Although by means of its unrestricted light and immaterial reflection, the sun is closer to you than the pupil of your eye, since you are restricted, you are truly distant from it. In order to draw close to it, you have to transcend numerous restrictions and pass over many universal degrees. Simply, in effect you have to expand to the size of the earth and rise as far as the moon, then you may be able to a degree to approach directly the sun’s essential level and meet with it without veil. In just the same way, the Glorious One of Beauty and Beauteous One of Perfection is infinitely close to you, and you are infinitely distant from Him. If your heart has strength, and your mind, eminence, try to put the points in the comparison into practice.

Second Ray

SECOND RAY

O my senseless soul! You say that verses like,

Indeed, His command when He wills a thing is, “Be!”, and it is,(36:82)

and,

It will be no more than a single blast, when lo! they will all be brought up before Us!(36:53)

show that the existence of things is instantaneous and merely through a command, and that verses like,

[Such is] the artistry of God, Who disposes of all things in perfect order,(27:88)

and,

Who has created everything in the best way(32:7)

show that the existence of things is gradual, through a vast power within knowledge and a fine art within wisdom. How are these compatible?

The Answer: Relying on the effulgence of the Qur’an, we say:

Firstly: There is no contradiction. Some are like the former, like primary creation. And some are like the latter, like the repetition of creation.

Secondly: The infinite order and extreme skill, fine art, and perfect creation together with the ease, speed, multiplicity, and extensiveness that are observed in beings testify decisively to the existence of the truths of these two sorts of verses. Since this is so, it is unnecessary to prove this to be true outside this and make it the point of discussion. It should rather be asked: “What is the wisdom in these verses? What is their meaning and purpose?” Thus, we shall point to this wisdom with an allegoric analogy.

For example, a craftsman, for instance a tailor, creates something artistic with much difficulty and employing many skills, then makes a model for it. For thereafter he can make others similar to it quickly and without