In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

First droplet: Three great and universal things make our Lord known to us: the Book of the Universe (explained elsewhere), the Seal of the Prophets (the Book of the Universe's supreme sign), and the Qur'an. Now we must recognize and listen to the Seal of the Prophets, that articulate proof and announcer of God with all His Names and Attributes, His Existence and Unity.

Look at that illustrious proof's universal personality: Earth's surface is his mosque, Makka is his mihrab (prayer niche), and Madina is his pulpit. Our Prophet is the leader of all believers, preacher to all humanity, chief of all Prophets, lord of all saints, and leader in the remembrance of God of a circle comprising all Prophets and saints. With all Prophets as its roots and all saints as its ever‑fresh fruits, he is a radiant tree. All Prophets, with the support of their miracles, and all saints, relying on their wonders, confirm and corroborate his claim that "There is no deity but God." All illustrious reciters of God's Names lined up in the past and future repeat these words in unison, as if to say: "You speak the truth, and what you say is right!" What illusion can dispute an argument confirmed by such countless endorsements?

Second droplet: Just as the consensus and unanimity of all Prophets and saints affirm this radiant proof of Divine Unity, hundreds of signs in the revealed Scriptures (e.g., the Torah and the Gospels), thousands of indications of his Prophethood that appeared prior to his mission, famous reports of voices from the Unseen, soothsayers' unanimous testimony, thousands of miracles, and the justice and truth of his Shari'a all confirm and corroborate him. Similarly, his laudable virtues' perfection, his complete confidence in his mission, his most excellent qualities in relation to its fulfillment, and his extraordinary awe of God, worship, serenity, and firmness—all demonstrate the strength of his belief. In addition, his total certainty and complete steadfastness clearly show his claim's undeniable truth.

Third droplet: In our imaginations, let's go to Arabia during the Age of Bliss and visit him while he is performing his mission. Look! We see a person distinguished by his character's excellence and his form's beauty. He holds a miraculous book and speaks a truthful discourse. He delivers an eternal sermon to humanity, jinn, angels—indeed to all beings. He solves and expounds the mystery of the world's creation, discovers and solves the universe's intricate mystery, and provides convincing and satisfying answers to questions asked constantly by all beings: Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? Where did I come from? Were am I going? What is my final destination?

Fourth droplet: Behold! He spreads such a light of truth that, if you look at the universe without the light of his guidance, you see it as a place of mourning, of beings that are alien or even hostile to each another, of inanimate beings that are ghastly corpses, and of living creatures that are orphans weeping under the blows of death and separation. But the light he spreads transforms that place of universal mourning into a place of invocation where God's Names and praises are recited in joy and ecstasy. Those alien, hostile beings are friends and brothers and sisters. Dumb, inanimate creatures assume the form of familiar, obedient officials and docile servants. Weeping, complaining orphans either recite God's Names and praises or offer thanks for being discharged from their duties.

Fifth droplet: Again, through this light, the universe's motions, variations, changes, and transformations are no longer considered meaningless and futile playthings of chance, but appear in their true form and function: missives of the universe's Master, a page inscribed with the signs of creation, a mirror reflecting God's Names. The world itself is shown to be a book of the Eternally‑Besought‑of‑All's wisdom. Without this light, our boundless weakness, helplessness, poverty, and neediness cause us to fall lower than animals. And then our intellect makes us even more wretched by conveying grief, sorrow, and anxiety to us.

But when this light illumines us, we rise above all animals and creatures, and our poverty and helplessness become means of infinite wealth and power by our dependence on God. We ascend to the level of being a beloved monarch through entreaty, and through lamenting we become a vicegerent of Earth. In other words, only this light prevents the universe, humanity, and all things from being reduced to nothingness. Such a person is necessary in such a wondrous universe, for without him there would be no need for the universe and all the worlds to exist.

Sixth droplet: This being announces and brings good tidings of eternal happiness. He unveils and proclaims God's infinite Mercy, observes and heralds the beauties of the Realm of the Lord's Sovereignty, and discloses and displays the Divine Names' treasures. If you observe him as a devoted worshipper of God, you will see him to be a model of love and an embodiment of mercy, as well as the pride of humanity and the Tree of Creations' most illustrious fruit. If you observe him as a Messenger, you will see him to be a proof of God, a lamp of truth, a sun of guidance, and the means of happiness. Look! His light has lit up from East to West like dazzling lightning, and half of the globe and one‑fifth of humanity have accepted his guidance and preserved it like their lives. So why should our evil‑commanding selves and satans not accept "There is no deity but God," the essence of his mission?

Seventh droplet: Consider how he eradicated his people's deep attachment to evil and savage customs and immoral qualities; equipped and adorned his desperate, wild, and unyielding people with all praiseworthy virtues; and made them teachers and masters of the world, especially to the "civilized" nations. His domination was not outward; rather, he conquered and subjugated their minds, spirits, hearts, and souls. He became the beloved of hearts, the teacher of minds, the trainer of souls, and the ruler of spirits.

Eighth droplet: A small habit like smoking can be removed permanently from a small community only by a powerful ruler and with great effort. But see how this man quickly removed numerous ingrained habits from large obsessed communities with little outward power and little effort, and then replaced them with exalted qualities that became inherent in their being. He accomplished many more such miraculous things. To those who refuse to see the testimony of that blessed time, we challenge them with Arabia's present‑day reality. Let them go there with hundreds of philosophers, sociologists, and psychologists for a century and see if they can achieve even one‑hundredth of what the Prophet achieved in a year.

Ninth droplet: An unimportant person cannot lie to a group of people about something insignificant without giving himself or herself away through anxiety or unease. And yet this person, while undertaking a tremendous task in the name of Messengership and needing protection against his enemies, easily speaks about great causes before large congregations without any anxiety or hesitation. Furthermore, no contradictions can be found in what he proclaims with such pure sincerity and great seriousness. In addition, he does so in such an intense, elevated manner that he irritates his enemies. How could there have been any deception? What he speaks is nothing but Revelation revealed. The truth cannot be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived. His path, which is pure truth, contains no deception.

Tenth droplet: Consider the curiosity‑arousing, attractive, necessary, and awesome truths that he shows and the matters that he proves. All people are curious. Suppose someone said: "If you give half of your property, someone will come from Mars or Jupiter to tell you about them, as well as your future and what will happen to you." If you have any curiosity at all, you will do as requested. But this person talks of other things: of a Monarch in whose realm the moon flies round a moth (Earth) like a fly, and the moth flutters round a lamp (the sun), which is just one of thousands of lamps in one of the Monarch's countless guest‑houses. Also, he speaks truly of so wondrous a world and predicts such a revolution that it would not be strange if Earth was a bomb and exploded. Listen to the suras he recites, which begin with:

When the sun is folded up. (81:1)
When the sky is cleft asunder. (82:1)
(The day) of Noise and Clamor. (101:1)

He speaks so truly of such a future that, in relation to it, the future in this world is like a trifling mirage. He informs us so solemnly of such happiness that all worldly happiness is like a flash of lightning in comparison to an eternal sun.

Eleventh droplet: Such wonders await us under the universe's apparent veil. We need a wonderful and miracle‑working person to communicate and explain these wonders to us. His conduct proves that he has seen—and sees—them, and he tells us what he sees. He teaches us what the One God of those heavens and Earth, Who nourishes us with His bounties, wants of us and how we can please Him. While we should drop everything in order to run to and then heed this person who instructs us in these and many other necessary and curiosity‑arousing things, most people are so deaf and blind—even mad—that they do not see, hear, or understand this truth.

Twelfth droplet: As well as being an articulate proof and truthful evidence of the Oneness of the Creator of all beings, this person is a decisive proof and clear evidence of the Resurrection and eternal happiness. Given that he is the cause for gaining eternal happiness through his guidance, he is the cause of its existence and the means of its creation through his prayers and supplications.

See! While supplicating during this supreme prayer, it is as if Arabia—even Earth—prays through his sublime presence and makes its petition. He entreats amid so vast a congregation that it is as if all illustrious people of perfection from the time of Adam until the end of time are following him and saying "Amen" to his supplications. He implores on behalf of so universal a need that the inhabitants of Earth and the heavens, indeed all beings, join in his prayer, declaring: "Yes, O Master, grant that to us, for we also desire it." He supplicates so needily and sorrowfully, and in such a loving, longing, and entreating fashion, that he brings the universe to tears and causes it to join in his prayer.

And see! The goal and purpose for which he prays elevates humanity and the world, even all of creation, from the lowest ranks of humiliation, worthlessness, and uselessness to the highest ranks of having value, permanence, and sublime duties. He supplicates and petitions in a manner so elevated and help‑seeking, so sweet and mercy‑imploring, that it is as if he causes all beings and the heavens and the Divine Throne of Grace to hear. And then, bringing them to ecstasy, he causes them to exclaim: "Amen, O God, Amen!"

He begs his needs from so Powerful a Being, All‑Hearing and All‑Generous, from so All‑Knowing a Being, All‑Seeing and All‑Merciful, that that Being sees the most hidden being's secret need, hears and accepts its entreaties, and has mercy on it. He meets its need, even though this being asks for it through the tongue of its disposition, and gives it in such a wise, seeing, and compassionate form that it leaves no doubt that only an All‑Hearing and All‑Seeing One, One Most Generous and Most Merciful, can do so.

Thirteenth droplet: What does he want, this pride of humanity, this unique being and glory of all beings, who stands for prayer with all eminent people behind him and with hands upraised? He is seeking eternal happiness, eternal life, a meeting with God, and Paradise. He wants all of these through the Divine Names, which display their beauty and operations in the mirrors of beings. Even one of his prayers, were it not for such innumerable causes as Mercy, Grace, Wisdom, and Justice fulfilling that request, would be enough to build Paradise, which is as easy for Divine Power as creating spring. Just as his Messengership opened this place of trial, his worship and servitude to God opened a way to the next world.

I wonder how the universe's perfect order, which causes wise and reflective people to say that no "new" universe could be more original and wonderful, as well as the flawless beauty of His Mercy's art and His Mastership's matchless beauty, could be at all consonant with ugliness, mercilessness, and disorder. I wonder how He could refuse the most important and necessary desires while satisfying the most insignificant wishes. Such a thing is impossible!

So, my imaginary friend, let's return. Even if we stayed for 100 years we could not comprehend fully even one‑hundredth of his marvelous and remarkable acts. We would never tire of observing him. During our return, we will look at each century to see how each has bloomed fully through the flow of light received from that Sun of Guidance, and how it yielded thousands of such illustrious fruits as Abu Hanifa, Shafi'i, Bayazid al‑Bistami, 'Abd al‑Qadir al‑Jilani, Shah Naqshband, Imam Ghazzali, and Imam Rabbani.

Postponing the details of our observations, we should invoke blessings on that worker of miracles and bringer of guidance that refer to some of his certain miracles:

Upon him—our master Muhammad—to whom the All‑Compassionate and All‑Merciful One sent the Wise Criterion of Truth (the Qur'an) from the Mighty Throne, be peace and blessings equaling the number of his community's good deeds. Upon him whose Messengership was foretold by the Torah, Gospels, and Psalms; whose Prophethood was predicted by wondrous events prior to his Prophethood, and by the voices of jinn, saints of humanity, and soothsayers; and at whose gesture the moon split, may there be peace and blessings equaling the number of his community's breaths.

Upon him at whose beckoning trees came; by whose prayer rain fell; whom the cloud shaded from the heat; who made one dish of food satisfy hundreds of people; from whose fingers water flowed like the Spring of Kawthar; to whom God caused the lizard, the gazelle, the wolf, the camel, the mountain, the rock, the pole, and the clod of earth to speak; the one who made the Ascension (Mi'raj) and whose eye did not waver, may there be peace and blessings equaling the number of letters (in the Qur'an) formed in the words represented, with the All‑Compassionate's permission, in the mirrors of the airwaves when all reciters of the Qur'an, from the beginning of Revelation until the end of time, recite its words. Forgive us and have mercy upon us, O God, for the sake of each of those blessings. Amen.

Fourteenth droplet: The Qur'an, the treasury of miracles and itself a supreme miracle, proves Muhammad's Prophethood and God's Oneness so decisively that no further proof is needed. We now define this miracle and refer to one or two flashes of its miraculousness that have been criticized.

The Qur'an, which makes our Master known to us, is an eternal translator of the great Book of the Universe; the discloser of the Divine Names' treasures hidden in the pages of Earth and the heavens; the key to the truths lying beneath the lines of events; the treasury of the All‑Compassionate's favors; the eternal addresses coming from the Unseen world beyond this visible world's veil; the sun of Islam's spiritual and intellectual world; the foundation, plan, and map of the Hereafter's worlds; the expounder, lucid interpreter, articulate proof, and clear translator of the Divine Essence, Attributes, and acts; humanity's educator, trainer, guide, and leader; and true wisdom. It is a book of wisdom and law, prayer and worship, command and summons, invocation and knowledge of God; a book that contains books for all of humanity's spiritual needs, like a sacred library offering books from which all saints, eminently truthful people, and all purified and discerning scholars derive their particular ways.

Consider the flash of miraculousness in its reiterations, which are imagined to be a fault. Yet such reiteration is desirable, for the Qur'an is a book of invocation, prayer, and summons. In this context, reiteration is a most necessary and beautiful eloquence, for invoking God requires that the Qur'an be able to impress and enlighten hearts. Through repetition, prayer acquires and gives strength and becomes ingrained in hearts. Commands and summons need restatement to be confirmed and enforced.

Moreover, not everyone can read the whole Qur'an any time he or she wants, but usually he or she can read one sura. This is why the Qur'an's most important purposes are reiterated in most of the longer suras, each of which thereby becomes like a small Qur'an. Such purposes and themes as Divine Unity, Resurrection, and the story of Moses are repeated so that no one is deprived of their benefits. Furthermore, spiritual tastes and needs vary, just like bodily tastes and needs. Humanity is in need of some at every breath. Just like the body needs air, the spirit needs the particle Hu–Huwa (He–God). It needs others every hour, like Bismillah (In the Name of God). Reiteration therefore arises from recurring need, and to point out those needs, make them deeply felt, and awaken people to the need to satisfy them.

Also the Qur'an is the founder and basis of the perfect religion (Islam) and the foundation of its world. It came to change humanity's social life and answer people's recurring questions. Repetition is necessary for a founder to affirm, and reiteration is necessary to emphasize. Establishing something new requires confirmation and strengthening, and therefore repetition.

The Qur'an speaks of such important matters and subtle truths that reiteration is necessary in different contexts in order to impress them on people's minds and hearts. Actually, such repetition is merely apparent, for in reality each word has manifold meanings, numerous benefits, and many aspects and levels. The words or verses always occur in a different place, way, context, and for a different meaning, purpose, and benefit. Certain cosmological matters are mentioned in a concise, allusive way. Doing so is not a fault, as some unbelievers and atheists assert, but rather a flash of miraculousness, for the Qur'an came to guide humanity.