and succession in time, after mentioning precedence and succession in space, for spatial position is encompassed by the heavens and the earth, and the east and the west.

Moses mentioned the creation of man after mentioning creation in general, as in His words:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clinging clot.” [al-‘Alaq: 1–2].

And as in His words, Exalted is He:

“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.” [Fussilat: 53].

Thus, if what is asked about with “What is it?” must have a reality constituting its essence, the answer is given by whatever means of identification are possible. If it can be identified individually, one says, “This is it,” or “It is so-and-so, son of so-and-so,” or something similar that distinguishes it for the questioner and enables him to identify it individually through sensory perception. Here, however, knowledge of the particular entity is not attained merely through the speaker’s words, but through sensory perception of it. If it cannot be identified individually, it is made known through an analogue. It cannot have an analogue in every respect, for if it had an analogue in every respect, only its individual identity would remain unknown.

If the aim is to know its individual identity, an analogue does not provide the answer; an analogue makes known only its kind. Thus, an answer by analogy is given only when the question concerns its kind. The knowledge acquired is then proportionate to the resemblance of the analogue to it, owing to what the two similar things have in common.

For example, someone asked about wine might answer, “An intoxicating drink.” The questioner must therefore know what drinking is and what intoxication is. Yet he has not known the kind of intoxication caused by wine; rather, he has known, for example, the intoxication of anger, passionate love, and grief, and has known the loss of reason