The Twentieth Word

A significant point and important mystery

In describing all the attainments of learning, scientific progress, and wonders of technology with which we have been endowed due to our vast potential under the title of “the teaching of the names,” the above verse alludes to a fine point: Each attainment, perfection, learning, progress, and science has an elevated reality based on a Divine Name. By being based on a Name, Which has a great variety of veils and manifests Itself in various ways and levels, that particular branch of science or art attains its perfection and becomes reality. Otherwise it remains imperfect, deficient, and shadowy.

For example, engineering’s reality lies in the Divine Names the All-Just (One Who gives everything a certain measure and due proportions and creates everything just in its place) and the All-Determining. Its final aim is to discover those Names and observe and reflect their wise and majestic manifestations. Medicine is an art and a science. Its reality and final rank lie in the All-Wise’s Name the All-Healing, and it reaches its perfection by finding out a cure for every illness by discovering the merciful manifestations of that Name in the earth, His vast “pharmacy.”

The science which discusses the reality of entities can be a true science full of wisdom only by discerning the regulating, directing, administering, sustaining, and all-embracing manifestations of the Divine Name the All Wise in things, and in their benefits and advantages, and by being based on that Name. Otherwise it either become superstition and nonsense or, like naturalistic philosophy, causes misguidance. You can compare other sciences and attainments with these three examples.

Thus, with this verse under discussion, the wise Qur’an points to the furthest limits and final degrees of progress—from which we are still far removed—and urges us toward them. This verse is extremely rich and elaborate in meaning, but for now I will go no further.

The Qur’an is Prophet Muhammad’s supreme miracle, the seal of the Office of Prophethood, the leader of Prophets, and the cause of pride of all beings, upon him be peace and blessings. When compared with his cause of Messengership, the miracles of all the other Prophets are like only one miracle. He was endowed in full with all the levels of all the names taught, in brief, to Adam. By raising his finger in a mood of majesty, the Prophet split the moon; by lowering his hand in a manifestation of grace, he made water flow from his ten fingers abundantly; and he was verified and corroborated by hundreds of miracles. Numerous verses like: Say: “If humanity and jinn banded together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they would never produce its like, not though they backed one another” (17:88), point out the Qur’an’s— his supreme miracle—purity of explanation, eloquence of expression, comprehensive meanings, and sublime and sweet styles, which together constitute one of the most brilliant aspects of the miraculousness or inimitability of that eternal miracle. Thus, such verses attract humans and jinn to this aspect and provokes them. Stirring up the zeal of its friends and the obstinacy of its enemies, they encourage and stimulate them to produce something resembling it. They place that miracle before the eyes of creatures, as if reminding that humanity’s only aim is to take it as our goal and guiding principle in life, and study it so that we can advance consciously and knowingly to the goal for our creation.

In brief, therefore, while the other Prophets’ miracles point to a wonder of human arts or crafts and technology, Prophet Adam’s miracle indicates a concise, summarized form of the basis of those crafts, as well as the indexes of sciences, branches of knowledge, and wonders and perfections, and urges us toward them. As for the Qur’an of miraculous exposition, the supreme miracle of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, it is the object of all the Divine Names’ manifestations in their fullness, shows fully the true goal of science and all branches of knowledge, as well as the perfections, attainments, and happiness of both worlds. It urges us toward them powerfully and in such a way that it means: “O people, the sublime aim in the creation of this universe is your response to Divine Lordship’s manifestation (administering, directing, training, and sustaining) with universal worship. Your ultimate aim is to realize that worship through science, attainment, and perfections.”

The Qur’an also hints at this: “At the end of time, humanity will pour into science and learning. People will derive all strength from science. Power and rule will pass to the hand of science and knowledge.” By frequently emphasizing its eloquent and beautiful style, the Qur’an suggests: “At the end of time, eloquence and beauty of expression, the most brilliant sciences and branches of knowledge, will be most sought after in all their varieties. People will find that when it comes to making each other accept their opinions and exercise their rule, their most effective weapon will be eloquent expression; their most irresistible force will be fine oratory.”

In short, most Qur’anic verses are keys to a treasury of perfections and a store of knowledge. If you want to ascend to the Qur’an’s sky and reach the stars of its verses, make these 20 Words a 20-step stairway87 and climb them. You will see what a brilliant, shining sun the Qur’an is. Notice how it radiates a pure light over the Divine truths and the truths of the contingent (created) realm. See what a brilliant light it spreads.

In conclusion, since the verses concerning the Prophets allude to contemporary technology’s wonders and have a manner of expression that suggests their furthest limits, since each verse has numerous meanings, and since there are categorical commands to follow and obey the Prophets, the verses mentioned above must be pointing to the importance of human arts and sciences, in addition to their literal meanings, and urging us toward them.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

87 Rather, 33 Words (comprising The Words), 33 Letters (comprising The Letters), 31 Gleams (comprising The Gleams) and 13 Rays (comprising The Rays) are a 110-step stairway.