fying something other than themselves (manâ-yı harfî), [^30] in accordance with the lines: "In everything is a sign ∗ Indicating that He is One." [^31] Then human beings may be truly human.

[^30]:Other-indicative or the significative meaning of things (manâ-yı harfî) and self-referential or the meaning of things that looks to themselves (manâ-yı ismî) are the terms Bediuzzaman used to refer to the Qur'anic way of looking at things on the one hand and the materialist way on the other. He wrote: "According to the Qur'anic view, all the beings in the universe are letters, expressing through their significative meaning, the meaning of another. That is, they make known the names and attributes of that Other. Soulless philosophy for the most part looks in accordance with the meaning that looks to the thing itself and deviates into the bog of nature." See, The Flashes Collection (Istanbul: Sözler Publications, 2011), 156). [Tr.]

[^31]:Attributed to Ibn Mu'tazz, quoted in Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr al-Qur'ān al-A'ẓīm, i, 24.

Glory be unto You! We have no knowledge save that which You have taught us; indeed, You are All-Knowing, All-Wise! (Q 2:32) ∗∗∗

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In His Name, be He glorified!

And there is nothing but it glorifies Him with praise (Q 17:44)

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings, for ever and ever!

"And from Him alone do we seek help" (Q 1:5).

My Dear, Loyal Brothers !

Firstly: "The parable of those who take protectors other than God is that of the spider, who builds [to itself] a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house; — if they but knew" (Q 29:41). Recently, when reading this verse, which has the meaning: the frailest house is the spider's; if only those who associate partners with God knew; that is, if only the unbelieving chiefs of the Quraysh knew ... ", I suddenly felt an acute anxiety that the verse's eloquence had not been given its due. At that moment I opened Zülfikar—The Miracles of Muhammad to correct it, and the following lines struck my eye:

"The First Incident: This is well-known to the degree of consensus in meaning (mânevî tevatür) and concerns the two pigeons coming and waiting at the entrance to the cave of Hira, where God's Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) and Abu Bakr the Veracious hid from the pursuing unbelievers, and the spider veiling the entrance with a thick web, like a curtain holder. Ubayy b. Khalaf, one of the leaders of the Quraysh whom God's Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) killed with