41 Preface ۞ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمسِكُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضَ أَن تَزولا ۚ وَلَئِن زالَتا إِن أَمسَكَهُما مِن أَحَدٍ مِن بَعدِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كانَ حَليمًا غَفورًاYusuf AliIt is God Who sustains the heavens and the earth,1 lest they cease (to function): and if they should fail, there is none - not one - can sustain them thereafter: Verily He is Most Forbearing,2 Oft-Forgiving.The universe, as we know it, shows not only evidence of initial designs, but also the working of an intelligent Providence, which constantly sustains it. That is God. If you could imagine that removed, what is there to keep it going? There would only be chaos.God’s world goes on according to the laws and decrees established by Him. There are occasional lapses and deviations on the part of His creatures. But He does not punish every petty fault. One of His merciful qualities is that of repeated forbearance and forgiveness.