27وَيَبقىٰ وَجهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الجَلالِ وَالإِكرامِAli UnalBut there remains forever the “Face” of your Lord, the One of Majesty and Munificence.1Said Nursi expands on this verse in the most eloquent way: The sun’s images reflected in bubbles floating on a river and the sea, as well as in transparent things on the earth, bear witness to the sun. These images disappear when the sun sets or a river enters a tunnel, and new ones appear when the sun rises or the river emerges from the tunnel. These phenomena testify to the permanence of the light of the sun and demonstrate that these images are the reflection of a single sun. Their existence proves the sun’s existence; their disappearance and re-appearance show that there is only one permanent sun. Similarly, along with the alternation of day and night, seasons and years, beautiful beings are renewed, and fine creatures are replaced as they “set,” while their likes “rise.” Thus the existence of creatures proves the existence of the Necessarily Existent Being, while their disappearance, along with the causes of their existence and their replacement with new creatures bear witness to His Permanence, Eternity, and Oneness. The disappearance of causes and their effects, along with the succession of years and centuries, and their being followed by similar things, testify that the causes and their effects are created for subtle purposes. All of those fine beings coming in succession are creatures of the All-Majestic, All-Gracious, and Beautiful One, all of Whose Names are beautiful and holy. Such activity testifies that they are His changing works, moving mirrors, and successive stamps and seals (al-Mathnawī an-Nūriyah, “The First Treatise,” 13–14). As nothing can exist by itself, everything’s existence depends absolutely on God. Since it exists as a manifestation of the permanent Divine Names, it has a permanent, sublime reality that emanates from its reflection of the Divine Name that caused it to be. So this verse is a sword that liberates people from that which is not God (e.g., the world, the flesh, and life’s vanities). Thus, whatever people have or do for God’s sake is not included in the meaning of this verse. If people find God and act only for His sake, there will be nothing left to be included in the meaning of, All that is on the earth is perishable. So if they want to make (themselves eternal and) to have their deeds rewarded with permanent happiness, they must seek God and live for His sake and good pleasure (The Letters, “The 15th Letter,” 82).