build a railway with its ideas. Then turning towards the morningtide of the future, we shall visit and welcome our fellow humans, who are on the point of departure, and view and point out from afar the true dawn of happiness. Boarding the train of progress and ship of endeavour, and holding up the lamp of proof, we shall enter upon those times, which although their beginnings appear dark, are bright indeed. There we shall embrace the people of the future, and congratulate them on their achievement and happiness

This small photograph contains a truly beautiful picture which, on being defined, will later become clear to you. Now, the trees of the aforementioned books will sprout in this ground and will be watered by means of the canals of the three Articles.

Brother! Before taking you by the hand and leading you to the treasury of truths, I am going to dispel the fancies that veil the eye of your discernment and quickly mention the several matters I mentioned. The fancies are such that with their hands they blind your eyes like ghouls, beat you on the chest, and terrify you. If they show you anything at all, they make light appear as fire and pearls as clods. Beware of those imaginings! The most important source of the satanic whisperings that afflict you are several matters related to the sphericity of the earth. For instance, the ox and fish; Qaf mountain; the barrier of Dhu'l-Qarnayn; the mountains acting as pegs; and Hell as being as being specifically located beneath the earth; and such matters as "He has extended [to a wide expanse]"(79:30); "How it is spread out"(88:20); "And the sun runs its course"(36:38); and "And He sends down from the sky mountains masses [of cloud] wherein is hail"(24:43). I shall explain what they mean in reality in order to close up the eyes of the enemies of religion and open the eyes of its friends. I am commencing:

The First Matter

The First Matter

Your fair mind knows that the investigative scholars of Islam have agreed on the sphericity of the earth, if only tacitly. If you have any doubts, go to the Maqāṣid and Mawāqif, study them and become acquainted with their purpose, and you will see that Sa'd [^21]

[^21]:Sa'd al-Din al-Taftazānī (d. 793/1390). Renowned scholar of grammar, rhetoric, kalām, fiqh, and tafsir. Among his many works is his own commentary on his kalām work, al-Maqāṣid, called, Sharḥ al-Maqāṣid. Which of the two is referred to here is uncertain, probably the latter. He was born in Khurasan and died in Samarqand.