The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 229
228 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS in them on the one hand, and the earth on the other, and how the earth has been granted the capacity to accept influences, and how the heav- ens and the heavenly bodies have been granted the power to impart such influences. And let it also be realized that just as the descent, both of spiritual and physical phenomena, takes place from the heavens, and the influences of the angels combining with those of the heavenly bod- ies descend upon the earth, so have the earth and the dwellers of the earth been given both the spiritual and the physical powers of accept- ing such influences, so that those who influence and those who accept the influence may be on a plane of complete equality. And by the seven earths are meant the seven regions of the popu- lated part of the earth which, in their relation to one another, lie one above the other. It would not be inappropriate if we call these seven regions the seven aqālīm [climates or regions], but the reader must not fall into the error of supposing that the division of the earth into seven aqālim by the Greeks, which divisions were adopted by Muslim savants in the early days of Islam, is correct or perfect. What I mean by divi- sion here is a correct division from the purview of which nothing is excluded and every region of the earth is included in one such division or other. I am not concerned with establishing whether such a true and perfect division has ever been attempted or affected. What I mean to point out is only that the popular idea that the earth should be divided into seven parts was, as it were, divinely inspired, and bears witness to the heavenly division. Again, if the objection is put forward that the Noble Quran in sev- eral places says that God made the heavens and the earth in six days is proof of His being subject to a disability, for no sooner does He intend to do a thing than such a thing must come to pass, as He Himself says: إِنَّمَا أَمْرة إِذا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ 10 1. Surah Ya Sin, 36:83 [Publisher]