BİRİNCİ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · İKİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
Second Article
The emptiness of space observed in the upper layer of the aerial sphere (atmosphere) is indicated.
O esteemed one! It must be known that philosophers and astronomers unanimously state: The upper layer of the element of air, towards its upward direction, gives rise to comet stars (kevâkib-i zü’l-eznâb) and shooting stars (envâ-i şihâb). However, the essential substance of the so-called shooting star (şihâb) [518] is a subtle smoke which are masses of smoke that rise from the earth into the air due to the impact of sunlight and, during their ascent, pass through the cold layer without being affected, reaching the fiery sphere. If the aforementioned smoke has completely severed its connection with the lower part of the earth, then just as a cotton wick touches the flame of a candle and ignites, that subtle smoke also suddenly bursts into flame and turns into fire, and appears to extinguish quickly because it burns very rapidly. This is due to the fact that the spark of this fire initially falls upon the upper side of the smoke and continues to burn until its end. However, when that brilliance reaches the other side of the smoke, it extends towards it, appearing to move swiftly like a rocket fired from one end to another; such is the essence of what is called the şihab/fire mass. During this aforementioned luminescence, particles of earth separate from the smoke and become purely fire element, colorless, and invisible. If the smoke reaching the fiery layer is dense and dark, its darkness remains for some time when fire touches it. (Sometimes) it persists for days or even months without extinguishing, revealing the color inherent in the substance of the smoke. This luminescence appears in shapes such as braided hair, like a ball, like a descending knot star (kevkeb-i zû-zeneb;), like a short arrow or an upright cone, or in any animal form. If the smoke substance is very dense, when it reaches the fiery sphere, it produces such a large flame of fire that the depths of the heavens and the earth are illuminated—these are the supplications [63/b] for them.
It is well-known that long after the time of the Honorable Jesus (peace be upon him), a fire appeared shining towards the north pole in the sky, remaining in its place for a full year. The darkness formed by the smoke of that fire covered the earth so much that after the first nine hours of daylight, no one could see anything. Particles of ash-like dust rained down from the sky, and no human being could stand beneath that fire. “We seek refuge in God from His wrath.”
If the smoke reaching the fiery layer from the earth is a dense and quite thick stratum, with its lower part attached to the earth, then—just as the smoke of an extinguishing lamp descends along with the last remnants of the flame on it, rekindling the extinguished lamp—the fire element also ignites from that smoke and descends with it towards the earth, which is what they call (a natural) wildfire. For the entire aerial emptiness (atmosphere) encompassing the universe arises purely, without mixing with the four elements. Therefore, those things mentioned above do not occur like the other three elements, which are formed by mixtures and combinations resulting from the mixing of those elements; rather, they immediately undergo corruption and change. They cannot preserve their forms and frequently assume different appearances. They quickly pass into another state.