The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 213
212 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS true visions and pure dreams he finds all things of the universe mirrored in himself. Sometimes he sees the Moon in his visions and dreams, sometimes the Sun, sometimes stars, sometimes a myriad of streams and gardens, and sometimes fire and air, etc. , and what is even more wonderful is that sometimes, in his true visions and pure dreams, he finds that he has turned into the Sun, or has become the Moon, or has become the Earth upon which are thousands of inhabited countries. Hence, these arguments point undoubtedly to man's being a min- iature universe; he embodies in himself examples of all that takes place in the larger universe. And a very fine way of understanding some of the very delicate and wonderful phenomena of the larger universe is to compare them with the universe in miniature and to see what insight it provides. For, both these universes are as two mirrors placed oppo- site each other and we can take the universe that we have examined in detail, as a standard for the purpose of investigating the mysteries of the other. And there is no doubt that the evidence derived from it can satisfy us. Now that this foundation has been well established, it would be perfectly appropriate to say that angels are actually in the same relation to celestial bodies and earthly objects as spiritual faculties and feelings are in relation to the human body. For, just as the soul of man minis- ters to his physical body through the spiritual faculties and feelings, does the Sustainer of the Universe, who is the ministering Spirit for the preservation and maintenance of all existence, as indicated in the verse SO who is the Light of their life, who regulates the big- ger universe through the agency of angels. And we cannot but admit that whatever arrangement prevails in the ‘universe in miniature”, a similar arrangement prevails in the larger universe as well; for, both these universes have sprung from the same Source, and the Oneness of God who has no associate, should result in the similarity of both these 1. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth (Surah an-Nür, 24:36). [Publisher]