(Basic Misunderstanding: The Number of Paras)

First of all, it is necessary to clarify that:

In the outward, written and compiled form of the Holy Qur’an, there are only 30 Juz (Parts). There is consensus of the Muslim Ummah, the Companions (رضی اللہ عنہم), the Tabi‘in (رحمہم اللہ), the Imams of Fiqh, the Muhaddithin and the Mufassirin on this. During the era of Hazrat Usman Ghani (رضی اللہ عنہ), the Qur’an was divided into 30 parts (Juz) for the convenience of recitation. This division is administrative, not literary or thematic. Therefore, if someone thinks that outwardly the Qur’an has more than 30 Juz, then this statement is not correct.

The “ten Juz” mentioned in the speech of Hazrat Syedna Riyaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) are not the Juz of the outward Qur’an, but rather they refer to the inner knowledge of the Qur’an, Divine secrets, and the levels of the heart and soul. Among the people of Tasawwuf, along with the outward words of the Qur’an, there are also its inner meanings, lights and secrets, as a saying attributed to Hazrat Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) states: “The Qur’an has an outward and an inward, and that inward also has several inwards.”

Hazrat Gohar Shahi (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) referred to the meaning of the Hadith:

“I acquired three kinds of knowledge: one for the common people, one for the special people, and one only for myself.”

This division is: Knowledge of Shariah (for the common people), Knowledge of Tariqah and Ma‘rifah (for the special people), and Knowledge of the Divine Secret (Sirr-e-Ilahi) (for the specially selected).

In the same context: 30 Juz, for the common people (the Qur’an written on white paper), and 10 Juz, for the special people (the Qur’an revealed upon the white heart).

The saying of Hazrat Sultan Haq Bahoo (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ): “There are forty keys of different spiritual degrees, and there are forty Juz of the Holy Qur’an.” (Page 160, Asrar-e-Qadri)

Here too, forty Juz does not mean the outward Mushaf, but rather forty spiritual degrees, stations and secrets. Among the people of Tasawwuf, numerical expressions (30, 40, 7, 12) are often symbolic, and not jurisprudential or related to the compilation of the Qur’an.

The outward Juz of the Holy Qur’an are only 30. The statement of Hazrat Gohar Shahi (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) is in reference to the inner knowledge of the Qur’an. The “ten Juz” are not a new Qur’an or an addition, rather this knowledge is obtained from heart to heart, through purification of the heart and the remembrance of Allah. The objection arises when the terminology of Tasawwuf is measured by the standards of Shariah.

(The speech of Hazrat Syedna Riyaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) at “Imam Bargah Noor-e-Iman” and the book “Asrar-e-Qadri” of Hazrat Sultan Haq Bahoo (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) are given below.)

Speech delivered at: (Imam Bargah Noor-e-Iman, Nazimabad, Karachi)

Date: 27-09-1997

Hazrat Syedna Riyaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) said during his speech:

The Benefactor of Humanity, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ, says: “I acquired three kinds of knowledge: one for the common people, one for the special people, and one only for me.”

We met a Shia scholar. He said, “There are 40 Paras.” We said, “We have heard of only 30, and we have read only 30.” He said, “There are 10 more.” We said, “Tell us about them. Take one hundred thousand, two hundred thousand; just bring them to us.” He said, “They cannot be obtained for a price; they cannot be obtained through effort; they are obtained through destiny.” And those who receive them become like Data Sahib (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) and Khwaja Sahib (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ).

We said, “This scholar is unnecessarily confusing us. There are no ten Paras at all.” Then one day it happened that Allah granted us the opportunity, and we went into the wilderness. We came to the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ). There, he taught us Allah, Allah; he taught the heart to say Allah, Allah. We began saying Allah, Allah from the heart. Then, when we began saying Allah, Allah from the heart, the inner creations appeared before us, and those ten Paras also appeared before us.

Now it is also necessary to explain what those ten Paras are.

This Qur’an that came was not revealed in the form of Paras. Sometimes a little was revealed and sometimes more, and in this way it was completed over many years. Therefore, Hazrat Usman Ghani (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) made one portion to be read each day and divided the whole Qur’an into thirty portions. You will see that at some places a Para does not end at the completion of a subject; it was made into a Para there, meaning that the subject had not ended, yet it was made into a Para. In this way, thirty portions were made. Now, which are those ten portions?

Hazrat Adam (علیہ السلام) was granted the Prophethood of the Qalb (heart). Half of it was for him and half for his Walis. Then Hazrat Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was granted the Wilayah of the Ruh (spirit), half of it for him and half for his Walis. Then Hazrat Musa (علیہ السلام) was granted the Prophethood of the Sirr (inner secret), half for him and half for his Walis. Then Hazrat Isa (علیہ السلام) was granted all four of the Khafi, half for him and half for his Walis. Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ acquired the complete knowledge of all five; half for him and half for his Walis.

Thus, those ten portions were completed. Those which were in the inner realm are transmitted from chest to chest, are they not? These thirty Paras are for the common people; for these, one needs white paper. And the ten Paras are for the special people; for these, one needs a white heart.

Hazrat Sultan Haq Bahoo (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) states that there are forty keys of different spiritual degrees, and there are also forty Paras of the Holy Qur’an. There are thirty letters, and from each one, thirty kinds of knowledge, thirty wisdoms, and thirty treasures are obtained.

(Page 160, Asrar-e-Qadri)