Tay al-Ard

Tai al-ardh (طی الارض also طيّ الارض), is a philosophical concept that has been debated for centuries in Islamic philosophy. The Arabic phrase perhaps best translates to "traversing the earth without moving". Some have termed it "moving by the earth being displaced under ones feet". It is a concept widely familiar to both Sufis, Sunnis, and Shias. Each group has a different interpretation on it. This concept has been around for centuries, and was in debate, long before its western contemporary counterparts surfaced in scientific and science fiction movies and circles.

Definition

The dictionary of Dehkhoda defines Tai al-ardh as:

"نوعی کرامت که بجای گام برداشتن و رفتن, زمین در زیر پای آدمی بتندی پیچیده شود و او به مقصد خویش هر چند دور باشد در مدتی بسیار کم رسد" Template:Fa icon

A type of keramat in which instead of moving toward a destination by taking a step forward, the earth turns toward the traverser rapidly, no matter how far the destination be."

Ibn al-Nadim defines it exactly the same way when he says:

"و یذکر ان الارض تطوی له (میمون القداح) فیمضی الی این احب فی اقرب مد" Template:Ar icon

The concept of tei al-ardh has its roots in the following verses of the Chapter al-Naml of the Quran:

38: "Solomon said (to his own men): "Ye Chiefs! which of you can bring me the throne of Queen of Sheba before she and her envoys come to me in submission?""

39: "Said an 'Ifrit, of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council: indeed I have full strength for the purpose, and may be trusted.""

40: "Said one who had knowledge of the Book: "I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of any eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: "This is by the grace of my Lord!"..."

In these verses, the "one" refered to is a human, one of Solomon's aides, by the name of Asif ibn al-Birkhia (آصف ابن برخیا). The point being that he is a human, not a jinn, that has mastered "the knowledge of the book" by his effort and free will (al-Iktisab اکتساب). The phrase "twinkling of an eye" is translated to mean in a very very short time, i.e. almost instantaneously.

According to these verses, the non-prophet Asif ibn al-Birkhia transports the throne of Queen Sheba almost instantaneously. A hadith by Ja'far al-Sadiq also confirms that Solomon transports the throne by Tai al-ardh in specific.

History

Famous Sheikhs such as Abusaeid Abolkheir or Rumi for example, were said to possess keramat, and writings from medieval Islam are full of stories and reports of certain individuals possesing such a trait. For example, Attar's Tadhkirat al-Awliya (Biographies of the Saints), or the works of Ibn Arabi are fine examples of such chronicles.

One of the most discussed phenomena of this esoteric knowledge is the event of traveling without actually moving (طی الارض). Islamic texts and records are full of such accounts from various era. For example, Bayazid Bastami has many such accounts, colored with mystical flavors, surrounding his life. In one account, he was asked, "They say you walk on water?" "A piece of wood can do that too" he replied. "They say you travel to Mecca at night and return by dawn?" he was asked. "But a bird at flight can do that too" was his answer. "So what is the meaning of being human?" he was asked. "A human is he who does not fasten his heart to anything but God" came his reply. In all such and similar accounts, a certain individual of unusually high rank (a Sheikh) is seen to have the ability to travel long distances in almost instantaneous amounts of time.

Views

Muslim view

Muslims argue that the fact that Asif ibn al-Birkhia is not a prophet (which are equipped with God given miracles), but rather is a man that has learned a certain knowledge, has led to what is referred to as keramat (کرامت or کرامات). Muslims view that Keramāt (pl.) are special esoteric powers ordained to a certain number of individuals (only a few per every few generations), by the will of God possess, which are on the same level of miracles in terms of type of phenomena, but existing for a different purpose.

Being an esoteric knowledge by nature, it is not known how exactly it takes place, but theories and explanations have been abound. The most prevalent theory has to do with the concept of consciousness and will (اراده). The person wills to be some place, and he is then simply there an instant later. This view can perhaps be understood from the perspective of western philosophical idealism, where esse est percipi: if space does not have an objective reality, and reality itself is thought of as observer based and a subjective entity , then ideas such as moving in space without actually physically moving are no longer unchartered possibilities.

Another alternative explanation offered is actually quite close to the modern scientific notion of teleportation. Allama Qadhi, one of the masters of Allameh Tabatabaei, illustrates this best when he explains:

اعدام‌ جسم‌ و بدن‌ در مكان‌ اوّل‌، و احضار و ايجادش‌ در مكان‌ مقصود Template:Fa icon

"the ceasing and termination of matter in the initial location, and its appearance and re-creation in its final location (destination)"

Muhammad al-Baqir also has a hadith in which he attributes the esoteric knowledge of Asif ibn Birkhia to the Asma 'ullah or the "names of God":

"اسم اعظم خداوند، هفتاد و سه حرف است. آصف بن برخیا فقط یکی از آن حروف را می‌دانست که توانست زمین را درهم نوردد و قبل از یک چشم بر هم زدن، تخت بلیقس را از سرزمین سبا نزد سلیمان حاضر سازد؛ و ما ائمّه معصومین هفتاد و دو حرف از آن را میدانیم. یک حرف را هم خداوند به خودش اختصاص داده و تنها نزد اوست" Template:Fa icon

"The Almighty's greatest name has 73 letters (or parts). Asif ibn Birkhia knew only one letter of it, which enabled him to traverse the earth in the blink of an eye. We Shia Imams however possess 72 of them. And the last letter is concealed from all creation and remains a secret."

In addition, the jinn are believed to possess this knowledge of transportation, however in a limited amount, as is evident again from the aforementioned Quranic verses.

Shi'a view

Shi'a use the concept in the above Qur'anic verse in Shi'a-Sunni argumentations when accusations of over-meriting the Shi'a Imams are made. It is argued that if a non-prophet could teleport the throne, then it should present no theological objections against the belife that a Shi'a Imam might be able to do the same. Imam Mahdi, for example, is widely believed to have a wide arsenal of keramat including this concept , at his disposal. 301 of Mahdi's believed 313 companions also are believed to have the knowledge of this concept.

In the Shia academia, this concept is a topic that can be seen widely studied by the likes of Ayatollah Marashi Najafi, Allameh Tabatabaei, Mullasadra, and the likes.

See also

• Astronomy in Islam
• Alchemy
• Hadith of Umar and prophecy
• Hadith of Umar and foretelling
• Keramat

External links

• A discussion on the meaning of teleportation according to traditional Islamic philosophy, by Allama Tehrani Template:Fa icon [4] Template:Ar icon
• Types of Tei al-ardh, by Allama Tehrani Template:Fa icon from his book "Shining Sun" [5] Template:En icon
• Manuscripts on Tei al-ardh by Allameh Amini Template:Fa iconTemplate:Ar icon