verse and on the lines of the centuries. All of them indicate that all the words of the universe, which are called beings, are inscriptions traced by the pen of its own scribe.
O God! Grant blessings to the one who said: "The best thing I and the prophets before me have said is, 'There is no god but God.'" [^2] and to his Family and Companions, and grant them peace.
[^2]:Muwaṭṭa', Qur'ān, 32; Ḥajj 246; al-'Ajlūnī, Kashf al-Khafā', i, 353; al-Albānī, Saḥiḥ al-Jāmi'al-Ṣaghīr, no: 1113.
From The Twenty-Sixth Letter
6. The Three Faces of the World
6. The Three Faces of the World
The representative of the people of misguidance said next: "The world is execrated in your Hadiths and called 'carrion.' [^3] Also, all the saints and people of truth have contempt for the world, they say that it is pernicious and unclean. Whereas, you show it to be the means and proof of all Divine perfections and speak of it rapturously."
[^3]:Ibn Māja, No: 4112; al-Manāwi, Fayḍ al-Qadīr, No: 4281.
The Answer: The world has three faces.
Its First Face looks to God Almighty's Names; it displays their impress. It is a mirror to them, reflecting their meanings. This face of the world consists of innumerable letters or missives describing the Eternally Besought One. This face is utterly beautiful, and is worthy of love, not loathing.
Its Second Face looks to the hereafter. It is the seed-bed of the hereafter and arable field for Paradise. It is the flower-bed of mercy. This face is also beautiful like the first one and is deserving of love not contempt.
Its Third Face looks to man's base appetites. It is a veil of neglect and a plaything for satisfying the desires of the worldly. This face is ugly because it is transient and mortal; it is full of pain and it deceives. The contempt described in the Hadith and the loathing of the people of truth, then, is for this face.
The importance and approbation which the All-Wise Qur'an demonstrates towards the universe and all beings is towards the first two faces. It is the first two faces of the world that the Companions of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) and other people of God seek.
From The Thirty-Second Word