BİRİNCİ FEN · BİRİNCİ BÂB · BİRİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
Second Article
Concerning the degrees and natures of the four elements and their transitions and transformations into one another.
O esteemed one! It must be known that philosophers and astronomers have reached consensus on the following matters:
Beneath the sphere of the Moon lies a layer of fire. Beneath that, a layer of air; beneath that, a layer of water; and beneath that, a layer of earth. This last layer is the lowest of all and heavier than all the others. The proof that the layer of fire is above the layer of air is that fire rises upwards with smoke, then, as observed, returns to its origin. The proof that the layer of air is above the layer of water is that if a bag filled with air were immersed in water, it would not remain beneath the surface but would rise above it.
The proof that the layer of water is above the layer of earth is that if a stone or clod were placed upon the water, it would not remain on the surface but would return to its origin and descend to its proper place. Thus, the layer of earth is beneath the water and is the lowest of all existing things. These four elements, residing within their own layers, transform into one another gradually. For fire, with time, loses some of its combustibility and mixes with air, thereby becoming air. Likewise, air gradually loses its own quality and acquires the quality of water, becoming water. Water also slowly transforms into earth, taking on an earthy form. Finally, it assumes the form of fire and becomes fire itself. In this manner, and in reverse fashion, the four primary elements transform from one form to another, ultimately returning to their original forms. This transformation of the four primary elements is what they call *istihala* (transmutation).
As for the natures of these four elements: Fire is dry and hot. Air is hot and moist. The nature of water is moist and cold. The nature of earth is cold and dry. There is no room for doubt in this matter. Fire shares with air its heat; air shares with water its moisture; water shares with earth its coldness; and earth shares with fire its dryness. Thus, if the dryness of fire were to become the moisture of air, fire would transform into air as hot and moist.
If the warmth of air were to become the coldness of water, air would transform into water in a moist and cold state. If the warmth of air were transformed into the coldness of water, it would be converted into water with a moist and cold condition. If the moisture of water were to become the dryness of earth, water would transform into earth as cold and dry.
If the coldness of earth were to become the heat of fire, earth would transform into fire as dry and hot.
Due to these changes in qualities, fire becomes air, air becomes water, water becomes earth, and earth becomes fire. This *istihala* is what they call the initial path (tarīq-i mabda').
Sometimes, the four elements effect this *istihala* (transmutation) in reverse order: if the dryness of earth were to become the moisture of water, earth would become water. If the coldness of water were to transform into the warmth of air, water would become air. If the moisture of air were to transform into the dryness of fire, air would become fire. If the heat of fire were to become the coldness of earth, fire would become earth. This *istihala* (transmutation) is called the path of return (tarīq-i ma’ād).