Second Station
[The Second Station proves divine unity at the level of the Greatest Name, briefly and in summary form.]
THE FIRST PHRASE: “There is no god but God”
In this phrase is an affirmation of the unity of the Godhead and of the True Object of Worship. An extremely powerful proof of this degree is as follows:
A most orderly activity is apparent on the face of the universe, especially on the page of the earth. And we observe there a most wise creativity. And we clearly see a systematic unfolding; that is, everything being expanded and revealed and given an appropriate shape and form. Furthermore, we see a most compassionate, generous, and merciful munificence and bountifulness. Since this is so, it of necessity proves, indeed provokes awareness of, the necessary existence and unity of an Active, Creative, Opening, and Munificent Possessor of Glory.
Indeed, the constant evanescence and renewal of beings demonstrate that those beings are the manifestations of the sacred names of an All-Powerful Maker, and are shadows of the lights of His names; that they are works of art produced by His actions, and impressions and pages inscribed by the pen of divine determining (kader) and power; that they are mirrors reflecting the beauty of His perfection.
Just as the Owner of the universe proves this mighty truth and exalted degree of the affirmation of His unity with all the scriptures and sacred books that He has revealed, so have the people of truth and the perfected members of the human race proved it through their investigations and discoveries. The universe too points to this degree through the unceasing testimonies of the miracles of art, wonders of power, and treasuries of wealth that it displays, despite its impotence and poverty. That is to say, the scriptures and books of the Pre-Eternal Witness, and the investigations and unveilings of the people of witnessing, and the orderly states and wise and purposeful functions of the Manifest World are united in their agreement on this degree of the affirmation of divine unity.
Those who do not accept the Single One of Unity (Vâhid-i Ehad), therefore, must either accept innumerable gods, or else like the foolish Sophists, deny both their own existence and that of the universe.