 'mon wa tu', 'you and I', it is Alif that means Allah. Bhulla says, Alif's qoul (promise) is right through which inner self is cleaned.

In Sufi poetry, Ayn and Ghayn serve as a bridge between the unseen world and the visible world, with Ayn representing the hidden, inner reality, and Ghayn representing the externalization or "wrapping" of that reality

Ayn (ع) is the Source of Knowledge and Vision. Ayn literally means "eye." In Sufi symbolism, it represents the "eye of the heart" or divine vision (basirah), allowing the mystic to perceive spiritual truths.
Ayn is considered the origin of the intellect ('aql), symbolizing the inward knowledge or gnostic understanding (ma'rifah).
Many key Sufi terms starting with Ayn highlight its importance: 'Ilm (Knowledge), 'Ishq (Divine Love), 'Abd (Servant), and 'Arsh (Throne of Allah).

While 'Ayn signifies vision, Ghayn its variant with a dot often represents "total mystery" (ghayb) and that which is hidden, covering, or veiled from human comprehension.
Where as Ghayn is used in terms indicating change, such as ghayyara (alter), representing the transformative journey of the soul, which involves passing through various states of concealment and revelation, and represents a deeper, more subtle layer of divine, esoteric knowledge.

[swamidada]

Continued from explanation of Ayn and Ghayn.
In the same sitting Sir was also asked about AYN and MEEM.

Sir replied; Ayn stands for Ali and Meem stands for Muhammad. In Sufism, letters are not merely tools for communication but are considered vessels of divine secrets, vibrations that affect the soul. The letters Ayn (ع) and Meem (م) hold deep esoteric significance, particularly regarding divine knowledge, Prophetic/Imamat light, and the journey of the soul. It is viewed as the door that leads to Ahad (Oneness). In Sufi thought, the difference between Ahad (the Oneness of Allah) and Ahmad (a name of the Prophet) is the Meem, signifying the Prophet's role as a bridge between the creator and creation. Meem represents the flow of divine light and mercy from the Creator to the creation.

Sir quoted Shah Latif Bhittai

احد احمد پان مین وچان میم فرق
آھی مستغرق غالم انہی گال مین

In between Ahad and Ahmad, the difference is Meem. The world wander in the mystery of Meem.

EK AHMAD EK JAGATPATI
EK GUR SUUN CHIT LAEIYEN
GUR SERVEY AHMAD MILEY
TOU AHMAD MEEM GAMAYE
(Bhuj Nirinjin-Pir Sadruddin)

One is Ahmad(the Prophet) and one is King of the universe. Concentrate upon the guidance given by the Guru (Guide). If you serve the Guide and obey his guidance you will attain Ahmad, and you will find Meem disappears from Ahmad remaining Ahad that is Allah.

The letters Ayn and Meem represent the beginning and end of a Sufi's journey toward divine union, assisting in the process of fana (annihilation).

The Letter Ayn (ع) stands for Ali, Ayn literally means "eye" in Arabic and is used in Sufism to represent 'ilm (knowledge), 'aql (intellect), and the "eye of the heart" or "eye of perception" that witnesses divine truths. It symbolizes the ability to see beyond the physical world into the spiritual, witnessing the inner reality of existence. It is often linked to the inner yearning to witness the Divine, reflecting the spiritual "sight" that recognizes God in all things. All 4 main sufi tariqas consider Mowla Ali as father of Islamic sufism. Spiritually Noor e Ali and Noor e Muhammad are not seperate entities. In old Dua it was mentioned; ALI MUHAMMAD NOORULLAH BAR HUQQ.

گر جدا دانی علی از مصطفا
دشمن جانت خداي کبریا است

GAR JUDA DAANI ALI AZ MUSTAFA
DUSHMAN E JAANAT KHUDA E KIBRIYA AST
Rumi

If you separate Ali from Mustafa, God Almighty will become enemy of you.

Sir explained one can not seperate Ali from Muhammad. Noor e Ali and Noor e Muhammadi is same. The Prophet said,"ANA WA ALYUN MIN NOORIN WAHID", I and Ali are from 'Wahid' same Noor. Sir said, Ahad, Ahmad, and Wahid have same roots.

ALI MUHAMMAD SAACHA KALMA
TIN BINA MOKSH NAHI RE

Ali and Muhammad is one true kalma, there is no salvation without them.

Sir quoted Mir Anees;

AFZAL HAI AGAR EK TO A'LLA HAI EK
GAR GOUR KARO TO MOUJ WA DARIYA HAI EK
HAA(N) NOOR E MUHAMMAD WA ALI HAI WAHID
HAI(N) ISM (name) DOU (2) MAGAR MUSAMMA (entity) HAI EK
Mir Anees

Sir Mazhar said, by studying and understanding 'Diwan e Ashkaar' by Sachal Sarmast the famous sufi poet of Sind (Ashkaar his pen name), we would come to know about Ismaili philosophy of "Ali Muhammad yak Khuda". According to Ashkaar 'Khuda Muhammad Ali' is one entity..

Some Farsi couplets from Diwan e Ashkaar;

AA(N)KE DAR AHMAD AHAD DAANIST FARAQ
DARJA E UU DAR FANA FI ALLAH NEEST

IF ANY ONE DIFFERENCIATE BETWEEN AHMAD (PROPHET) AND AHAD (ALLAH)
SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH FANA FI ALLAH

انا احمد لا میم هم دانی من راءنی
لی وقت مع الله است فرموده پیغمبر

I am Ahmad without Meem. The Prophet said all the time I am with Allah."

There is a Hadith of the Prophet "ANA AHMAD BILA MEEM", "I am Ahmad without Meem".

JUZZ MUHAMMAD NEEST DAR KOUN WA MAKAAN
JUZZ ALI DEEGAR KASSI HAMRAH NEEST

THERE ISN'T ANY ONE ELSE IN BOTH WORLDS WITHOUT MUHAMMAD AND ALI
AND WITHOUT ALI THERE IS NO PATRON AND HELPER IN BOTH WORLDS

EE BIJUZ DARWAZA AHMAD RAAH NEEST
GAR NA MEEDAANI DILAT AGAAH NEEST

O FRIEND THERE IS NO WAY OUT WITHOUT DOOR OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS MEANS YOUR HEART IS AWAY FROM REALITY

GAR KASSI RA ISHQ E UU DAAMIN GARIFT
BILYAQEEN DAANI KE AA(N) GUMRAH NEEST

IF ANY ONE IS ABSORBED IN LOVE (WITH MUHAMMAD AND ALI)
INDEED THAT PERSON WILL NOT GO ASTRAY

AA(N) KHUDA WA AA(N) RASUL EE ASHIKAAR
UNDDER EE(N) NA SHAK WA ISHBAAH NEEST

O ASHKAAR KHUDA AND RASUL ARE SAME
THERE IS NO DOUBT OR SUSPICIOUS IN IT

AA(N) MUHAMMAD AA(N) AHAD DAANI TU YAK
YAK BUUD AA(N) YAK BUUD TU AARI NA SHAK

BELIEVE PROPHET MUHAMMAD AND AHAD (ALLAH) AS ONE
HAVE NO DOUBT IN THIS, BOTH ARE ONE

AA(N) MUHAMMAD AA(N) ALI BASHID YAKI
UNDDER EE(N) RAAH NA AARI TU SHAKI

MUHAMMAD AND ALI ARE ALSO ONE
HAVE NO DOUBT IN THE TRUTH OF ONENESS

Sir quoted Bhulley Shah, the Punjabi sufi poet;

ALLAH AADMI BUN(N) AAYA
ANNT BIRAH DI KHABAR NA KAI
ALLAH AADMI BUN(N) AAYA
AYN DA BURQA MEEM DI CHAADAR
MUKH WHICH GHUNGHATT PAAYA
ALLAH AADMI BUN(N) AAYA

Allah came in garb of man
This mystery is unknown
Allah came in garb of man
He came in the veil of AYN and MEEM that is Ali and Muhammad by covering His face
Allah came in garb of man

JEN(N)E RUNG NE RUUP NAHI
NAHEE KUCHH NAAM NE THHAAM RE
SO GUPTA PRAGATT BHAYO
LAAKH DHARO TISS NAAM RE
(Bhuj Nirinjin-Pir Sadruddin)

Who does does not have any colour or form, nor any name or abode; so when this hidden entity became manifest, it assumes hundreds of thousands of names.

Sir quoted Rumi;
خود خدا اندر لباس آدمی
خود خدا اندر لباس خادمی

God Himself in the Garb of a Man
God Himself in the Garb of a Servant

At the end of lecture, Sir quoted a Farman of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah when he was around 8 years of age on coronation day;

Jamaits, do not consider me small. I am the decendant of Prophet Muhammad and my grand father is Hazrat Amirul Mu'minin Hazrat Ali and my grand mother is Khatoon e Jannat Hazrat Bibi Fatima. I am the Noor of both Hazrat Ali and Holy Prophet. Though young in age I am exalted.
Bombay, Sep 1st 1885.

[swamidada]

يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ (Yaqbidu wa Yabsutu)

This was an interesting subject. The topic was universe is expanding contineously.

The Arabic phrase يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ (yaqbidu wa yabsutu) means "He constricts (squeeze) and expands." This phrase appears in the Holy Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 245, describing how Allah controls, squeeze and expand universe and life.

يَقْبِضُ (Yaqbidu): He constricts, withholds, or decreases.
يَبْصُۜطُ (yabsutu): He expands, extends, or grants abundantly.

This phrase highlights two of 99 Names of Allah:
Al-Qābiḍ (القابض): The Withholder / The Restricter.
Al-Bāsiṭ (الباسط): The Expander / The Extender

Sir quoted a Quranic verse from Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:47, which states the universe is expanding.
The Verse reads:
وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
Translation:
"And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander." (51:47)

The phrase 'wa innā la-mūsiʿūn' (وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ) is interpreted as "We are certainly expanding it". This aligns strikingly with modern cosmological discoveries that the cosmos is continually expanding.

Sir quoted Allamah Iqbal;

یے کاءنات ابھی ناتمام ہے شاید
ک آ رھی ہے دمادم صداے کن فیکون

Perhaps this universe is not complete yet, as there is contineous voice coming of 'kun fayakun' means 'Be and it is'.

Recent astronomical discoveries have dramatically expanded our estimate of the universe’s scale from 'billions' of galaxies imagined to as many as 6–20 trillion galaxies today. Modern telescopes like Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope have revealed an ever-growing cosmos, detecting countless faint and distant galaxies that earlier instruments missed. Intriguingly, the Quran spoke of an expanding universe nearly 14 centuries ago.

With the James Webb Space Telescope (launched 2021), our cosmic inventory has expanded even further. JWST’s infrared eyes can see smaller, fainter, and more distant galaxies that were previously invisible. Indeed, “with JWST’s eyes, discovered even more galaxies. Recent studies suggest that there may be between 6 and 20 trillion galaxies in the observable universe. In other words, the cosmos is teeming with far more galaxies than we ever imagined. Each galaxy, in turn, contains billions or trillions of stars, along with untold numbers of planets. Such a vast universe challenges the limits of human comprehension.

Crucially, this immense scale is coupled with continuous expansion. The space between galaxies is stretching, an observation first made by Hubble in 1929 and now a cornerstone of cosmology. Every moment, the universe’s fabric expands, carrying galaxies farther apart (on large scales). The Quran appears to allude to this expansion in a remarkable verse revealed in the 7th century: “And We have built the heavens with might, and indeed We are expanding it.” (Quran 51:47). Many modern translators and scholars interpret the Arabic phrase “wa innā la-mūsiʿūn” as meaning that God is continuously expanding the sky or universe.

It is worth appreciating how extraordinary this statement is in historical context. In antiquity and the medieval era, the dominant view (across various cultures) was of a static, finite cosmos. For example, the Bible’s Book of Genesis describes a “firmament” a solid dome separating the heavens and earth reflecting an ancient belief that the sky was a fixed canopy. Likewise, Greek astronomers for centuries assumed the stars were attached to crystal spheres encircling a stationary earth Change or expansion on a cosmic scale was inconceivable in those paradigms. Yet the Quranic text broke from these prevailing notions with an image of dynamic expansion, a fact only empirically confirmed in the 20th century.

Sir demonstrated يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ (yaqbidu wa yabsutu) means "He constricts (squeeze) and expands." He showed palm of his hand moving it forward slowly saying, this is how universe is expanding, this is an example of َيَبْصُۜطthen he closed his palm of hand and said this is an example of يَقْبِضُ
means on doomsday God will fold the universe as closing palm of hand. He explained;
مٹہی کہولنے سے مراد پہیلنا ہے اورمٹہی بند کرنے سے مراد لپیٹنا ہے۔
(the example of palm he gave was just for understanding).

Sir said; when we say ALLAHU AKBAR (Allah is great), we can not measure His greatness. Sir quoted first paragraph of first sermon by Mowla Murtaza Ali from Nahjul Ballaghah;

Praise is due to Allah whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose bounties cannot be counted by calculations and whose claim cannot be satisfied by those who attempt to do so, whom the height of intellectual courage cannot appreciate, and the divings of understanding cannot reach; He for whose description no limit has been laid down, no eulogy exists, no time is ordained and no duration is fixed. He brought forth creation through His Omnipotence....

Hazar Imam said, Allah is beyond imagination.

Sir said, I wish some advanced country in scientific research send a rocket or a flying machine with atomic engine to travel in universe to find end of universe and send data on earth how many miles it traveled in univrse.

Science is helpless to calculate lenght and width of universe. About greatness of Allah, Hazar Imam in BK Farman 1966 said;" If you think of two thousand universes that there may be He is above those universes.

Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah in Memoirs has written;
Thus Islam's basic principle can only be defined as mono-realism and not as monotheism. Consider, for example, the opening declaration of every Islamic prayer: "Allah-o-Akbar". What does that mean? There can be no doubt that the second word of the declaration likens the character of Allah to a matrix which contains all and gives existence to the infinite, to space, to time, to the Universe, to all active and passive forces imaginable, to life and to the soul....
Memoirs of Aga Khan

Note: I have added couple of paragraphs from my side on Hubble and James webb space telescope.

[swamidada]

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ

And He who created the night and the day and the Sun and the moon; all in an orbit are swimming. Surah Anbiya 21:33

We live in an age where the motions of heavenly bodies are well documented and understood. Mostly people know that the Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits the Earth. Many are also aware that other planets have moons and that those moons circle their planets. Yet it comes as a surprise to many that our entire Milky Way Galaxy is rotating, all its billions of stars (including our Sun) orbit around the Galaxy’s center. This galactic rotation is a fact uncovered by astronomers only in the last century. Imagine the enormity: just as the Earth makes a yearly loop around the Sun, the Sun itself, along with our whole solar system, is hurtling around the center of the Milky Way in a giant orbit taking roughly 200–250 million years to complete.

Sir Mazhar explained, all heavenly bodies in universe are orbiting and moving, they are like swimming (in vast ocean). Every star and planet has to move in its orbit, as predetermined by the Divine Design.
Before Islam, it was believed that the earth is stationary and the heavy and big celestial bodies like the sun and the moon revolve around it. Until second half of the twentieth century it was known that the Sun and and all celestial bodies, including earth along with other planets revolve and move in a direction prescribed by Allah.

The Holy Quran around 1400 years ago announced that every celestial body in the space is floating. The Quranic word which has been employed in this contex is: يَسْبَحُوْنْ which means: “They swim”. The swimming always is generated from the inherent quality to move; and it implies that all celestial bodies which are moving, in their orbits, have been bestowed, in the Divine Design, with the quality for such movement. Since every planet has to move in its orbit, as pre-determined by the Divine Design, it cannot move against that for which it has been ordained.

Sir Mazhar said; Quran is my passion. Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini during an interview said,"Quran is the miracle in Islam". Sir said, Quran is like a deep ocean of wordly knowledge as well spiritual. Those who stand on beach can see only superficial things like, boats, ships, people swimming, various types of fishes and so on. But what is hidden deep in ocean hardly any one knows. The different types of mammals, unknown type of creatures, mountains, valcanos, rare earth materials, different kind of chemical elements, gold, diamonds, petrol, natural gas name it. Though due to modern scintific research and deep diving, we have some knowledge of treasures under water, but still 90% is hidden and unknown. Then Sir said, consider Universe as a vast ocean unmeasurable in which trillions of heavenly bodies are swimming keeping distance with each other.

Sir said, till today, there are over 100,000+ exegesis (Tafsirs), explanations and commentaries of Quran are available written by Mufassirs, and till Qayyamah (doomsday) millions more will be written. Sir said, one Mufassir can not blame other for wrong interpretation. Each Mufasir has expressed himself according to knowledge he acquired through different sourses. In this regard Sir quoted from Memoirs of Aga Khan chapeter Islam;

"Fortunately the Quran has itself made this task easy, for it contains a number of verses which declare that Allah speaks to man in allegory and parable. Thus the Quran leaves the door open for all kinds of possibilities of interpretation so that no one interpreter can accuse another of being non Muslim. A felicitous effect of this fundamental principle of Islam that the Quran is constantly open to allegorical interpretation has been that our Holy Book has been able to guide and illuminate the thought of believers, century after century, in accordance with the conditions and limitations of intellectual appreciation imposed by external influences in the world. It leads also to a greater charity among Muslims, for since there can be no cut-and-dried interpretation, all schools of thought can unite in the prayer that the Almighty in His infinite mercy may forgive any mistaken interpretation of the Faith whose cause is ignorance or misunderstanding".

Until 16th century, it was thought that the Earth was the center of the Universe. This is known as the Geocentric model. This belief was questioned by the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543 and later Galileo Galilei in 1610, they scientifically established that the Earth revolves around the Sun, thus opposing the official dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. In Muslim communities, this happened even in late 20th century as one famous religious cleric Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz from Saudi Arabia claimed that the earth did not move and that anyone who asserted the contrary was considered to have committed a blasphemy.

Our Earth rotates around its axis at 1600km/hr, which causes day and night on Earth. Then it revolves around the Sun at 107,000km/hr which is responsible for our 12 months year and different seasons on Earth. But Quran almost around 1440 years ago told us about the movement of planets, Earth and all celestial bodies in space and also around their own axis. Sir quoted few more ayats of Quran on orbit and swimming;

With regard to the movement of celestial bodies as being pre-determined by the Creator, it is repeatedly claimed by the Quran. For example, Allah says:

"فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ".

He (Allah) Who breaks the dawn. And He made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for calculation. Such is the disposition and calculation of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. Surah: 6/96

It is very recent that the scientists understood that the sun is not stationary rather it is moving towards the “unknown”; which has been named by Quran as its destination. Allah says:

"وَٱلشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ".

And the sun runs towards its destination. Such is the design of Almighty, the All-Knowing. Surah: 36/38

ٱلشَّمْسُ يَنۢبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تُدْرِكَ ٱلْقَمَرَ وَلَا ٱلَّيْلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ".

The sun must not catch up the moon, nor does the night to outpace the day. Each one is travelling in an orbit (with its own motion. Surah: 36/40.

The Quran is not a book of Science or Astrology or Arithmatic. Since the human being live on this planet Allah invites us to ponder about the system under which the life and the habitat have been regulated here. The fineness and the intricacies of the natural laws and as they are being operated will lead us to our Creator Almighty Allah.

Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini has said, in a Farman given in Khorog, Tajikistan on May 27, 1995, He stated:"The Qur'an refers very often to nature as a reflection of Allah's power of creation, and it says, look at the mountains, the rivers, the trees, the flowers, as evidence of Allah's love for the people whom He has created. Today, I look at this environment, and I say to you, I believe Allah is smiling upon you, and may His smile always be upon you".