Early Writings — Page 24
24 THE the Veda probably states as well; otherwise, personally I find it difficult to believe that Pundit Sahib could doubt the most man- ifest fact that God is Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. And, if Pundit Sahib truly believes Parameshvara to be the Provider of sustenance to everything, then what kind of a good act it is on his part to reduce Him to the likes of potters and carpenters, and what argument is advanced by the Veda in this respect? One can see that the Holy Quran, at a number of places, has proved that God is Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining, as He states it once again in the following verse: اللهُ نُورُ السَّمَوتِ وَالْأَرْضِ Meaning, God is the light of the heavens and the earth. It is due to Him that the lower and higher realms are illuminated with the light of life and sustenance. Hence, this discourse proves the valid- ity of part one of the aforementioned compound syllogism. The minor premise of part two of the said compound syllogism is the conclusion of part one of the said syllogism, and the validity of part one of this compound syllogism has just been established. Hence, the conclusion has also been proved. Moreover, the major premise of part two, i. e. that he who is Ever-Living and Eternal, and the Provider of subsistence to everything is the Creator, can be proved thus that he who is Self- Subsisting and All-Sustaining must be the one whose life and existence is the necessary condition for the survival and life of all other things, and for providing everything else that they need for their survival. What this means is that if the necessary condition 1. Surah an-Nür, 24:36 [Publisher]