Furthermore, beings depart leaving behind them the stages and states they have undergone throughout their lives – a detailed existence which represents their external existence – on the Preserved  Tablet, and in the Clear Book and Clear Record, and other spheres of existence like these that pertain to divine knowledge. This means that every transitory being abandons one existence and gains thousands of permanent existences.

For  example,  a  number  of  common  substances  are  thrown  into  a  wondrous machine in a factory; they burn up inside it and are apparently destroyed, but in those vats valuable chemical substances are precipitated. Also, through its force and steam, the factory’s machinery works: in one area of it textiles are woven, in another books are printed, while in another sweets and other rare confections are manufactured; and so  on; it produces  these.  That  is to  say,  thousands  of things  come  into  existence through the burning of those common substances and their apparent destruction. One common existence departs but leaves a legacy of numerous elevated existences. Can one therefore  feel sorry for the common  substance?  Can one  complain  about  the factory owner because he did not pity it and burnt it, destroying those affectionate substances?

Similarly,  “And  God’s  is  the  highest  similitude,”(16:60)  as  necessitated  by mercy, wisdom, and lovingness, the Wise, Compassionate, and Loving Creator causes the factory of the universe to work. He makes all transient existences the seeds of numerous perpetual existences; He makes them the means for the fulfilment of the dominical aims; He makes them manifest the divine attributes; He makes them the ink for the pen of divine determining and shuttles for the weaving of divine power; and for many elevated aims and favours that we do not yet know, through the activity of His power He causes the activity of the universe; He causes particles to spin, beings to travel, animals to flow, and the planets to rotate; He makes the universe speak, causing it to silently recite His verses, His signs, and to inscribe them. And of the creatures of the earth – with regard to His dominicality – He makes the air a throne for  His command  and  will; the element  of light  a throne  for His  knowledge  and wisdom; water a throne for His bounty and mercy; and earth a throne for His preservation and giving of life; and three of these thrones He rests on the creatures of the earth.

Know certainly that the shining truth demonstrated in these five Signs and five Indications  is to be seen through the light of the Qur’an and may be laid claim to through the strength of belief. Otherwise a terrifying darkness takes the place of this enduring truth.