Letters ( revised ) | THE TWENTY-EIGHTH LETTER | 407
(399-446)
Each sort has hundreds of thousands of individual members which are like tongues; and so on. That means the angel appointed to the earth must have not forty thousand heads but hundreds of thousands; and in every head must be hundreds of thousands of tongues; and so on.

Thus, according to this way, Azra’il (Upon whom be peace) has a face and an eye that looks to each person. When Moses (Upon whom be peace) struck Azra’il (Upon whom be peace), it was not directed at his essential self and his true form, and it was not an insult, or non-acceptance; he struck, and strikes, in the eye the being who drew attention to his death and wanted to prevent his work, because he wanted his duties of prophethood to continue for ever.

 

God knows best what is right. * None knows the Unseen save God. * Say: The knowledge is with God alone.

He it is Who has sent down to you the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental [of established meaning]; they are the foundation of the Book; others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Sustainer;” and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.(3:7)


 

No Voice

Letters ( revised )