The Resurrection

The Tenth Truth

The Gate of Wisdom, Ināyah, Mercy, and Justice: The Manifestation of the Names al-Hakīm, al-Karīm, al-Adl, and ar-Rahīm

Is it at all possible that Mālikul-Mulk-i Dhul-Jalāl —Who, in this impermanent guesthouse of the world, this transient place of testing, and this unstable exhibition hall of the earth, displays the signs of such manifest wisdom, such evident ināyah, such overwhelming justice, and such all-encompassing mercy— would have no permanent dwellings, no eternal inhabitants, no lasting stations, and no immortal creatures within His dominion, so that the realities of this visible wisdom, ināyah, justice, and mercy would rendered meaningless?

And is it at all possible that Allah, the All-Wise—Who has appointed man among all His creatures as a universal addressee, made him a comprehensive mirror for the manifestations of His Names, allowed him to taste, weigh, and know all that is contained within His treasury of mercy, and, while making Himself known to him through the manifestations of His Names, has both loved him and made Himself beloved to him—would not send helpless man to His eternal realm, would not invite him to the everlasting abode of bliss, and would not make him happy there?

And is it at all possible that He—Who places upon every creature, even one as small as a seed, duties as great as a tree, enriches it with wisdoms as numerous as its flowers, and equips it with benefits as abundant as its fruits—would assign to all those duties, wisdoms, and benefits only a purpose limited to this world? Or that He would make its insignificant worldly lifespan its only aim; that is, that He would not make the whole of creation serve as seeds for ālam-i mānā and as a field for the Hereafter, thereby preventing them from fulfilling their true and worthy purpose? Or that He would allow such important activities to appear purposeless, meaningless, and unnecessary; that is, that He would not turn the gaze of all creation toward ālam-i mānā and the Hereafter, so that these activities would not reach their true aims and would not yield their worthy fruits?

Indeed, is it at all possible that by not fulfilling the true purpose of creation, He would characterize Himself in contradiction to His attributes as the All-Wise, the Generous, the Just, and the Merciful, and thereby deny the truths manifested throughout the universe, reject the testimonies of all beings, and invalidate the proofs of all His works of art, which in fact prove His wisdom, generosity, justice, and mercy? No, that is absolutely inconceivable.

And is it at all possible that He would burden the intellect and spiritual senses of man with duties as numerous as the hairs on his head, and then give him only a worldly reward worth a single hair? This would mean that He acts meaninglessly and in contradiction to His justice and wisdom.

And is it at all possible that Allah — Who enriches every artfully created being and every living creature, even every bodily organ such as the tongue, with wisdoms and benefits as numerous as the results and fruits of a tree, thereby showing that He is Hakīm-i Mutlaq — would cause all His works to sink into absolute meaninglessness by not granting eternal life, permanent reunion, and everlasting bliss, while these are the greatest of all wisdoms, the most important of all benefits, and the most necessary of all results; while they form the source and purpose of all wisdoms, bounties, mercies, and benefits; and while they give true value to the wisdom, bounty, and mercy in this world?