words. However, if in this Word we were to point out the allusions indicating all the meanings together with their rules, the discussion would become extremely prolonged. So we cut it short here, and for a part of it, refer you to Isharat al-I‘jaz.

#### Second Flash

S e c o n d F l a s h: This is the extraordinary comprehensiveness of its meaning. Yes, together with bestowing from the treasuries of its meaning the sources for all the interpreters of the Shari‘a, the illuminations of all those seeking knowledge of God, the ways of all those seeking union with God, the paths of all the perfected from among mankind, and the schools of all the scholars, the Qur’an has at all times been the guide of all of them and has directed them in their progress; it is verified unanimously by all that it has illuminated their ways from its treasuries.

#### Third Flash

T h i r d F l a s h: This is the extraordinary comprehensiveness of its knowledge. The Qur’an has caused to flow forth from the oceans of its knowledge, the numerous and various sciences of the Shari‘a, the multifarious sciences of reality (hakikat), and the innumerable different sciences of Sufism (tarikat). Similarly, it has caused to flow forth in abundance and good order the true wisdom of the sphere of contingency, the true sciences of the sphere of necessity, and the enigmatic knowledge of the sphere of the hereafter. One would have to write a whole volume to provide examples of this Flash, and so as mere samples, we point to the twenty-five Words so far written. Yes, the veracious truths of all twenty-five Words comprise a mere twenty-five droplets from the ocean of the Qur’an’s knowledge. Any errors in those Words spring from my defective understanding.

#### Fourth Flash

F o u r t h F l a s h: This is the extraordinary comprehensiveness of the subjects it advances. Together with bringing together the extensive subjects of man and his duties, the universe and the Creator of the universe, the heavens and the earth, this world and the hereafter, the past and the future, and pre-eternity and post-eternity, the Qur’an explains all the essential and important topics from man’s creation from seminal fluid till when he enters the grave; from the correct conduct of eating and sleeping to the matters of divine decree and determining; from the creation of the world in six days, to the duties of the wind blowing, indicated by the oaths of,

By the [winds] that scatter,(51:1)

and,

By the [winds] sent forth;(77:1)

from His intervention in man’s heart and will, indicated by,

comes between a man and his heart,(8:24)