KİTABIN MUKADDİMESİ · Birinci Madde
**Article One**
It describes the varieties of angels who reside beneath the highest heavens and perform the duty of a veil, the treasures of the Divine Essence (Haqq), the number of the seven heavens, and within each of them, their angels, forms, and glorifications (remembrance).
O esteemed one! It is known that the scholars of *tafsir* and hadith have affirmed with consensus: The Most High God has lowered seventy thousand veils beneath the highest heavens, from the light of the sun. Beneath those, He has brought forth seventy thousand veils from the light of the moon. And beneath these again, He created seventy thousand veils of impenetrable darkness. All the veils mentioned are composed of various kinds of angels.
Beneath these veils lies the ocean of *Mascûr*, beneath that, the ocean of *Rakk-i Manshūr* [396], beneath that, the ocean of the sought-after provision (*rizk-i maksūm*) [397], beneath that, the ocean of blessings (*in’ām*) , beneath that, the ocean of *Kumkam* (a sea), and beneath that, the ocean of life (*hayvān*). And all these oceans are a metaphor for the inexhaustible treasures of the Divine Essence. Beneath these oceans lies the seventh heaven, which is of brilliant light—according to one report, red ruby. Its name is *Aribā*, and it is filled with noble angels. The angels worthy of reverence there are in human form. Their constant glorification is: “Glory be to God, and praise be to Him, countless as His creation, and equal to the splendor of His Throne, and to the measure of His words.” [398] They know none other than the Most High God, nor do they even glance at one another. They stand in awe of God, weeping until the Day of Resurrection. These are called the *mala’ika-i muqarrabīn* and *rūḥāniyyīn* (those brought near spiritually to God). The name of their leader is Raykail, who is the guardian of the seventh heaven.
Beneath that lies the sixth heaven, which is of fresh pearl. Its name is *Raka*. The angels in the sixth heaven are in the form of servants (*ghilmān*). Their faces are fresh with fragrance. All have prostrated in awe of God, and they have made “Glory be to my Lord, encompassing all things” [399] their constant remembrance. The name of their leader is Kemhâil, who is the guardian of the sixth heaven. Beneath that lies the fifth heaven, which is of red gold. Its name is *Denika*. The angels there are in the form of *hūr* (fair women). All of them stand in a posture of humility due to awe of God. Their glorification is: “Glory be to the Creator of light, and praise be to Him.” [400] The name of their leader is Semhâil, who is the guardian of the fifth heaven. Beneath that lies the fourth heaven, which is of white silver. Its name is *Erkalun*. And its angels are in the form of horses. Their glorification is: “Glory be to the Sovereign, the Holy One; our Lord and the Lord of the angels and the Spirit.” [401] The name of their leader is Kâkâil, who is the guardian of the fourth heaven. Beneath that lies the third heaven, which is of yellow ruby. Its name is *Mā’ūn*, and its angels are in the form of eagles; their glorification is: “Glory be to the Living One who does not die.” [402] The name of their leader is Safdail, who is the guardian of the third heaven. Beneath that lies the second heaven, which is of red ruby. Its name is *Kaydum*. All the angels there are in the form of camels. Their glorification is: “Glory be to Him possessing majesty and power.” [403] The name of their leader is Mencail, who is the guardian of the second heaven. Beneath that lies the first heaven, which is of green sericite. Its name is *Berkia*; its angels are in the form of cattle. Their glorification is: “Glory be to Him possessing dominion and kingship.” [404] The name of their leader is Ismā’il; he is the guardian of the world heaven. He is a great and beautiful angel, and he is the representative of Mīkā’il. He distributes rain everywhere. The drops fall in the places he calculates, and the clouds go only to the regions he directs.
The seven heavens have countless gates sealed with red gold, and the key to all these gates is the name “Allahu ekber.” The gatekeepers open each gate of every heaven with the permission of its leader. The thickness and height of each of the seven heavens are a distance of five hundred years. And the space between any two heavens is a journey of five hundred years. It should be known that the distances given for the seven heavens as described above do not represent absolute certainty. Rather, this may be a metaphor for exaggeration. For God’s power is limitless. The appearance and forms of the seven heavens—according to authentic reports—are like seven tents settled upon the seven peaks of Mount Kaf [405], which surrounds the earth. As for the eighth peak of Kaf, it encompasses the earth from within the world heaven. The circumference of the heavens ends at these peaks of Kaf.