The Eighth Word

Indeed, both creating everything from one thing—such as bringing forth all plants and fruits from earth, bringing all living beings into existence from a single drop of fluid, and creating all organs from simple nourishment—and creating one thing from everything—such as bringing into being one specific bodily part and weaving one broad skin for a living being from many different kinds of food—are unequaled acts belonging only to Sultan-i Azal wa AbadAllah, the Sovereign of all things and all times, whose existence has neither beginning nor end., Who is Ahad-i SamadAllah, Who is One and is in need of nothing and no one, while everyone and everything is in need of Him.. Indeed, creating one thing from everything and creating everything from one thing is a mark belonging solely to the Creator of all things, Who has power over all things.

That mystery is the wisdom behind creation, unveiled through iman. Its key is:

يَا اَللّٰهُO Allah

لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُThere is no god except Allah.

اَللّٰهُ لَٓا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُAllah—there is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting Sustainer of all. — The Quran 2:255

The dragon’s mouth changing into a gate to a garden refers to the grave, which for the followers of the Qur’an and īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar). is a gate leading them from the worldly prison to the eternal garden, from the place of trial to Paradise, and from the burdens of worldly life to the mercy of the Merciful One, while for the misguided and disobedient it is a gate that casts them into a dark prison as cramped as a dragon’s belly and leaves them in loneliness.

The wild lion taking the form of a servant, and even becoming an obedient horse, refers to death, which for those on the straight path and those who follow the Qur’an is a means of reunion with old friends and loved ones who have departed to the Hereafter. Moreover, it is a means of leaving the worldly prison and entering their true homeland and eternal abode of happiness; it is an invitation to enter the gardens of Paradise. In addition, it is a passage to receive the reward that Rahmān ar-RahīmAllah, Whose mercy and compassion encompass everything. grants out of His grace for the services rendered. It is a release from the responsibilities of life, which bring many burdens, and it is an end to trial and religious duties.

For the misguided, however, it is a painful eternal separation from all their loved ones and a passage that expels them from the world—their false paradise—and confines them in darkness and loneliness in the grave.

In brief, whoever makes the transient life his essential aim will in reality live a life as painful as hell, even if outwardly he is in paradise. And whoever devotes himself entirely to eternal life will experience happiness in both worlds. However difficult and constricting his life may be, he will view everything from its good aspect, endure it, and show patience in gratitude, because he sees the world as a waiting room for Paradise.