earth, his cradle and dwelling-place, is in regard to meaning and art, the universe’s heart and centre; despite its smallness and lowliness in relation to the heavens, it is the display and exhibition of all the miracles of divine art; the place of reflection and point of focus of the manifestations of all the divine names; the place of display and reflection of infinite dominical activity; the means and market of boundless divine creativity and especially the munificent creation of the numerous species of plants and small animals; and the place in small measure of samples of the creatures of the broad worlds of the hereafter; it is a rapidly working loom weaving everlasting textiles; the swiftly changing place producing views for eternal panoramas; and the narrow and temporary arable field and seedbed producing at speed the seeds for everlasting gardens.

It is because of this vastness of meaning and importance of art of the earth that the All-Wise Qur’an holds it – like a tiny fruit of the vast tree of the heavens – equal to all the heavens, like holding a tiny heart equivalent to a huge body. It places it in one pan of a scales and places all the heavens in the other, and repeatedly says: “Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth”(18:14, etc.). Compare other matters with this and understand that the soulless, dim truths of philosophy cannot clash with the brilliant, living truths of the Qur’an. Since the points of view are different, they appear differently.

Fourth Branch

FOURTH BRANCH

Are you not aware that before God prostrate themselves all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth – the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the beasts, and a great number among mankind? But a great number are such as are fit for punishment; and such as God shall disgrace, none can raise to honour; for, verily, God does what He wills.(22:18)

We shall point out only a single jewel from the treasure of this extensive and sublime verse. It is as follows.

The All-Wise Qur’an states clearly that everything from the heavens to the earth, from the stars to flies, from angels to fishes, and from planets to particles, prostrates, worships, praises and glorifies Almighty God. But their worship varies according to their capacities and the divine names that they manifest; it is all different. We shall explain one of the varieties of their worship with a comparison.

For example, “And God’s is the highest similitude”(16:60), when a mighty lord of all dominion builds a city or splendid palace, he employs four categories of workers.

The First Category are his slaves and bondsmen. This sort receive no