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5al-Q al-Nu mn

he Fatimid jurist and author al-Q Ab anfa al-Nu mn (d. 363/974) servedthe Fatimids over the reigns of four imams (see Part One, 3), achieving his great-est prominence under the Imam al-Mu izz (d. 36 /97 ). While best known for hiscontributions to jurisprudence, al-Nu mn was also a poet, a historian and theauthor of works on esoteric matters. he selection below is from his Ass al-ta wl (The Foundation of Spiritual Hermeneutics ). In common with other Ismaili scholars,al-Nu mn affirmed that the Qur an and the Prophetic traditions have an exoteric

as well as an esoteric dimension. In this work, he brings out the inner, spiritualmeanings of the tales of the prophets, as in theta wl of the story of Job (Ayyb).

Ass al-ta wl he Foundation of Spiritual Hermeneutics1

Job, upon whom be peace, was one of the Imams of the cycle of Abraham, mayGods blessings and peace be upon him. God, may He be exalted and glorified,

mentions him in His book:And make mention [O Muhammad] of Our bondman Job, when he cried unto

his Lord (saying): Lo! the devil (al-shayn) doth afflict me with distress (nub)and torment [38:41].

By distress (nub) he meant evil and by the devil (al-shayn) he meant theadversary of his time. his was one of the powerful pharaohs who deemed himweak and overcame him. he pharaoh won over those who had accepted Jobsda wa , attracting them away from him and toward himself. He dislodged Job fromhis position and made him fall in the eyes of the people.

Regarding this God says: And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! ad-

versity afflicteth me, and hou art Most Merciful of all who show mercy [21:83].he adths relate that Ibls [the devil] overpowered him, murdered every last oneof his children and made off with his wealth, so that he had neither possessions nor

1. al-Q al-Nu mn, Te Story of Job fromKitb ass al-ta wl , ed. rif mir (Beirut, 1960),Chapter 3, pp. 16 167, tr. Sha que N. Virani. he translator would like to acknowledge the assistanceof Dr Faquir M. Hunzai and his research assistant, Bassel Rachid, in preparing this translation. heintroduction to this chapter is by the translator.

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livestock. hen Ibls caused him bodily affliction that left him in shock. Worms besethim and he was cast upon the dunghill. None but his wife would approach him.

he ta wl of Ibls is Jobs adversary during his time. His murdering the childrenis his diversion of those who had accepted Jobsda wa. he worms are a symbolof those who responded to Jobsda wa and then betrayed him. heir eating of his

flesh refers to their consumption of his knowledge, though they were never likehim in kind or form.he adth also relates that he would scoop up the worms that fell from his body,

saying to them, Eat of the provisions that God has provided for you. heta wl of this is that he conveyed knowledge to them in the hope that they would availthemselves of it, inviting back those among them who had strayed, though they didnot follow the path that he had established. His wife, who patiently stood by him,was hisujja (proof) and the keeper of his secret. he disease that afflicted him isa symbol of his incapacity to sustain hisda wa and to appoint liqs and d s. hedunghill is a symbol of his association with the exoteric aspect of the precedingshar a such that no visitor would approach him, nomustajb (respondent) woulddraw near to him, nor would anyone be eager to approach him. He was unable tofulfil the duties of hisda wa because his adversary had gained the upper hand overhim. hat was indeed the great tribulation.

When God, may He be exalted and glorified, responded to his prayer, Hesupported him with knowledge of the truth, by the divine influx with which Heinspired him. his was His saying, may He be exalted: Strike the ground with thyfoot. his (spring) is a cool bath and a refreshing drink [38:42].

hat is: Hasten to appoint a member of your hierarchy (udd ) to spreadthis knowledge so that he may wash away all the impurities that the ignorantamong the community have mixed in the exoteric aspect of yourda wa . So hedid this and the people of hisda wa returned to him, joined by others as well.God refers to this as follows: And We bestowed on him (once again) his peopleand therewith the like thereof, a mercy from Us, and a reminder for those whounderstand [38:43].

hus did God comfort him, grant him victory over his enemy and make hisda wa firm for him.

he adth narrates that he bathed in the water and his body recovered. Godreturned to him those of his people, children, cattle and livestock that had died,bringing them back to life. he ta wl of this is that the people of hisda wa returnedand that his da wa was set aright for him. he adth also says that he was angry

at his wife and had vowed that he would smite her. But when his tribulation disap-peared and he came to know of how faithful she had been to him, he regretted this.God, the Exalted, had said: And take in thine hand a bundle (ighth) and smitetherewith, and break not thine oath [38:44].

he ta wl of this is that Job had discovered that hisbb had innovated some-thing based on his own internal shortcoming. He thus vowed that he would severtheir relationship. However, when God relieved him, he regretted the oath he had

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made, because of his forbearance and wish to protect hisbb. [His bb] repentedof what he had done, and so it was said to Job:

Gather yourliqs and demote the one about whom you swore an oath to thelevel of those below him. Do not break your oath, but maintain him at the rankof the liqs. Reduce his rank only in accordance with the error that has been

proven against him; rather, be lenient with him and turn to him in forgiveness.he word ighth [in the aforementioned verse of the Quran] means a bundle ofsomething, like a collection of branches. his is a symbol of his collecting togetherthe liqs.

God continues: We found him patient [38:44]. his refers to thebb withwhom Job was angry. he bb bore this patiently. Regarding this, God, the Exalted,continues: how excellent a slave! Indeed, he was ever turning in repentance (tohis Lord) [38:44].

his refers to the bb s returning to what pleased God, may He be glorified, anddisdaining that which displeased Him, may His mention be Exalted. his is whatdeputation [by God] and repentance truly mean.

( ranslated by Shafique N. Virani)