INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK · First Section
First Section
The unique beauty of the art of the Creator of the universe manifest in this world
reports the clear signs that prompt one to contemplate and understand its subtleties.
O noble one! It should be known that the Exalted Truth (Ḥaqq Taʿālā) created this world as evidence for the existence of His oneness (tawḥid (the oneness of God)), and by displaying His art in all things, He has conveyed the realities of His wisdom to those endowed with intellect. [2/b] In order for His servants to desire knowledge of His essence, He has declared with all majesty in the Noble Qur’an:
[372]
Bismillāhirraḥmānirraḥīm.
“Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (al-Fātiḥa, 1/1) “Do you not know that to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? And you have not besides Allah any protector or any helper.” (al-Baqara, 2/107) “Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (al-Baqara, 2/255) “Indeed, from Allah nothing is hidden in the earth nor in the heaven. It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Āl ʿImrān, 3/5-6)
“To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. To Allah will [all] matters be returned.” (Āl ʿImrān, 3/109) “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding—who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], ‘Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing].’” (Āl ʿImrān, 3/190-191) “To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And Allah is encompassing of all things.” (al-Nisāʾ, 4/126)
“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. To Him is the [final] destination.” (al-Māʾida, 5/18) “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.” (al-Māʾida, 5/120) “And He is Allah in the heavens and on the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.” (al-Anʿām, 6/3) “And to Him belongs that which reposes by night and by day, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” (al-Anʿām, 6/13) “And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.” (al-Anʿām, 6/59) “And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith].” (al-Anʿām, 6/75) “Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah.” (al-Anʿām, 6/79)
“That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.” (al-Anʿām, 6/102) “Your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (al-Aʿrāf, 7/54) “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death. And you have not besides Allah any protector or any helper.” (al-Tawba, 9/116) “And not absent from your Lord is any [part] of an atom's weight within the earth or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register.” (Yūnus, 10/61) “Say, ‘Observe what is in the heavens and the earth.’” (Yūnus, 10/101) “There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.” (Maryam, 19/93-94)
“Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.” (al-Anbiyāʾ, 21/22) “Have you not considered how your Lord extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication. Then We hold it in hand for a brief grasp.” (al-Furqān, 25/45-46) “And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is acquainted with that which you do.” (al-Naml, 27/88)
“To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. All are to Him devoutly obedient.” (al-Rūm, 30/26) “It is Allah who sends the winds, so they stir up clouds and spreads them in the sky however He wills and makes them fragments so you see the rain emerge from within them. And when He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, immediately they rejoice, although they were, before it was sent down upon them, before that, in despair. So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah—how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.” (al-Rūm, 30/48-50) “Do you not see that Allah causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term, and that Allah, with whatever you do, is Acquainted?” (Luqmān, 31/29)
“It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?” (al-Sajda, 32/4) “Praise be to Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs [all] praise in the Hereafter. And He is the Wise, the Acquainted. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein. And He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.” (Sabaʾ, 34/1-2) “Say, ‘Indeed, my Lord projects the truth. [None can] withhold it. Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the earth or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register.’” (Sabaʾ, 34/3) “Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.” (Fāṭir, 35/41)
“And a sign for them is the dead earth. We have brought it to life and brought forth from it grain, and from it they eat. And We placed therein gardens of palm trees and grapevines and caused to burst forth therefrom some springs—That they may eat of His fruit. And their hands have not produced it, so will they not be grateful? Exalted is He who created all pairs—from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know. And a sign for them is the night: We remove from it [the light of] day, so they are [left] in darkness. And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. And the moon—We have determined for it phases, until it returns [appearing] like the old date stalk. It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming. And a sign for them is that We carried their forefathers in the laden ship. And We created for them from the likes of it that which they ride.” (Yā Sīn, 36/33-42) “Is not He who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is the Knowing Creator. His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is. So exalted is He in whose hand is the realm of all things, and to Him you will be returned.” (Yā Sīn, 36/81-83) “The Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver.” (Ṣād, 38/66) “They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.” (al-Zumar, 39/67)
“And the Trumpet will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on. And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged. And every soul will be fully compensated [for] what it did; and He is most knowing of what they do. And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, ‘Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses (āyāt) of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say, ‘Yes, but the word of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.’ [To them] it will be said, ‘Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.’ But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, ‘Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein,’ [they will enter]. And they will say, ‘Praise to Allah, who has fulfilled for us His promise and made us inherit the earth [so] we may settle in Paradise wherever we will. And excellent is the reward of [righteous] workers.’ And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne, exalting [Allah] with praise of their Lord. And it will be judged between them in truth, and it will be said, ‘[All] praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’” (al-Zumar, 39/68-75)
“It is Allah who made for you the earth a place of settlement and the sky a canopy and formed you and perfected your forms and provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord; then blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (al-Muʾmin, 40/64)
“Unquestionably, He is encompassing of all things.” (Fuṣṣilat, 41/54) “He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves mates and among the cattle mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” (al-Shūrā, 42/11) “And He is the deity in the heaven and the deity on the earth. And He is the Wise, the Knowing. And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour, and to Him you will be returned.” (al-Zukhruf, 43/84-85)
“And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play. We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.” (al-Dukhān, 44/38-39) “And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth—all from Him. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (al-Jāthiya, 45/13) “So to Allah belongs [all] praise—Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the worlds. And to Him belongs [all] grandeur within the heavens and the earth, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (al-Jāthiya, 45/36-37)
“To Allah belongs the hosts of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (al-Fatḥ, 48/4) “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (al-Fatḥ, 48/14) “Everyone upon the earth will perish, and there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.” (al-Raḥmān, 55/26-27) “Whoever is in the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is bringing about a matter. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?” (al-Raḥmān, 55/29-30) “Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent. He is the First and the Last, the Apparent and the Hidden, and He is, of all things, Knowing. It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein. And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And to Allah are [all] matters returned. He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is Knowing of that within the breasts.” (al-Ḥadīd, 57/1-6)
“Do you not know that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth? There is no private conversation among three but that He is the fourth of them, nor among five but that He is the sixth of them—nor fewer than that or more but that He is with them wherever they are. Then He will inform them of what they did on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is, of all things, Knowing.” (al-Mujādila, 58/7)
“Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (al-Ḥashr, 59/1) “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth exalts Allah. To Him belongs dominion and to Him belongs [all] praise, and He is over all things competent.” (al-Taghābun, 64/1) “He created the heavens and the earth in truth and formed you and perfected your forms; and to Him is the [final] destination. He knows what is in the heavens and earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare. And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.” (al-Taghābun, 64/3-4)
“It is Allah who created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. His command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.” (al-Ṭalāq, 65/12)
“Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent—[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed—and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving—[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see any inconsistency in the creation of the Most Merciful. So return your vision to the sky, do you see any breaks?” (al-Mulk, 67/1-3) “And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with lamps and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.” (al-Mulk, 67/5)
“It is He who has produced you from the earth and settled you therein, and to Him you will be gathered.” (al-Mulk, 67/24) “Do you not see how Allah has created seven heavens in layers and made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp? And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth. Then He will return you into it and extract you [another] extraction. And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse that you may follow therein roads of passage.” (Nūḥ, 71/15-20)
Second Section [373]
Summarily reports the creation of the universe. [374]
O noble one! It should be known that the scholars of tafsir (tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis)) and hadith (hadith) have agreed that [375] Allah, the Exalted and Most Holy, while being a hidden treasure in the station of absolute oneness (aḥadiyya), willed to be known and, by His will, [376] created the world of spirits (arwāḥ) and the world of bodies (ajsām). When He wished to manifest the beauty of His mercy, the perfection of His power, the grandeur of His majesty, the abundance of His bounty, the diversity of His art, and the secrets of His wisdom,
before all creation,
from the unknownness of non-existence,
He brought into being a luminous, green substance. According to one narration, He created from His own light a very beautiful and great substance, and from that substance, He created the entirety of the cosmos in a gradual and orderly fashion. This is called the First Matter, the Muḥammadan Light (Nūr-i Muḥammadī), the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ), the Universal Intellect (al-ʿAql al-Kull), and the Relative Spirit (al-Rūḥ al-Iḍāfī). The origin and source of all spirits and bodies is this substance. [377]
When the Exalted Truth looked upon that substance with love, it melted from modesty and flowed like water, and its pure essence rose to the surface. From that essence, He first created the Universal Soul (al-Nafs al-Kullī), then in order: the spirits of the angels, the spirits of the prophets, the spirits of the friends of God (awliyāʾ), the spirits of the gnostics (ʿārifūn), the spirits of the worshippers (ʿābidūn), then the spirits of the believers (muʾminūn) and the spirits of the disbelievers (kāfirūn), then the spirits of the jinn, the spirits of the devils (shayāṭīn), the spirits of animals, the spirits of plants, and the spirits of the elements.
For each of these spirits, He appointed certain spiritual stations (maqāmāt) according to their ranks, and each group went to the station appointed for it. And each spirit found its own kind and gathered together like soldiers in a well-ordered army, each group remaining in its own station.
The world of dominion (ʿālam al-malakūt, the inner world) was completed with these fourteen kinds of spirits. [378] The purest, most refined, and most beautiful of the worlds is called the world of the unseen (ʿālam al-ghayb), the world of divinity (lāhūt), and the world of power (jabarūt). [379] The middle is called the world of spirits (ʿālam al-arwāḥ), the world of meanings (ʿālam al-maʿānī), and the world of command (ʿālam al-amr). [380] The lowest, densest, and closest to bodies is called the world of abstractions (ʿālam al-mujarradāt), the isthmus (barzakh), and the world of similitudes (ʿālam al-mithāl).
After two thousand years had passed since this creation, the eternal will of the Exalted Truth desired to manifest His sublime majesty by creating the world of bodies. Upon this, He looked again with love at the First Matter, and the water on its surface swelled with waves from modesty. From the most exalted essence of that substance, the Supreme Throne (ʿArsh al-Aʿẓam) was formed; from the essences beneath it, the Footstool (Kursī), Paradise, Hell, the seven heavens, and the four elements (earth, fire, air, and water) came into being and took shape.
When the world of forms was established and arranged in this order from the Highest Throne to the lowest of the low, the creation of the world of dominion (mulk) was completed with the aforementioned fifteen kinds of bodies. The highest layer of this world is called the higher world (ʿālam al-ulwī), the world of bodies (ʿālam al-ajsām), the world of subsistence (baqāʾ), and the Hereafter. The middle layer is called the intermediate world, the world of ethereal bodies (ʿālam al-ajsām al-athīriyya), the world of celestial bodies, the world of spheres, and the world of the heavens. The lowest layer is called the lower world (ʿālam al-suflī), the world of elements, the world of coming-to-be and passing-away (ʿālam al-kawn wa-l-fasād), and the world of this world (dunyā).
Thus, the total of those in the world of dominion (malakūt) and the simple (mufrad) entities in the world of sovereignty (mulk)—that is, the varieties of spirits and all the simple groups—has become twenty-nine, like the letters of the alphabet. And from the combination of the mentioned elements of the two worlds, three kinds of composite bodies have been formed: minerals, plants, and animals. Just as from the letters of the alphabet, nouns, verbs, and particles are formed and the system of words that enables human communication emerges, so too from the simples of both worlds, three composites have emerged, and from them, the boundless book of the universe has found meaning.
For this reason, the gnostics (ʿārifūn) who observe the world with the eye of contemplation have witnessed many wisdoms in every object. The friends of God (awliyāʾ) have learned the secrets of Allah’s sublime art, have reached the essence of meaning from the letters of things, and have found presence and nearness.
Rubāʿī (Quatrain)
The world, which is a complete copy of wisdom,
Is Paradise for the one who understands its meaning.
In the eyes of those deprived of witnessing,
It is a dungeon of affliction, a well of sorrow and hardship.
In contemporary Turkish:
The world, which is a copy of wisdom from beginning to end, is Paradise for the one who understands its meaning.
In the eyes of those deprived of witnessing, it is a dungeon of affliction, a well of sorrow and hardship.