Navigation through the Zodiac, Surah An-Najm (The Star)
Introduction
The 53rd chapter of Quran is called “An-Najm”, meaning ‘The Star’. It has the most profound guidelines for human beings to navigate through the astrological zodiac; and it also envelops all the fundamental doctrines of Islam throughout the entirety of its structure. The most fascinating aspect of this design is that it flows with apparently unrelated subjects whilst maintaining a profoundly rhythmic style alongside the underlying context of esoteric symbolism of the twelve astrological signs in such a way so as to represent the metaphorical descriptions successively throughout the progression of its verses; and thereby creating the most beautiful symphony of psychological and spiritual relevance to its readers. It attempts to deliver the most comprehensive moral guidelines through the esoteric undertones of hermetic arts for the growth of human spiritual potential and that indubitably makes it the greatest hallmark of Quran.
Aries
(1) By the Star when it setteth,
(2) Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;
(3) Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.
(4) It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
(5) Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,
(6) One vigorous; and he grew clear to view,
(7) When he was on the uppermost horizon.
The setting of star mentioned in verse (1) refers to the position of star Sirius at the moment of Aries rising on the eastern horizon. Sirius is one of the brightest stars visible in the night sky, and has also been mentioned by name in this chapter because of it being popularly considered as an object of worship by the pagan Arabs. When the sign of Aries rises, the star Sirius of the sign of Cancer can be found situated at the bottom most position of the ecliptic circle called as Imum Coeli or IC. Therefore, the hour when the darkness of human corruption intensifies to such an extent even to cause the star so noble and bright as Sirius to be overshadowed as a consequence, and yet despite of this level of darkness, the rising light of the sign of Aries cannot be hindered on the other side of the horizon representing the true spiritual awakening of humanity, and thereby blessing human beings with the characteristics of strength, vitality, dynamism, self-confidence, and a dauntless attitude towards an authentic way of life. Also, the mention of ‘the uppermost horizon’ in verse (7) refers to a new beginning of life experiences marked here by the sign of Aries being the first sign of the zodiac.
Taurus
(8) Then he drew nigh and came down.
(9) Till he was (distant) two bow’s length or even nearer,
(10) And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.
(11) The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.
(12) Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth?
(13) And verily he saw him yet another time,
(14) By the lote-tree of the utmost boundary,
(15) Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.
(16) When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote-tree,
(17) The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.
(18) Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.
The sign of Taurus always follows the sign of Aries, and so is situated below Aries, as mentioned in verse (8). The distance of two bow’s length in verse (9) metaphorically refers to the space between the horns of the bull in the constellation of Taurus. Astrologically, the sign of Taurus is associated with the physical security that comes by means of food and shelter arranged primarily through the use of material resources. Therefore, in these verses there is a noticeable theme of reassurance and support due to the environment of physical well being through the mention of gardens and trees. Also, the ‘lote tree’ in verse (14) known to be an everlasting sacred tree of mystical significance that is situated at the highest station of the heavens, and thus providing with the eternal source of spiritual light to the world. In the sign of Taurus, the spring season tends to be firmly established with trees producing an abundance of flowers and fruits, and thereby bringing about an affluence of material well being and comforts of life. The verse (17) expresses the moral ascendancy regarding the personality trait of the sign Taurus in contrast to the opposite sign of Scorpio by communicating that the eye of Taurus, the bull is neither timid nor overconfident due to it being cognizant of all sorts of immodest behaviors that may compromise its relationship with the Divine light of truth.
Gemini
(19) Have ye thought upon Al-Lat and Al-Uzz’a,
(20) And Manat, the third, the other?
(21) Are yours the males and His the females?
(22) That indeed were an unfair division!
(23) They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them.
The sign of Gemini is represented by the symbol of 'the Twins' in astrology, which fundamentally refers to the symmetrical duality inherent in all forms of human relationships. All human beings are affected by the order of this symmetry because they mainly make use of the methods of communications that are comprising of the symbols associated with both rational and sentimental types so as to correctly reflect the patterns of their thought processes; albeit those symbols can also be potentially very misleading if understood literally or taken out of their proper context. The thought patterns based on this duality can often cause superficiality in their mode of communication, and that in turn may lead to the ideals of vanity; and as a consequence of which some symbols eventually become sacred idols, and a human mind gets conditioned by its social environment to live perpetually under the hypnosis of self-deception. The sign of Gemini confers upon mankind languages based on the symbolism of reality that has its own utility, but to recognize this function to be the truth of ones existence would essentially be like considering reference symbols to be as the reality of facts, or mere fancy words to be implied as the objects of actual value in life. Therefore, these verses of Quran (19–23) condemn the symbolism of idols such as al-Laat, al-Uzza, and Manaat because these are all inherently deceptive in their very nature of appeal to the people as a form of exploitation. The three idols of Arabia actually represented the three modes of communication of symbols i. e., the images from minerals, the inscriptions from plants, and the speech from animals; all subverted to manipulate the human capacity for reasoning and sentimentality to support the interests of the oppressive social order of pagan Arabia. In other words, the idol worship based on the subversion of reality was the propaganda device used by the pagan priesthood to herd the masses in order to perpetuate the dominance of its elite class; such that whenever a rational approach is required in any matter for the resolution of a problem then they would impose the attitudes of sentimentality on the masses, and whenever sensitive passions are required for the general well being of people then they would fabricate all forms of statesmanship to vent the vitality from the veins of their victims, and would have it all done as a sacrifice to the artifice of idolatry.
The twin symbolism of Gemini is further emphasized in verses (21–22) by indicating that the false symbols of duality are also responsible for causing unjustified divisions between human actions that get identified or labelled with the popular notions of materialistic desires and spiritual passions for the purpose of a noble lifestyle; and the Quran strongly reprimands the superficiality based on those illusions, vanities, and assumptions; whilst at the same time it supports working with the tangible facts of existence in life.
Cancer
(24) Or shall man have what he coveteth?
(25) But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.
(26) And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.
(27) Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.
(28) And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.
(29) Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.
(30) Such is their sum of knowledge. Lo! thy Lord is best aware of him who strayeth, and He is best aware of him whom goeth right.
The sign of Cancer is astrologically related to the comforting feelings of emotional freedom due to a longstanding familiarity of belonging to ones hometown; where everyone can afford to be flexible, casual, and understanding of each others idiosyncratic personality traits. It is such a place where simple errors usually go unnoticed, and even serious mistakes may go unpunished there, because the formal customs are normally ignored under the pretext of joviality pertaining to the seasonal spirit, as the time represents the beginning of Summer whence all is supposed to bode well under the high noon sun. Therefore, at such particular times the recognition pertaining to the significance of law and order is of utmost importance for the development of human spirit. As the verses (24–25) suggest that a person should not be totally devoted to the fulfillment of his desires at the cost of undermining the limits of his endeavors. And since the angels were known to be the foremost law enforcement agents of God, the pagans in verses (26–28) had turned them into females so as to mitigate the punishments for their faulty behaviors, as they considered the female gender to be naturally more compassionate and forgiving towards criminals. The verses (29–30) suggest that these are the times when human beings need to act with discipline and walk their talk; for if they do not follow the path of integrity of conduct then whatever they shall sow during summers, they will have to thus reap the consequences during winters. In brief, the Quran says that one can make the most out of good times in life by acting with the greatest possible degree of nobility, integrity, and discipline.
Leo
(31) And unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good with goodness.
In the verse (31), the sign of Leo which is considered to be the bearer of the royal authority has been admonished regarding the acts of tyranny and oppression in a language so regal and grandeur that befits only to be expressed by a true sovereign King. Astrologically, the sign of Leo has the symbolic expressions of grandeur, authority, loyalty, and vitality because summer season gets to be firmly established during this time to demonstrate the great strength of the Sun that rules this magnificent sign; but as always great power comes with even greater responsibility, and therefore this verse not only informs about the best times for the manifestation of royal grace in the world, but also warns about the tendency towards ingratitude and defiance could cause one to fall into even worse states of disgrace in life.
Virgo
(32) Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences — (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is best aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefore ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is best aware of him who wardeth off (evil).
The sign of Virgo has the symbolic expressions of exactitude, refinement, morality, and selectivity; as depicted by the virgin imagery representing the attitudes of perfectionism at work. Virgo tends to be extraordinarily meticulous, dexterous, and very specific about their lifestyle; and therefore in this verse are taught a lesson of simplicity, moderation, and contentment. The sign of Virgo is also associated with organized religions or religious establishments with hierarchical orders of professional clergy, who are usually trained to be deeply devoted to traditional practices requiring the lifestyles of inordinate levels of perfectionism. The Quran teaches such folks not to attempt the lifestyles with illusory notions of purity for themselves as though they were born of virgin births; rather even Jesus Christ who is reported to have been actually born of a virgin birth, had interestingly advocated the non-traditionalist ideals of spiritual wisdom in his life.
Libra
(33) Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away,
(34) And gave a little, then was grudging?
(35) Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth?
(36) Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses,
(37) And Abraham who paid his debt:
(38) That no laden one shall bear another’s load,
(39) And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,
(40) And that his effort will be seen.
(41) And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment;
(42) And that thy Lord, He is the goal;
The sign of Libra represents balance, order, equanimity, and harmony in the world. The symbolic expression of Libra is through the scales of balance, making this sign an instrument of justice in nature. So, the verses (33–35) talk about the significance of respect amongst the relationships of people, and to value the spirit of charity, cordiality, and fellowship in humanity. The ten commandments of Moses are a testament to the law of social justice, and the mention of Abraham as the esoteric personification of the Libra archetype in Quran. The verses (38–41) signify the Libra ideals of justice in the most explicit and forceful manner of a divine proclamation, and the verse (42) suggests that the human potential for spiritual excellence is such that no human being should ever be dismissed as unworthy for a higher purpose, but rather people should conduct themselves with the best of ethical behaviors regarding every aspect of life.
Scorpio
(43) And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep,
(44) And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life;
(45) And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,
(46) From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;
(47) And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;
The sign of Scorpio is usually characterized by its intensity of passions and profundity of commitment to the experiences of life. There is really never any middle ground with the sign of Scorpio because it always tends to deal in the very extremes of behaviors, such as the passionate drive in the nature of living beings towards sexual gratification and physical regeneration. However, the extreme emotional dedication of individuals for the sake of their ideals would also bring about a substantive transformation in the person that can appropriately be described as a process of death and rebirth in life. Therefore, the depicted theme of these verses whence viewed from the perspective of astrology quite comprehensively fits the archetype of Scorpio, and also appreciates its significance for the survival of living beings in nature.
Sagittarius
(48) And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;
The sign of Sagittarius is situated opposite to the sign of Gemini in the zodiac; and whilst the theme of Gemini is duality and symmetry due to its twin symbolism, Sagittarius is symbolic of knowledge, wisdom, magnanimity, and authenticity; as the sign is symbolized by an imagery of the hybrid creature (a satyr) who attempts to shoot targets at the great heights of the limitless sky, as metaphorical for achieving the higher levels of human consciousness. It attempts to unravel the unfathomable depths of heavenly space so as to unleash the best of philosophical and intellectual development in a human being. Whilst Gemini would eagerly participate in all the relatively trivial forms of communication through the use of its symbols, but with Sagittarius rests the great timeless proverbs of the most sublime sages. The verse (48) also curiously refers to the sign of Sagittarius in a very pithy style, albeit that being itself consistent with the essential nature of the sign for representing the principle of unity inherent within all forms of life, and nevertheless expressing a glowing praise to the magnificent sign that resonates in harmony with the entire cosmic universe.
Capricorn
(49) And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius;
(50) And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A’ad,
(51) And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not;
(52) And the folk of Noah aforetime, Lo! they were more unjust and more rebellious;
(53) And Al-Mu’tafikah He destroyed,
(54) So that there covered them that which did cover.
(55) Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute?
The mention of the star Sirius in verse (49) which resides in the opposite sign of Cancer, signifies the direct confrontation faced by the sign of Capricorn with the authorities of power and influence in the dominion. The sign begins at the winter solstice, and consequently is considered by far the most dreaded sign of the zodiac owing to the prevalent darker hours of the time. The sign of Capricorn demands perseverance, determination, and tenacity under the most desolate poor conditions of extreme wilderness for the people to live through the relentless efforts for their survival. Hence, the conditions are such that breeds corruption on account of selfishness and greed amongst the elite authorities eagerly in pursuit of the notions of everlasting security and luxury by usurpation of political power to cause total misery for the helpless poor fellow beings at these times. Therefore, the reference to the brilliant abiding star of the sign of Cancer serves as an admonition from Quran to uphold the principle light of charity and sacrifice during the darkest hours of trials for humanity; with examples in verses (50–54) from the history of societies that had built strong physical structures as symbols of their everlasting power and glory, but were nonetheless brought down regardless of their arrogance in the dominion. The verse (55) reminds the corrupt centers of power that their rule shall have to perish because no form of corruption is ever allowed to exist forever, and their condition will definitely be matched by the very same consequences as have unfolded throughout the human history.
It is also worth the note here that though this happens to be the only passage in Quran where the star Sirius has actually been mentioned by its very name, however, the same star is also metaphorically implied in the main anecdote of the chapter 18 of Quran regarding 'the people of cave and inscriptions’, where the sleepers of the cave are metaphorically meant to be the astrological planets, and their watchdog who is always on the lookout for them being implied as the star Sirius.
Aquarius
(56) This is a warner of the warners of old.
(57) The threatened Hour is nigh.
(58) None beside Allah can disclose it.
(59) Marvel ye then at this statement,
(60) And laugh and not weep,
(61) While ye amuse yourselves?
The 'warner' of verse (56) here is a metaphorical reference to the sign of Aquarius which is best expressed through the qualities of exceptionalism, uniqueness, creativity, and singularity. And the purpose of this 'warner' is to deliver the message of ultimate admonition mainly to those corrupt authorities who would cross all limits of propriety in their tyrannical frenzy of power. For one of the greatest mysteries related to the nature of reality is the nature of time itself; and the mystery happens to elude the mindset of a despot as much as the guidance of a daylight would elude the perpetually blind on their aimless path. And the doom for these despots needs not to express itself either through the well-trodden paths of the spacious earth or the well-known horizons of the distant sky, but rather through the spiritual ailment festering within their own souls whereby the ultimate truth of the Divine power would manifest itself in disclosing their destiny. Hence, such heartless and soulless beings would become so frigid, unrelenting, and dispassionate in their cruel behaviors so as to become devoid of any humanity at all in the cold mechanized disposition of their lives; and it is for such a people that the water bearer of the sign of Aquarius has really nothing much to offer to quench their desperately thirsty souls of their plight; apart from letting the cold dry wind to freeze their very existence into the state of perpetual spiritual darkness.
Pisces
(62) Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.
The sign of Pisces represents the depths of mystical oceans through the characteristics of foresight, intuitiveness, adaptability, and spirituality; and it is the sign of strong emotional attachments with all the Divine truths. Similar to the sign of Sagittarius, the Quran here expresses its guidance in a rather terse but still profoundly mystical language to describe the sign of Pisces. As Sagittarius represents the great heights of sky and space, whilst Pisces expresses the grand depths of mystical waters in seas and oceans; as Sagittarius occupies itself with intellectual and philosophical pursuits for recognizing the truth, whilst Pisces indulges itself in the beautiful dance of mystics and saints for embracing the truth. Hence, the sign of Pisces intuitively flows into the unfathomable depths of spiritual mysteries with an indefatigable passion of submission to the Divine light of overwhelming grace.
The End Note
I hope that the readers shall find the hermetic interpretation of this chapter of Quran both interesting and useful, and I pray that the fresh breeze of its fragrance may cause to strengthen the dormant spark of truth abiding in us all. The Quran says,
And He hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense. (16, 12)
