The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 212
PREFACE FOOTNOTE 211 And although it appears we are not dependent upon any unseen assis- tance since we can move at will, stop at will, speak at will, and observe silence at will, it will definitely become clear with an enlightened view of the matter that in all of our own states of movement and rest, and in all our works, we do need assistance from the unseen. And God Almighty's everlasting sustenance is at work with regard to the sperm, with the 'alaqah [clot], with the muḍghah [piece of flesh], with the foe- tus, and in our every movement and rest, and in our speech and action. In short, God Almighty's everlasting sustenance is at work in all that is needed by us by virtue of us being created. However, that Permanent Being does not descend upon us directly on account of the covering of the self around us, for there exists no compatible relation between us and the Rarest of the rare, the Highest, the Self-Sufficient, the Light of all lights. Every object among us, whether living or lifeless, is under a covering of the self and is very far removed from the Presence of the Holy God. Therefore, as between Almighty God and us, the being of angels is just as necessary as the existence of feelings and spiritual facul- ties are between the soul and the human body. This is because the soul was in a station of being alone and subtle, while the human body was veiled by its self-awareness and thus steeped in crudeness and darkness. Therefore, between the two, Almighty God created the spiritual facul- ties and feelings with two directions so that they may absorb the graces from the soul and develop good manners and civilized behaviour in the whole body. Let it be known that man is also a miniature universe, and all the qualities, attributes, characteristics, and conditions of the larger uni- verse are placed in him, as is evident from his powers and abilities. He is able to manifest, as an example, the power and qualities of all things. Like the Sun he has a light, like the Moon a brilliance, like the night a darkness, and like the Earth, he can be a source of a thousand works of good and evil. He grows and flourishes like the trees and attracts everything towards himself through his power of attraction. Again, his being a universe in miniature is also established by the fact that in his