and the future have become like the present; the address is being delivered to mankind, all of which is in a single gathering, in the form of a congregation the rows of which all differ. I then saw that each Qur'anic verse possesses an elevated power, eloquence, and beauty which it had received from the grandeur and compass of its station, its extremely numerous, various, and significant addressees, from the Pre-Eternal Speaker, the One of infinite glory and grandeur, and from its exalted Interpreter, who is at the rank of God's beloved; I saw each verse within a brilliant, truly brilliant, light of miraculousness. Then, not the whole Qur'an, or a Sura, or a verse, but each of its words seemed a miracle. "All praise be to God for the light of belief and the Qur'an," I said. And I emerged from my imagining, which was pure reality, the same as I had entered the 'Nun' of 'na'budu,' and I understood that not only the Qur'an's verses and words, but some of its letters, like the 'Nūn' of 'na'budu,' were luminous keys to important truths.
After my heart and imagination had emerged from the 'Nūn' of 'na'budu,' my mind came forward and said: "I want my share too. I cannot fly like you; my feet are evidences and proofs. The way leading to the Creator, the Worshipped One and One from Whom help is sought, has to be pointed out in the same 'na'budu' and 'nasta'īn' [You alone do wwe worship and from You alone do we seek help], so that I can accompany you." It then occurred to
my heart to say the following to my bewildered mind:
Consider all the beings in the universe; whether living or inanimate, in perfect order and obedience they all have their worship which is in the form of duties. Although some of them lack feelings and intelligence, they perform their duties in most conscious, orderly, and worshipful fashion. That means there is a True Object of Worship, an Absolute Commander, Who impels them to worship and employs them.
Also consider the beings and particularly the living ones; while each has extremely numerous and various needs, which have to be met for its continued existence, its hands cannot reach the smallest of them; its power is insufficient. Yet they all receive their innumerable needs regularly, from unexpected places, at the appropriate time; this is clearly to be seen.
Thus, these boundless needs and this boundless want of beings and that extraordinary assistance from the Unseen and merciful succour self-evidently demonstrate that they have a Protector and Provider Who possesses absolute riches, is Absolutely Generous and Absolutely Powerful; it is from Him that everything and all living beings seek help and await succour, in effect saying: From You alone do we seek help. So then my mind declared: "We believe in this and assent to it!"