Furthermore, it speaks of such mighty matters and minute truths that numerous repetitions are necessary in different forms to establish them in the hearts of everyone. However, they are only apparently repetitions, for each verse has numerous meanings, numerous benefits, and many aspects and levels. Each place a verse is found, it is mentioned for a different meaning, benefit, and purpose.
Also, the Qur’an’s being unspecific and concise in certain cosmic matters is a flash of miraculousness, for the purpose of guidance. It is not a cause of criticism, nor a fault, as some atheists imagine.
If you ask: “Why does the All-Wise Qur’an not speak of beings in the same way as philosophy and science? Why does it leave some matters in concise form, and speak of others simply and superficially so as to facilitate general understanding, and not wound people’s feelings or weary and tax the minds of ordinary people?”
By way of answer we say: Philosophy has strayed from the path of truth, that’s why. Also, of course you have understood from the previous Words and what they teach that the All-Wise Qur’an speaks of the universe in order to make known the divine essence, attributes, and names. That is, it explains the meanings of the book of the universe to make known its Creator. That means it looks at beings, not for themselves but for their Creator. Also, it addresses everyone, while philosophy and science look at beings for themselves, and address scientists in particular. In which case, since the All-Wise Qur’an makes beings evidences and proofs, the evidence has to be superficial so that it will be quickly understood generally. And since the Qur’an of Guidance addresses all classes of men, the ordinary people, which form the most numerous class, want guidance which is concise with unnecessary things beings vague; in a way that brings subtle things close with comparisons, and does not change things which in their superficial view are obvious, into an unnecessary or even harmful form, lest it causes them to fall into error.
For example, it says about the sun: “The sun is a revolving lamp or lantern.” This is because it does not speak of the sun for itself and its nature, but because it is a sort of mainspring of an order and centre of a system, and order and systems are mirrors of the Maker’s skill. It says:
The sun runs its course.(36:38)
that is, the sun revolves. Through calling to mind the orderly disposals of divine power in the revolutions of winter and summer, and day and night with the phrase, “The sun revolves,” it makes known the Maker’s tremendousness. Thus, whatever the reality of this revolving, it does not