Reply to a Mockery — Page 132
132 them for proclaiming His Omnipotence. Had He wished, He could have fulfilled His purpose without them. But in His infinite wisdom He decided to create the angels and they were created. It is with the light of the sun that the human eye can see. It is with food that the human stomach is filled. But God does not need the sun or light to fulfil His purpose. Similarly, although He uses angels for the expression of His will, He is not dependent on them. 5. We believe that Allah communicates with His servants. He makes manifest to them His will. This discourse descends in specific words; man cannot interfere with its course, nor can he choose its meaning nor can he select its words. The Almighty determines the words and their meanings and this is the real food of the soul. This is what makes the spirit live and it cre- ates a bond between the Almighty and His servant. And this discourse is without comparison, both in its strength and in its majesty. No human being is capable of creating anything like it. It is a treasure of knowledge. It is like a mine the deeper one digs the more priceless become the gems one discovers. But unlike worldly mines, this treasure of gems is never-ending. This discourse is like an ocean with ambergris floating on the surface and priceless pearls covering the bottom. So when you view the surface you enjoy the fragrance of the ambergris, and when you dive into the ocean you discover a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. The discourse can be of many different kinds. Sometimes it consists of orders and commands, at other times of exhortation and advice. Sometimes it is used to impart knowledge of the unseen, while at other times it opens the doors of spiritual knowledge. At times the Almighty may use