In the month Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, we present the last blog in our series on the various hierarchical jewels associated with Jubilees and their symbolic meaning in relation to the invaluable principles of Islam.
Nooresahar Ahmad, Oxford
In the middle of the 14th century, the Arab Muslim Prince of Granada, Abu Sa’id knew that his rule was coming to an end. King Peter of Castile and his forces were systematically attacking Granada, which at any moment could fall to Castilian rule. According to historical accounts, Abu Sa’id wished to surrender to King Peter (now sometimes referred to as Don Pedro the Cruel), and so the King welcomed the Prince’s arrival in Seville. When the two met, however, Don Pedro had Abu Sa’id’s servants killed and may have even stabbed Sa’id himself. When Sa’id’s corpse was searched, a large red spinel, was found and added to Don Pedro’s possessions. Some years later, the son of Edward III of England asked for the ruby in return for some services he had paid to Pedro. Today, it sits at the front of the Imperial State Crown, a part of the Crown Jewels which are presented to British monarchs at their coronation.
This month, prompted by the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee a few weeks ago, Voice of British Muslim Women’s blogs are considering the symbolic significance of the various precious gems and metals which mark the different jubilees. One such anniversary is the Ruby Jubilee, which commemorates 40 years on the throne. Rubies are often associated with wealth and prosperity and were used to decorate many ancient crowns. Yet, as the story of this ruby shows, the lengths people can go to attain such symbols of wealth can mean that the history of gemstones are often fraught with violence and controversy. The spiritual significance of the ruby, on the other hand, often points to the transience of material wealth rather than its importance, and reminds us of the value of both earthly community and spiritual reward.
Rubies hold significance in various religions. In the Bible, rubies are usually mentioned to highlight the insignificance of jewels in comparison to wisdom. Take this verse, which says that, “No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies” (Job 28:18), or “There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel” (Prov 20:15).[1]
There is a single reference to rubies made in the Holy Qur’an. It can be found in the 59th verse of the 55th chapter, namely Surah Ar-Rahman. The chapter begins by elucidating some of Allah’s creation — man, the sun and the moon, the plants and trees, heaven, the Qur’an itself — and is continually punctuated with the question, “Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you twain deny?” (55:17)[2] Surah Ar-Rahman points out that everything we have is owed to Allah, and that earthly life is transient, as humans we are mortal, and can come into contact with chaos, pain, or death that can come at any moment.
There is also strong imagery of pairing in the chapter, including the description of two gardens of paradise in which two fountains will flow. The Five Volume Commentary of the Holy Qur’an notes that, “The ‘two gardens’ may signify, (1) peace of mind which is the result of leading a good life, and (2) freedom from gnawing cares and anxieties which come in the wake of life spent in the pursuit of material pleasures and comforts.”[3] Similarly, it states that “the two fountains flowing freely may be the spiritual embodiments of Huququllah (the obligations owed to God) and Huququl-‘Ibad (the obligations a Muslim owes to his fellow-beings) which the believers fully and faithfully discharge in this life… As a true believer ceaselessly continues to discharge these obligations, the fountains have been depicted as constantly flowing.”[4] It interested me that the single Quranic chapter wherein rubies are mentioned, symbol of prosperity and luxury that they are, is a chapter which rejects the idea that material wealth can bring about inner peace, and instead strongly emphasises the responsibility of Muslims to remember their duty to Allah and to mankind.
As beautiful as they are, gemstones can be such an alluring symbol of prosperity that in order to acquire them some, like King Peter of Castile, may be willing to pay for them in blood. In spiritual terms, however, rubies are valuable only in their use as a metaphorical symbol to emphasise that the wealth of this life is nothing in comparison to the life of the hereafter. As the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) points out in his book Noah’s Ark: “Our paradise lies in our God. Our highest delight is in our God for we have seen Him and found every beauty in Him. This wealth is worth procuring though one might have to lay down one’s life to procure it. This ruby is worth purchasing though one may have to lose oneself to acquire it.”[5]
[1] https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Rubies
[2] https://www.alislam.org/quran/app/55:17
[3] https://www.alislam.org/quran/app/55:47
[4] https://www.alislam.org/quran/app/55:51
[5] Noah’s Ark, p. 35.
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