The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 241
240 Ā'ĪNA-E-KAMĀLĀT-E-ISLĀM―DĀFI‘UL-WASĀWIS the level of a miracle. The letters of which that writing is composed- whether they be Arabic, English, or Hindi-must have an a priori existence. So this is the first stage which is a distant means of express- ing the intended subjects, but has no part in them. Then the second stage is that of words that will be formed from the determined letters. They still do not partake of the intended meanings and subject, but are a closer means of achieving them. Then the next stage is that of sentences, which do not yet fully convey the intended meanings, but do have some share in them. They are like limbs for the subject that the writer has in mind. Then the fourth stage is that of the completed essay which emanates from the heart of the writer and is recorded on a piece of paper in its entirety and encompasses all of the intended meanings and subject. Then the fifth stage is to amplify these plain words and expressions through the beauty of eloquence and to adorn them with the charm of eloquent rhetoric. The sixth stage which immediately fol- lows the fifth stage is that the composition should possess a spirit of making an impact that attracts hearts and captivates minds. Now ponder over this and see that these six stages bear similar- ity with, and are an example of, what have been named in the Noble Quran as nutfah [sperm drop], ['alaqah—clot], ä[muḍghah— [muḍghah—piece of flesh] and piece of flesh], and then some ä some bones that is to say a sketch of the human form, then a full form of the human being, and then a living human being. I had also intended to respond to the questions: 'Why was the earth made in four days, and the heavens in two?' and 'Why it is written that the Throne of Allah is borne aloft by four angels, and that eight of them would bear it on the Day of Judgment?', and 'What is the meaning of the saying that in the beginning, the Throne of God Almighty was upon the water?' However, in view of the shortage of time and the sub- ject getting long, and the responses to these questions being filled with points of wisdom and calling for a prolonged discussion, I will now close this footnote. God willing, I will address these issues in Barāhīn- e-Aḥmadiyya Part V. Thus, it will become clear to all that, in making