The Words | 25. Word | 471
(375-476)

A Question: "Sometimes an important truth is not apparent to a superficial view, and in some positions the connection is not known when an elevated summary concerning Divine unity or a universal principle is drawn from a minor and ordinary matter, and it is imagined to be a fault. For example, to mention the extremely elevated principle: And over all endued with knowledge, One Knowing7 when Joseph (Peace be upon him) seized his brother through subterfuge, does not appear to be in keeping with eloquence. What is its meaning and purpose?"

The Answer: In most of the long and middle-length Suras, which are each small Qur'ans, and in many pages and passages, not only two or three aims are followed, for by its nature the Qur'an comprises many books and teachings, such as being a book of invocation, belief, and reflection, and a book of law, wisdom, and guidance. Thus, since it describes the majestic manifestations of Divine dominicality and its encompassing all things, as a sort of recitation of the mighty book of the universe, it follows many aims in every discussion and sometimes on a single page; while instructing in knowledge of God, the degrees in Divine unity, and the truths of belief, with an apparently weak connection it opens another subject of instruction in the following passage, joining powerful connections to the weak one. It corresponds perfectly to the discussion and raises the level of eloquence.

A Second Question: "What is the purpose of the Qur'an proving and drawing attention to the hereafter, Divine unity, and man's reward and punishment thousands of times, explicitly, implicitly, and allusively, and teaching them in every Sura, on every page, and in every discussion?"

The Answer: To instruct in the most important, most significant, and most awesome matters in the sphere of contingency and in the revolutions in the universe's history concerning man's duty, the means to his eternal misery or happiness —man who undertook the Divine vicegerency of the earth— and to remove his countless doubts and to smash his violent denials and obduracy, indeed, to make man confirm those awesome revolutions and submit to those most necessary essential matters which are as great as the revolutions, if the Qur'an draws his attention to them thousands, or even millions of times, it is not excessive, for those discussions in the Qur'an are read millions of times, and they do not cause boredom, nor does the need cease.

For example, since the verse,

For those who believe and do righteous deeds are gardens beneath which rivers flow8 * They will dwell therefor ever.9

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7. Qur'an, 12:76.
8. Qur'an, 85:11.
9. Qur'an, 5:85, etc.

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The Words