What Role Do the Infallibles Play in Acquiring Divine Names through the Structure of the Soul?
How did you feel the first time you looked at the structure of the soul from another perspective? When did you realize that the structure of the soul, like the world we live in, is mathematical? Yes, the structure of the soul is also mathematical and precise. So all the events that happen to us, from the actions and reactions taking place within us to our progressions or stagnations all are according to rules and calculations. Even when it comes to acquiring the names of and becoming similar to Allah, we cannot act arbitrarily; the structure of the soul follows mathematics, which we must consider in order to reach our destination and make the most of our short lifespan.
In previous lessons, we learned that our soul has the closest structure and resemblance to the Infinite Beloved, or Allah. However, Allah is not comprehensible to us until He manifests Himself. No matter how familiar we are with the names and attributes of God, as long as we do not have a manifestation for these attributes, we remain confused. This brings us to the question: How do we seek to embody qualities we do not fully understand? How should we bring the structure of the soul closer to the names and attributes of the Infinite Being, who we cannot see and can only establish a connection with through our supra-rational dimension.
For us, who are infinite and boundless only in our supra-rational dimension, yet limited in the four lower dimensions, becoming similar to the Infinite Perfection is not easy. Therefore, inevitably, we need a role model to follow in order to traverse this path and make the structure of the soul become similar to Allah. This role model must perfectly reflect divine names and attributes yet have a human form that we can relate to.
God has placed everything we need to achieve the purpose of our creation in the Infallibles, who are the perfect manifestations of all the divine names. But how should these names and attributes manifest themselves in us? How should we react in different life situations in order to manifest divine names and attributes in the structure of the soul? This is the topic we will discuss in this lesson.
Conditions for Acquiring Divine Names
We know that divine names and attributes are not limited to one or two; they encompass all aspects of our lives. In order to achieve the ultimate proximity to God, we need to acquire all these names and activate them in the structure of the soul. But have we ever considered when and how these names should be acquired? Do we always have the opportunity to acquire all the divine names in any situation? Or does a particular name become a part of us as soon as we will it?
Each individual’s path to acquiring divine names and attributes is unique. We pursue acquiring names based on our existential capacity and assets. For example, until we have not reached the name Al-Jawad (Generous) and cannot give to someone who has requested something from us, we will not be able to acquire the name Al-karim (Bountiful) which is to give before being asked. Now imagine that instead of generosity, miserliness fills our hearts. In this state, the existential capacity of the structure of the soul would not even allow the manifestation of the name Generous.
Moreover, time conditions and life situations can also provide us with the opportunity to acquire names in the structure of the soul. For example, conditions that enable us to acquire the names Ar-Rahman (The Most Beneficent) or Al-Ghafur (The All-Forgiving) as a mother or father would never exist before marriage. Similarly, many names that we can acquire while overcoming professional challenges were not accessible during our academic years. Some attributes only manifest themselves through our obligatory interactions with others, and some names only find an opportunity for manifestation in times of trials and tribulations. Therefore, we not only need to create the capacity to embody each of the divine names, but we must also stay alert to the specific conditions we face. This awareness allows us to recognize and use timely opportunities that would otherwise be missed.
Infallibles as Role Models for Acquiring Divine Names
Previously, we mentioned that the Infallibles (PBUT) are not only humans like us and experience the limitations of the material world, but they also manifest all the divine names and attributes. Therefore, the lives of the Infallibles, their interactions, their responses to various matters of life, and how they utilized different situations serve as the best model and example for manifesting divine names and attributes in the structure of the soul.
If we were to seek answers to all our questions solely from the life of one Infallible person, many of our questions would remain unanswered. However, the collective 250-year lifespan of the Infallibles in different times and conditions provide answers to many of our inquiries. Imagine having access to an exceptional teacher for a short time. Naturally, the more time we have, the more we will benefit. How we establish our relationship with our Imam in different situations, how we interact with our neighbors, how we deal with the weak points of our spouse, how we respect the rights of others, how we claim our own rights, and how our relationship with other creatures of God should be are completely clarified in the divine lifestyle of the Infallibles. Moreover, the most important aspect is realizing the pattern through which we must use each of these life situations to acquire a divine name. In fact, what is important is to understand when the conditions are right for us to attain a particular name.
Although each of the Infallibles individually embodies all the divine names and attributes, their time periods and circumstances differ. Due to being placed in different situations, each of them has manifested a particular name or attribute more prominently according to their era and lifestyle. For example, given the time and circumstances of his life, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) became a manifestation of God’s attribute of mercy to all worlds [1], which lays the groundwork for acquiring other divine names. Similarly, the attribute of justice in Imam Ali (PBUH) is more prominent than other divine attributes. The qualities of generosity, compassion, knowledge, forbearance, and so forth have been expressed distinctly in each of the Infallibles according to the divine mathematical formula set by the Creator. However, as mentioned before, our existential capacity differs from one another. Each of us, based on the mathematical structure of the soul, may have a greater potential for heartfelt connection with a specific Infallible one and encounter better opportunities to cultivate certain divine names at various stages of life.
The Shortest Path to Achieving the Goal
Perhaps the question arises as to why now? Why should we pursue acquiring a divine name in a given situation? The reason for these things lies in the brevity of our lives. The purpose of our creation is to become similar to divine names and attributes, and given our limited time, we must choose the quickest and shortest path to reach our goal. Imagine you have forgotten something at home and need to get back in quickly, you should grab the right key immediately; trying every key would waste too much time. The same applies to acquiring a divine name; knowing which name to pursue and which Infallible one to connect with in a given situation is advantageous and undoubtedly brings us closer to our goal more quickly. This is because the opportunities in life to acquire a specific name or establish a heartfelt connection with an Infallible person may be fleeting, just like other life opportunities. Therefore, if the circumstances of our lives provide an opportunity to cultivate kindness, compassion, justice, and other divine names and attributes, we must seize the opportunity and not miss the chance to become similar to the Absolute Perfection.
In this lesson, we discussed how our existential structure is designed to bear the greatest similarity to divine names and attributes. These names potentially exist in the structure of the soul, but actualizing them is not possible without having a role model to follow. In reality, the Infallibles are the most comprehensive mirrors reflecting these names and attributes, and each of us, based on our existential capacity, life circumstances, and the level of our connection with the Infallibles strives to acquire a specific name.
Have you ever considered your life situations as an opportunity to acquire a divine name? To what extent has the name beneficence (Ar-Rahman), which serves as the foundation for acquiring other names, been manifested in the structure of your soul?
References
[1]. “and We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the worlds” (Quran, 21:107)