-
The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 76
is
inherent in fingers and constitutes their hidden life. Furthermore, power was metaphorically
represented
by the fingers because such a metaphor conveys the idea of power more completely.
Of the same kind is the instance where Allah expresses the idea of His Power metaphorically by
saying:
"When We decree a thing, We only say: `Be,' and it is." (Quran 16:40) The outward meaning of this
verse is not possible because if the saying of Allah `Be' was addressed to the thing before
that thing
came into existence, then it would simply be an impossibility since the non-existent does not
understand
address and, therefore, cannot obey. And if it was addressed to the thing after the thing has come
into
existence, then it would be superfluous, since the thing is already in existence and does not need
to be
Page 19 of 56
inherent in fingers and constitutes their hidden life. Furthermore, power was metaphorically
represented
by the fingers because such a metaphor conveys the idea of power more completely.
Of the same kind is the instance where Allah expresses the idea of His Power metaphorically by
saying:
"When We decree a thing, We only say: `Be,' and it is." (Quran 16:40) The outward meaning of this
verse is not possible because if the saying of Allah `Be' was addressed to the thing before
that thing
came into existence, then it would simply be an impossibility since the non-existent does not
understand
address and, therefore, cannot obey. And if it was addressed to the thing after the thing has come
into
existence, then it would be superfluous, since the thing is already in existence and does not need
to be
Page 19 of 56