Imam Al-Sadiq

earth would become hot because of the permanent rise of the sun. Accordingly, all things on
the earth, such as animals and plants, would not live due to the intense heat. So, Allah has
regulated it (the sun) with His wisdom to rise for a time and to set for a time. It (the sun) is
like the lamp which is raised for a time for the people of the house to fulfill their needs, then it
is put out for the same time to be calm and to take a rest. So, though light and darkness are
contradictory, they help each other to reform the world.
At the end of this meeting, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: 'Mufaddal, think of these drugs
and their advantages which Allah has created to cure certain diseases. Some of them- like
Shitrij- are applied on the joints to bring out their secretion. Some of them- like Aftimondrains
the bile. Some of them- like Skabinj- expel the wind. Some of them reduce swellings,
and so on. Then who has put these advantages in these drugs? And who has called the
attention of men to them?'
Also al- Sadiq said: 'Know that the rank of the thing is not according to its value. Rather they
are two different values in two different markets. The cheap thing in the market of earning
maybe expensive in the market of science. So, do not regard as little the lesson taken from the
thing whose value is low. If chemists know what is in the human excrement, they will buy it
for expensive prices.'"
-4-
Then, early in the morning, on the fourth day, al- Mufaddal went to al-Sadiq, peace be on
him. Al- Sadiq said to him: "Mufaddal, I explained to you some proofs about the creation and
gave you some examples about the exact regulation on purpose in man, the animal, plants,
trees, and the like, from which men may take a lesson. Now, I will tell you about calamities
and catastrophes which may occasionally occur, and which some ignorant men have used as a
pretext to deny the Creator, creatures, purpose, and regulation. It will take us a long time to
answer the claims of the Mu'attila, the Manicheanists, the naturalists.
Some ignorant men have advanced these calamities and catastrophes like the epidemic
disease, mildew, cold, grasshoppers- which may occasionally occur as a pretext to deny
creatures, regulation, and the Creator. To answer that, we may say: If there was no Creator
and Regulator, then why would more and uglier things not occur? For example, the sky falls
on the earth and the earth goes in vain. The sun never rises. Rivers and springs become so dry
that there is no drop of water (to quench the thirst) of the lip. The winds become so calm that
all things become hot and spoiled. And sea water flow over the earth.
Then, why are these calamities and catastrophes not last for ever and not spread all over the
world? Why do they occur occasionally and do not take long before they are raised? Do you
not see that the world is preserved and protected from these great events of which one is