acquired the capacity for such truths — as discussed in the Second Premise. So our Prophet (UWBP) gave an appropriate answer, which was: "The earth rests on the bull." That is, it is humankind that cultivates the earth. The means of livelihood of rural communities, one of its groups, is agriculture. And agriculture rests on the backs of oxen and is their job. The people of coastal regions, another group, subsist mostly on fish; indeed, fish is one of the main commodities the city-dwellers' trade rests on. It corroborates the saying: "All the game ends up in the wild ass' stomach." [^31] This is an apt answer. Even if it's humorous, it's true. Because even if he is joking, what he says is true. Supposing the questioner had asked about the nature of creation. In accordance with the wise rule of the science of figurative speech (fenn-i beyân), "The listener learned something unexpected," the Prophet (UWBP) gave the appropriate and required answer. He did not give the answer the sick questioner wanted due to his false appetite. The verse, "They ask you concerning the new moons. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in [the affairs of] men"(2:189) is an apt introduction to this truth.

[^31]:That is, the hunter is in need of nothing else. (Tr.)

T h e  T h i r d  M e a n i n g: The Bull (Taurus) and the Fish (Pisces) are two constellations determined in the earth's annual orbit. They are certainly hypothetical and imaginary, but because the law of divine practice known as gravity, which is in force in the world and is charged with holding the physical heavenly bodies in order, is centred on those constellations, it makes permissible the wise saying: "The earth rests on the constellations." This is the point of view of modern science. For ancient philosophy supposed the constellations to be in the heavens, while modern science assumes they are in the earth's orbit. This interpretation has great value in the view of science.

It is also narrated that the question was asked several times. One time, the reply was "it's (the earth's) on the Fish," which means that a month later it would be on the Bull. That is, since the rays and beams of the above-mentioned law, radiating in every direction