Outreach for Muslims: Gardens Rivers Date Palms Grape Vines Two

"And We have placed in it gardens of palm trees and grapevines, and caused springs to gush forth in it" (Ya-Sin 36:34).

In the Latin Testament, where correspondences built into the universe are taught, a garden is a human. Gardens of palm trees and grape vines are humans with divine truths, and the springs which gush forth in them are enlightenment concerning these by God; as by rivers of divine truth flowing through and nourishing the Eden of the inner human.

"These quotations indicate that in comparing humans (or what humans have inside them) to a garden, the earliest people included the idea of the water or rivers that watered the garden. It is also apparent that they took the water and rivers to mean the things that would stimulate growth" (Arcana Coelestia 108).

The water is to stimulate growth in the garden of palm trees and grape vines and divine truths and holy practices; as water is to clean the flesh in the rite of baptism and as the blood of the Lamb of His innocent instruction in love is to wash us.

"For the Sufi the garden had many meanings. It was a place of repose, a centrally located space which allowed one to enter any number of buildings, a place of beauty and meditation, a horizon where Allah had indicated the signs of life and a place where one could find the Gardener" (www.techofheart.com).

"And from the fruits of palm trees and grapevines you derive intoxicants as well as wholesome provision. Surely in this is a sign for those who understand" (An-Nahi 16:67).

Surely in this is a sign for those who would relate the images used therein, such as palm trees and grapevines of divine truths, to the understanding; which can take in spiritual instruction, wine, or spiritual drunknenness, wine of violence, wine in the tails or reversed position.

This is apparently the verse which teaches them that there is a Heavenly marriage and that it can be reversed.

In passing, one will note that the Koran mentions gardens side by side with rivers constantly; as well as date-palms and grapevines. It has therefore certainly been written with chiastic correspondences same as our Word. 

There is also a repetitive association of gardens with two:

"And whoever is in awe of standing before their Lord will have two Gardens" (Ar-Rahman 55:46).

"In each ˹Garden˺ will be two flowing springs" (Ar-Rhaman 55:50).

"In all Gardens will be noble, pleasant mates" (Ar-Rahman 55:70).

Amazing. So there is a direct association of the garden with the two olive trees and two lampsticks that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Zechariah 4:11-14 - King James Version (KJV)

<11> Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? <12> And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? <13> And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. <14> Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

"And below these two ˹Gardens˺ will be two others" (Ar-Rahman 55:62).

"Give them ˹O Prophet˺ an example of two men. To ˹the disbelieving˺ one We gave two gardens of grapevines, which We surrounded with palm trees and placed ˹various˺ crops in between" (Al-Kahf 18:32).

As we have been instructed, it is merciful of God to instruct us.

"Rahmaan comes from the root raa-haa-meem, which points to four main meanings. The first meaning is to have gentleness and to love, and the second is to have mercy. The third meaning is to show favour, and the fourth meaning is to have all that is required for beneficence.

This root appears 339 times in the Quran in nine derived forms. Examples of these forms are rahima (“bestows mercy”), al-arhaam (the wombs”) and rahmatan (“mercy”)" (understandquran.com).

Ar-Rahman. Merciful one. Instructor in the Heavenly marriage of love and the knowledge of love. 

Hence does the number two figure so prominently in the Surah dedicated to mercy. 

Here are your sparks from horses' hooves at dawn!!

(Al-Adiyat 1-3). 

Appendix: "It was stated to me, that there is a Book, among the Mohammedans, which is in their hands, and is common there; in which some pages are written by correspondences, by reason of which correspondences there is some light from it in the heavens. These were all felt, as to their quality, through influx into the breast, and also through sensations, agreeable and disagreeable" (Spiritual Experiences 5809).

"I spoke with Mohammedans about spiritual marriage, saying that it is a marriage of good and truth; that good loves truth and truth good like a married couple; and that these wish to be joined and bring forth goods and truths like daughters and sons, and as it were to procreate families. They understood this well, as also that conjugal love comes down from that spiritual origin, and that everything spiritual in man undergoes a change, so that it is scarcely recognisable, when it comes down to the natural; it can only be recognised by correspondences" (Marriage 46).