water gives life to bodies. He likens hearts to valleys because they hold knowledge just as valleys hold water: one heart holds much knowledge, as one valley holds much water, while another heart holds little knowledge, as another valley holds little water. The Most High tells us that foam rises upon the torrent as the water churns, then is cast away—that is, discarded and lost from sight—while what benefits people remains and settles in the earth. Likewise, desires and doubts mingle within hearts. As truth grows within them, those desires and doubts are stirred up, then cast away, while faith and the Quran remain firmly established, benefiting both the person whose heart contains them and other people. He says:

“A similar foam comes from what they heat in the fire to make ornaments or useful objects. Thus Allah illustrates truth and falsehood.”

This is the other illustration, that of fire: the first concerns life, and the second illumination.

These two illustrations have their counterparts in the two mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah, in the words of the Most High, from:

“Their likeness is that of one who kindled a fire,”

to His words:

“Or like a rainstorm from the sky,”

and on to the end of the verse.

As for the disbeliever, he is lifeless in the darkness of disbelief and associating partners with Allah. Although he possesses an animal life, he lacks the higher spiritual life brought about by faith, through which a servant attains happiness and success in this world and the Hereafter. For Allah, glorified is He, made the messengers intermediaries between Himself and His servants to teach them what benefits and harms them, and to perfect all that serves their well-being in their worldly lives and their final return. They were all sent to call people to Allah, to make known the path leading to Him, and to explain what their condition will be after reaching Him.