Fifth Principle

FIFTH PRINCIPLE: In accordance with the inner meaning of: “Among my community are transmitters of Hadiths,” inferring, “who are inspired,” [^3] some meanings of Hadiths that were attained through the inspirations of inspired Hadith scholars who followed the path of illumination and sainthood were supposed to be wholly Hadiths. Whereas, certain obstructions may give rise to errors in the saints’ inspirations. Some Hadiths of this type may therefore be contrary to the truth.

[^3]:Bukhārī, Faḍā’il al-Ṣaḥāba, 6; Anbiyā’, 54; Muslim, Faḍā’il al-Ṣaḥāba, 23; Tirmidhī, Manāqib, 17; Musnad, vil, 55; al-Qurṭubī, al-Jāmi‘ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān, xiii, 174.

Sixth Principle

SIXTH PRINCIPLE: There are certain popular, well-known stories that heve become proverbial; their true meanings are not thought of. What comes to mind is the purpose they were spread. Thus, some stories and fables which had become well-known among people in this way, God’s Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) told in the form of comparisons and allusions for purposes of guidance. If there are any errors in the literal meanings of stories of this sort, they arise from the people’s customs and traditions, and the way they have been transmitted among them.

Seventh Principle

SEVENTH PRINCIPLE: There are many similes and parables that with the passage of time or with passing from the hand of learning to the hand of ignorance have been supposed to be physical fact and become erroneous. For example, two of God’s angels in the World of Similitudes called the Bull (Taurus) and the Fish (Pisces), who are among the supervisors of the animals of the land and the sea and are represented as a bull and fish, were imagined to be huge bull and a physical fish, and the Hadith was wrongly interpreted. And for example, one time in the presence of the Prophet a deep rumbling was heard. God’s Messenger (UWBP) decreed: “That is the sound of a rock that has been rolling downhill for seventy years and only now has hit the bottom of Hell.” [^4] Someone who heard this Hadith but did not know the truth might have deviated into denial. But then, twenty minutes after the Hadith was spoken the truth was definitely established, for someone came and told God’s Messenger (UWBP): “The famous dissembler died twenty minutes ago.” God’s Messenger (UWBP) had described most eloquently how the dissembler’s seventy-year lifetime of unbelief as a stone of Hell had been a continuous descent to the lowest of the low. Almighty God had made that rumbling heard at the moment of his death and apprised him with a sign.

[^4]:See, Muslim, Janna, 31; Musnad, iii, 341, 346.

Eighth Principle

EIGHTH PRINCIPLE: In this arena of trial and realm of examination, Almighty God, the Absolutely Wise One, conceals things of great impor-