Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 35
1 CHAPTER III كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ. 35 None of them can acquire any light beyond the range of his natural capacity, nor can anyone reflect the spiritual image of the Divine Sun beyond his innate capacity. God reveals His face to everyone according to their innate capacity and His face appears smaller in some or bigger in others depending on the variation of the individual capacities, just as, for example, a large face appears very small in a handheld mirror, but that same face appears large in a large mirror. But the mirror, whether large or small, reveals all the form and features of the face, the only difference being that a small mirror cannot display the full measure of the face. Just as this variation is evident between a small and a large mirror, similarly, although the Being of God is Eternal and Immutable, changes appear in it according to an individual's capacity, and the dif- ferences that emerge are so great that it seems as though the God of one person is greater in the expression of His attributes than that of a second person, and that of a third person is greater still. But God is not three, He is only One. It is only that His glory is revealed differently as a result of differences in manifestations. Just as the God of Mūsāªs [Moses], Isaas [Jesus], and the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is only One and not three gods, but because of different manifestations, three expressions of glory appeared in the same One God. Since Mūsa's purpose was limited only to the Israelites and Pharaoh, the manifestation of divine power upon Mūsā was lim- ited to that extent. Had his focus been upon all of mankind of that time as well as the future, the teachings of the Torah would not have been as limited and deficient as they are today. Similarly, Hadrat 'Isa's purpose was confined to the few Israelite tribes who were before him, and his concern did not extend to other nations or future ages. Therefore, the manifestation of divine power in his religion remained limited in proportion to his purpose, and a 1. Each gliding along in its orbit (Surah al-Anbiya, 21:34). [Publisher]