Tenth gleam: Just as life, which manifests Divine Grace, is an argument and proof for Divine Unity, even a sort of manifestation of Divine Unity, death, which manifests Divine Majesty, is an argument and proof for Divine Oneness.[1]

Consider this: Bubbles on a mighty river reflect the sun’s image and light, as do transparent objects glistening on Earth’s face. Both testify to the sun’s existence. Although the bubbles sometimes disappear (such as by passing under a bridge), successive troops of bubbles continue to show the sun’s reflection and display its light. This proves that the little images of the sun, which appear, disappear, and then re-appear, point to an enduring, perpetual, single sun that continues to manifest itself from on high. Thus, those sparkling bubbles demonstrate the sun’s existence and display its continuation and unity through their disappearance and extinction.

In the same way, the existence and life of these beings in continuous flux testify to the Necessarily Existent Being’s necessary Existence and Oneness, as well as to His Unity, eternity, and permanence, via their decay and death. The beautiful, delicate creatures that are renewed and recruited along, with the alternation of day and night, summer and winter, and the passage of centuries and ages, show the Existence, Unity, and permanence of an elevated, everlasting One with a continuous display of beauty.

In the same way, their decay and death, together with the apparent causes for their lives, show that (material or natural) causes are only veils. This proves that these arts, inscriptions, and manifestations are the constantly renewed arts, changing inscriptions, and moving mirrors of an All-Beautiful One of Majesty, all of Whose Names are sacred and beautiful. Also, they are His stamps that follow one after the other, and His seals that are charged with wisdom.

This Book of the Universe instructs us in the signs of Divine Existence and Unity seen in the universe’s creation and operation, and bears witness to all the All-Majestic One’s Attributes of Perfection, Beauty, Grace, and Majesty. These signs also prove the essential Perfection of Divine Being, without fault and defect, for a work’s perfection points to the perfection of the act lying in that work’s origin. The act’s perfection points to the name’s perfection, which points to the attribute’s perfection, which points to the essential capacity’s perfection, which necessarily, intuitively, and evidently points to the perfection of the one with that essential capacity.

For example, a perfect palace’s perfect design and adornments show the perfection of a master-builder’s acts. The acts’ perfection show the perfection of the eminent builder’s titles, which specify his rank. The titles’ perfection show the perfection of the builder’s attributes, which are the origin of the art. The perfection of the art and attributes show the perfection of the master’s abilities and essential capacity. The perfection of those essential abilities and capacity show the perfection of the master’s essential nature.

In the same way, the faultless works seen in the universe, about which the Qur’an asks: Do you see any flaw? (67:3), the art in the universe’s well-ordered beings, point to an Effective, Powerful Agent’s perfect acts. The acts’ perfection point to the perfection of that Majestic Agent’s Names. The Names’ perfection points and testifies to the perfection of the Attributes of the Majestic One known with the Names. The Attributes’ perfection points and testifies to the perfection of the essential capacity and qualities of the Perfect One qualified by those attributes. The perfection of the essential capacity and qualities point to the perfection of the One having such capacity and qualities with such certainty that all types of perfections observed throughout the universe are but signs of His Perfection, hints of His Majesty, and allusions to His Beauty in the forms of pale, weak shadows when compared to His Perfect Reality.

[1] 1Oneness (Ahadiya) and Unity (Wahidiya) differ. Oneness means the concurrent manifestations of all or most of the Divine Names on one thing. For example, life is the result of the manifestations of many Names, such as the Creator, Fashioner, All-Favoring, All-Merciful, and All-Providing. Unity means the manifestation of a Divine Name on all things, as death is common to all living beings and results from the manifestation of the Divine Name the One-Who-Causes-To-Die. (Tr.)