Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an

Intelligent Love

Everything on earth, as well as the sun and the moon, is made for us and subject to us (which does not absolve us of any abuses we commit). What facilitates that control? Intelligence – the capacity to name something, to rename it, and thus to ‘handle’ it in an unearthly place beyond the normal limitations of space and time. It is … the kind of dominion we all exercise in our minds over our thoughts. This godlike power, given to Ādam (peace be upon him), was unlike anything the angels had ever seen before. (IIQ, pages 350-351)

Before the first human came to be, GOD’s Love ruled the cosmos. Ever since their creation, the greatest powers of the universe, the angels, had been wholeheartedly devoted to GOD, performing every task assigned to them with total obedience and zeal. That was — and remains today — the acme of pure spiritual vision. They were as perfect in it as a creature could be … serenely, comfortably, almost casually, perfect.

But AL-LAH wanted another kind of Love — one that would be thrown lower, with the potential to rise higher. He conceived of a devotion that would not only love because, but also despite. An obedience that would have to wrestle with complexity, that would sweat, bleed, and cry under the lash of suffering and injustice, that would struggle against the darkness of non-being and work with Him, rather than simply for Him, to bring it into the light of Divine Being. He wanted, in short, Intelligent Love. And He wanted intelligence, or ‘aql, to lead.

When the angels questioned his choice of this new creature, destined to corruption and bloodshed, as they rightly foresaw, He simply replied, I know what you know not. (Q2:30) Intelligence!

The angels had no further questions; they knew GOD too well to doubt His Infinite Wisdom. Surely, with that reply, they also realized that with all their effortless perfection they were still limited, that there were other kinds of perfection and knowledge of which they had no inkling. So when they were ordered to prostrate themselves to Adam (out of respect for GOD’s Command), they did so freely and willingly, as was their nature.

Can you do what the angels did? Can you obey the law of GOD implanted in your heart from before you were born, without a moment’s hesitation or inner conflict? Can you love Him unreservedly and constantly, like the angels? Probably not. I know I cannot. I have been thrown low too, dear reader, and I am struggling to climb up, with this book of mine as an aid. This is a work of love, but love alone is weak, easily distracted, and beset by desires, fears, and doubts.

I invite here the reader to discover, with me, what GOD would have me do with Him. To see some of what He sees, I must climb higher. The power of naming, i.e., intelligence, is His gift to me, my walking stick.