into another earth and the heavens into other heavens"[1] shows equally when taken literally that there will be a universe after this one. Again, the verse: "Then He set his mind to the creation of heaven and it was smoke"</ref>Quran xli, 10.</ref> shows that the heavens were created from something.
Whatever the Mutakallimun say about the universe is not based on a literal sense of the Law, but is an interpretation of it. For the Law does not tell us that God was even before mere non-existenee, and moreover, this is not found as an ordinance in it. How can we suppose that there could be any consensus of opinion about the interpretation of verses by the Mutakallimun? In fact, there is much in the sayings of some philosophers which supports what we have quoted from the Law, taken literally.
Those who differ concerning these obscure questions have either reached the truth and have been rewarded; or have
- ↑ Quran xiv, 19.
