afflicted with myopia. If you wish, refer to the Qur'an; you will find there the proof of divine providence in its finest possible form. For just as it commands reflection on the universe, so it mentions the benefits and recounts the bounties. Such verses display the proof of divine providence. In brief it is as above, so hold on to it! As for a detailed exposition, if divine will is manifested, it will be expounded in the three books [^1] which will be bound, by way of explicating the signs in the outer and inner worlds, to the sciences of the heavens, the earth, and humankind. Then this proof will appear to you in its entirety.

[^1]:For the three books see, page 19 fn 3.

#### The Second Qur'anic Proof

THE SECOND QUR'ANIC PROOF is the proof that things are given existence out of nothing (delil-i ihtira'; Ar. ikhtirā'). In summary it is this: it is the giving to all the species of creatures and all their members a body that will produce the particular works that are planned for those species and members, and is appropriate for the perfecting of their innate abilities. For no successive species is pre-eternal. Contingency does not permit this. And necessarily, the createdness of some things is apparent through observation and the createdness of the rest is to seen by the intellect in respect of wisdom and purpose.

Misapprehension and Note

Truth cannot be turned into its opposite (inkılab-ı hakikat). The chains of intermediate species do not persist. The transformation or mutation of classes of beings (tahavvül-ü esnaf) is not the same as the turning of realities into their opposites.

Indication

Since all species have a progenitor and forefather, the false notion arising from the reproduction occurring in the chains of beings, may not be imputed to those progenitors and forefathers. Yes, according to natural philosophy and the sciences of geology, biology, and botany, the number of species exceeds two hundred thousand. The origins of the species, which are like their 'Adams'