DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE EVENTS (VERSE NO. 37 - 40)

      ``And so did We send it down as a commandment in Arabic....''

      For the word, ``ARABIC'' a two-fold meaning is understood;

1ِ It may allude to the Semitic language of the Arabs, which is the prevailing speech of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and North Africa.
2ِ It also means an expressive, clear, and eloquent, word. Therefore the phrase; ``as a commandment in Arabic'', may also mean the commandments that are clear, expressive, eloquent and noble, or all these qualifications collectively. The next clause of the verse, ``And if you follow their caprices....'' may imply; even the prophet who is infalliable, if he should go wrong and follow the caprices of this and that, inspite of the knowledge given him, God will not protect him against the bad consequences of his deeds! And in the God's judgement no one shall help or defend him against God's punishment.

      The next verse (NO.38) is to answer the fault-findings of the prophet's opposers who used to say:ِ ``What sort of a prophet is this who eats and drinks and walks in the streets and who has wives and children like all of us!'':ِ

      ``And verily We sent Messengers before you, and gave them wives and offsprings....''

FIXED AND UNFIXED RECORD (VERSE NO. 39)

      The Arabic, UMM-UL-KITÄB in a direct translation may be the Mother of the Book. But it has several connotation; such as the; main record, the principle tablet, where upon the essence of God's Will and law and all the affairs have been written.

      The general fate of creatures, and the occurence of all events will happen in two stages, or two phases. One of the two stages is unfixed and can be altered, but the second stage is fixed and not changeable. These two stages are some how like two boards or two recording books. In one of the boards whatever is written can be blotted off or be replaced by some other words or letters, but in the second one, it is not possible to change or erase that which is written there. At least no creature can alter that, because nothing is impossible through the infinite power and knowledge of God. Here, to make the matter more readily understandable, we explain it through an example:ِ

      We may say, if a man eats a certain kind of poison, he shall immediately die. But we also know that there is antipoison for that to nullify its effects, and by serving it the poisoned will be saved. The whole event which is related to the said poison and antitoxin has its record in the temporary and changeable board or book . Now if we consider the death of the poisoned with all its cause and effect, such as eating the poison and having no access to the antitoxin, the death here is certain, and it will be recorded in the fixed board or memory of God's knowledge. In other word the knowledge of God works in two stages of fixed and unfixed which is on condition. IMAM SAJJAD (AS) has said:ِ

      I could inform you of all the past and future events, if, there was not one verse in the Qurän, (S13:39) which says:ِ Allah blots out and cancels what He wants and confirms what He wills, and with Him is the mother of the book.

RAM & ROM

      (The above reasoning of his holiness Ayatullah-al-Ozmä Makärim, reminds me of the two kinds of RAM and ROM memories which are used in our present generations of computers. These are in use for methods of accounting and control of all sorts of Data Processings. Ram is the abbreviation for Random Access Memory, which is a storage device, or a direct access recording board. It is possible to alter or replace the words and letters that are written upon the RAM. There is also the ROM or Read Only Memory which is a record of data or instructions that cannot be altered or replaced easily in the normal use of the computer.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)

WHAT IS BADAA?

      One of the hottest disputes that has always gone on between the Shiite and Sonni, the two main sects of Islam is over the subject that they technically call it BADAA.

      Literally it means; appearance, and clearness. It is also known as penitence and remorse for appearing due to a sudden change of mind, and coming of a sudden to a new conclusion or decision.

      But such apparent meanings and denotations do not apply to God, because nothing is hidden from Him to be evident and to cause His change of mind. So also God never makes a mistake to be needed for a correction. If we attribute mistakes and neglect to God's All-knowing All-mighty Essence; we have blasphemed, and spoken in irreverent way about Him. Therefore in the sight of a Shiite, ``BADAA'' is some sort of an abrogation in the natural phenomenas.

      Many a time we may think that an event will happen because we see that all the necessary condition for the happening exist, either social or physical. Or that, an apostle of God has foretold that such and such would happen, but in practice it happens not. In such a case we say that the stop or delay is due to BADAA.

      This is some how like the ABROGATION=NASKH in which a religious commandment is issued, but after a period of time, long or short, the command is abolished by the apostle or a religious authority, or it is replaced with a new command. Therefore the two technical terms namely BADAA and NASKH, which involves of abrogating, or nullifying a commandment or decision that God has decreed, either in the Law or in nature, are some sort of a twin-brothers. Instances of these are found in the lifeِstory of the prophets like Jonah, Jesus and Moses.

      Jonah tried to preach and enforce his mission in NINEVEH, but eventually he was despaired of his people, and made sure that the wrath of God would seized them. So he left his people and ran away to escape the punishment. But things happened otherwise! Jonah himself was swallowed by a large sea whale, and after his departure his people repented and returned to God through the advices of a learned man they had, and through God's BADAA their punishment was cancelled.
      So was the prediction of Jesus Christ about a marriage, who foretold that the bride would die at their matrimonial night; but she didn't die, and lived long! Jesus was questioned about his prediction!? He then asked the bride if she had given anything in alms or charity to the poor and needy that very day, and she admitted that she had given a sum for the sake of God. Jesus then said alms giving is a means to postpone the coming calamities.

      ABRAHAM too was commanded to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, but when he decided to do so, through God's BADAA, he was prohibited from doing that, because God's decision had been changed!

      All these and many other instances show that, BADAA is a truth, and God may delay a finalized decision or precedes whatever He will. He never changes His mind or decision for having done a mistake or due to neglect or default, but due to good purpose, and well-wishing.