faults in the universe. For all faults arise from non-existence, or lack of ability, or destruction, or the failure to perform duties, which are all non-existence and acts which are not existent and pertain to non-existence. The faults are ascribed to these satanic and evil veils, the objections and complaints are deservedly directed at them, and they are means of Almighty God being pronounced free of all defect.
In any event, strength or power are not necessary for evil destructive works pertaining to non-existence; sometimes extensive non-existence or destruction may occur through some petty act or insignificant power, or even the failure to perform a duty. It is supposed those doers of evil possess power, but they have no effect other than non-existence and no power other minor ‘acquisition.’ But since the evils arise from non-existence, the doers of evil are the true agents. If they are intelligent beings, they deservedly pay the penalty. That is to say, in evils the perpetrators are the true ‘doers,’ but since good deeds and acts are existent, those who ‘do’ them are not the true ‘doers’ and do not have an actual effect. They are recipients rather, receiving the Divine effulgence; the All-Wise Qur’an states that their reward too is purely a Divine favour, and says:
Whatever good happens to you is from God but whatever evil befalls you is from yourself.1
I n S h o r t : While the universes of existence and the innumerable worlds of non-existence clash, producing fruits like Paradise and Hell; and all the worlds of existence declare: “All praise be to God! All praise be to God!” and all the worlds of non-existence declare: “Glory be to God! Glory be to God!”; and while through an all-encompassing law of contest angels and satans, and instances of good and instances of evil, as far as the inspirations and satanic whisperings of the heart, all struggle against each other; a fruit of belief in the angels is suddenly manifested, solving the matter and illuminating the universe. Showing us one of the lights of the verse,
God is the Light of the heavens and the earth,2
it shows us just how sweet is this fruit.
The Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Ninth Word —the latter of which demonstrates the marvels of the ‘alifs’3— point out a second universal
Qur’an, 4:79.
Qur’an, 24:35.
This refers to the non-intentional alignment in patterns (tawafuq) of alifs (the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, written as a vertical stroke) in handwritten copies of the Twenty-Ninth Word. [Tr.]