The Sixteenth Word

Addendum

The All-Powerful and All-Knowing One, the All-Wise Maker, shows through the system and order exhibited by His practices, which have taken on the form of laws, His Power and Wisdom and that chance has no part in His works. By making occasional exceptions to those laws (the wonders in His practices), changes in outward forms, differences in individual characteristics, and changes in sending His favors (the coming of rain, for example), He demonstrates His Will and free Choice, and shows that He does whatever He wills and is not restricted. By thus rending the veil of monotony and showing that everything is in constant need of an obedient to His Lordship, He dispels heedlessness and turns humanity and jinn from (natural) causes to Himself as the Creator of causes. This basic principle is evident in the Qur’anic explanations.

For example, in most places some trees yield fruits one year, that is, they are given to them from Mercy’s treasury, and they offer them to us. Then the following year even though all apparent causes are present, they do not take them and offer them. Also, the coming of rain is so changeable that it is included in “the five things of the Unseen known only to God,” for life and mercy have the most important position in existence. As the source of life and pure mercy, and being the water of life and mercy, rain cannot depend on a law-inducing monotony, for this leads to heedlessness and veils the Divine hand. Rather, the All-Mighty One of Majesty, the True Bestower of Bounties and the Giver of Life, and the All-Merciful and All Compassionate, directly controls rain and makes it immune to natural causes. Thus He all the time keeps the doors of prayer and thanksgiving open.

Again, for example, giving sustenance and creating everybody with a particular countenance are works of special favor, and their occurring in unexpected ways show the Lord’s Will and Independence. You may com pare other Divine acts (e.g., free disposal of wind and subjugation of the clouds) with these examples.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi