declares “There is no god save God,” like a Mevlevi dervish mentioning God’s Names, all contributing to the resounding sound of this mighty proof, as tongues affirming Divine Unity.

If you fasten your ear to the breast of the Qur’an, which is the articulate proof of Divine Unity, you will hear from the depths of its heart an utterly elevated, serious, heartfelt, familiar, convincing, heavenly voice, decked out with proofs, which continually chants: “There is no god but God.”

The six aspects of this illumined proof are all transparent. Above it is the stamp of miraculousness; within it are the lights of guidance; beneath it are proof and logic; on its right is its calling the intellect to investigate; on its left is its calling the conscience to testify; before it is good; its goal is the happiness of both worlds; and its point of support is pure revelation. How can doubts and delusions penetrate it?

Will, mind, emotion, and the subtle inner faculties, which constitute the four elements of the conscience and four faculties of the spirit, each have an ultimate aim. The ultimate aim of the will is worship of God; that of the mind is knowledge of God; that of the emotions is love of God; and that of the inner faculties is the vision of God. The perfect worship known as taqwa comprises the four. The Shari‘a both cultivates these, and corrects them, and takes them towards their ultimate goals.