Now, this is written in that particular interpretation,
in regard to Taboot e Sakina (Ark of Covenant),
that there are images of various prophets in the Ark of Covenant.
Then the question is, who made those images?
What is the Ark of Covenant?
Taboot e Sakina
‘sakina’ means special divine blessings,
such special blessings that
when people are bestowed with them,
all their troubles and worries dissipate.
When we used to live in Pakistan
and would visit His Divine Eminence from time to time,
we would face many problems,
sometimes as dire as life or death.
However, as soon as we would be before the Lord,
all the problems would cease.
This was a very strange phenomenon that I experienced.
This is called sakina.
Taboot means chest or box.
Now, the reason why it is called ‘Taboot e Sakina’ is
that it contains the contentment of hearts,
the peace of hearts.
In the interpretation of the Qur’an written by Naeem Muradabadi...
In it he writes,
although, the clergy believe it was the statement of Aala Hazrat.
A version of the Qur’an called Kanz ul Imaan,
which was translated by Ahmed Raza Khan.
The book of his translation is called Kanz ul Imaan.
Although the translation is done by Ahmed Raza Khan,
the interpretation is done by Naeem Muradabadi.
Honestly, I am quite fond of that particular interpretation.
That interpretation is like the saying, ‘the one-eyed leading the blind’.
It’s something, at least.
Now, this is written in that particular interpretation,
in regard to Taboot e Sakina (Ark of Covenant),
that there are images of various prophets in the Ark of Covenant.
Then the question is, who made those images?
So it is said about those images in that interpretation
that those various images of the prophets
were made by Prophet Solomon.
The staff of Moses is also visible in the Ark of Covenant.
The staff that Moses would walk with.
In the olden times, it was common for people to walk with a staff,
because they would travel long distances by walk,
so they would use a staff for support.
So, Moses was rendered this staff by God,
and this staff also manifested many miracles.
For example, when Moses was up against a magician,
the magician released snakes
and God said, ‘Moses, throw your staff at them’.
When he did, the staff became a snake
and consumed all the snakes of the magician
which perplexed the magician and he thought, ‘Moses is a greater magician than me’.
So, Moses' staff and his attire are stored within the Ark of Covenant.
The Qur'an said in regards to the Ark of Covenant,
that the angels have secured it in their custody.
However, this is the Qur'an statement.
[Whereas], before this,
interpretations also read
that when the progeny of Israel was the custodian of the Ark of Covenant,
they would plead in the name of the Ark of Covenant to God whenever they faced problems,
and God would approve of their prayers.
They kept the Ark of Covenant before them in many wars
and were victorious.
Now, when the Prophet (s) arrived,
perhaps God decided to conceal its secret.
And the Qur'an states,
'Taboot e Sakina is in the custody of the angels'.
Such as this particular verse of the Qur’an:
'God sent upon you an ark
which holds his special mercy,
which also has the remnants of the progeny of Moses and Aaron'.
‘tahmiluhul mala'ika - And it is in the custody of the angels'.
'inna fee zaalika la Aayatal lakum - And within it is a sign for you…’
‘in kuntum mu'mineen - if you are momineen'.
The signs are for those that are Momin.
Now, what happened one day was...
and this happened a long time ago,
perhaps in 1999.
HDE Gohar Shahi was in America at the time
and we were here in London.
Azam, Murtaza and I were together.
Azam had a small flat in Streatham,
so we'd go there and sit there during the day.
He would bring tea and biscuits
so we’d be excited to go there.
We were having a cup of tea and all of a sudden,
I was in a state that reflected the Lord,
and the Lord's voice began to speak through me.
And at that moment,
I said to Azam and Murtaza, 'Shall I tell you a secret?’
They said, ‘Please do’.
I said, ‘You know the Ark of Covenant?
It is in fact the Hajre Aswad'.
I uttered it and they heard it,
that's all that was to it.
After a few weeks, HDE Gohar Shahi came to London.
The Lord came into my room, the room in which I had my computer
on which I would work.
So the Lord came into the room, approached me,
sat by me on the chair
and said to me, 'Show us, what are you doing on your computer?'
At the time, I was updating [the website]
regarding the Moon and Hajre Aswad.
So, while I was doing that,
the Lord saw the image of the Hajre Aswad on the screen
and said, 'Should I tell you something, a secret?'
I said, 'Yes, my Lord'.
And the Lord said,
'Hajre Aswad is in fact the Ark of Covenant’.
Murtaza heard this and was dumbfounded,
he thought, 'So it’s true!
This verifies what Sayyidi had said earlier'.
Now, the interpretation states that [the Ark of Covenant] shall hold the images of the prophets.
It [the Hajre Aswad] has the image of Prophet Muhammad (s),
Moses, Jesus, Mother Mary, Bibi Fatima,
and in the very centre is the full figure and countenance of Imam Mehdi (a).
And you see, the Prophet (s) had not yet announced prophethood.
The Kaaba was being repaired,
and at that time the inhabitants of Mecca
would hold the Hajre Aswad sacred
and would worship it.
Hajre Aswad was one idol out of the 360 idols present there,
and they had to affix the stone [in the Kaaba].
Every tribe wanted the honour of affixing the stone,
and because they were Arabs,
there was a potential for bloodshed.
And thus it was decided
that whoever was to enter the grounds of the Kaaba first thing in the morning
would be rendered this honour.
When they arrived in the morning,
they saw that the Prophet (s) was already present there.
Now, they couldn't create any dispute in the matter,
because they were bound by the agreement,
and allowed the Prophet (s) to proceed.
However, the Prophet (s) said, ‘I do not wish to deprive anyone.
Bring a sheet’.
The Hajre Aswad was then placed atop the sheet and everyone was asked to hold one corner of the sheet.
That made them all happy.
So when they all held one corner of the sheet,
the Prophet (s) then lifted it
and affixed the Hajre Aswad.
Now, where did the tradition of kissing the Hajre Aswad originate?
The very first person to kiss the Hajre Aswad was Prophet Muhammad (s).
Narrations read
that when the Hajre Aswad was descended,
its colour at the time was green (akhdar).
The Prophet (s) stated,
'the Stone became black from the sins of humankind'.