The Second Matter
It’s no secret that the Bull (Taurus) and the Fish (Pisces) in the famous story are intruders on Islam and spongers. They became Muslim together with their narrator. If you like, go to the Third Premise and see by which door they entered Islam. And look in the mirror of the Fourth Premise for its relation to Ibn ‘Abbas; you’ll see the reason for its appropriation. It was subsequently narrated as a Hadith: “The earth rests on a bull and a fish."
Firstly: We do not accept that it is a Hadith, for it has signs of being israiliyyat.
Secondly: Even if it is a Hadith, it is narrated from a single source (âhâd), which infers doubt. It may not be included among the tenets of belief, because for those certain knowledge is requisite.
Thirdly: Even though there is agreement in narrations concerning it (mütewâtir) and its text is certain, there is nothing definite to substantiate it. If you wish, refer to the Fifth Premise and consult the Eleventh.
You’ll see that just as fanciful imaginings deluded the literalists; so the literalists distorted the Hadith’s correct aspects. The correct aspects are threefold:
The bearers of the divine throne, called the Bull, the Vulture, Man, and others, are angels. The Bull and Fish are two such angels. For it is contrary to the world’s order to load the sublime throne on angels and the globe on a bull, which is in need of support like the globe itself.
Moreover, it is heard from the tongue of the Shari‘a that each realm of being has a particular and appropriate angel appointed to it. Due to the relationship, the angel is called after the realm in question; indeed, in the angelic realm it represents it. It is heard as a Hadith: “Every evening the sun approaches the divine throne. There it prostrates and receives permission before returning.” Yes, the angel appointed to the sun bears the sun’s name and is it’s similitude; it is the angel that goes and returns.
Furthermore, according to the philosopher theologians, every realm and species of being has a transcendent nature which is living and articulate and brings assistance and aid to its members. In the terminology of the Shari‘a they are called the Angel of the Seas, the Angel of the Mountains, and the Rain Angel. Nevertheless, they have no true effect; it is solely the Most Pure and Holy One who creates effects. No causer of effects exists other than Allah the Most High.
The reason for external causes is so that the hand of power, the term for the display of grandeur and sovereignty, should not appear without veil to be in contact with lowly matters to those looking towards the sphere of causes (dâire‑i esbâb). But in reality and in the inner dimensions of things (melekûtiyet), known as the sphere of belief (dâire‑i akîde), everything is lofty; there it is in keeping with divine dignity that the hand of power should have contact without veil. Such is the judgement and ordering of [Him] the Exalted in Power, the Omniscient.
The Second Meaning: Thawr (the Bull) is the ox, the main means of cultivating the earth and developing it. While Hût (the Fish) is the means of livelihood of people who live near the sea, indeed, for many of humankind.
If someone asks: “What does the state rest on?”, he is told: “On the sword and the pen.” Or if he asks: “What sustains civilisation?”, he is told: “Education, industry, and commerce.” Or if he asks: “How does humankind perpetuate itself?”, he is told: “With knowledge and labour.” Similarly, and Allah knows best, the Glory of the World (UWBP) answered the way he did in reply to a similar question.
The person who asked it, although it was not his business, did so because his mind had not acquired the capacity for such truths – as discussed in the Second Premise. So our Prophet (UWBP) gave an appropriate answer, which was: “The earth rests on the bull.”
That is, it is humankind that cultivates the earth. The means of livelihood of rural communities, one of its groups, is agriculture. And agriculture rests on the backs of oxen and is their job. The people of coastal regions, another group, subsist mostly on fish; indeed, fish is one of the main commodities the city‑dwellers’ trade rests on. It corroborates the saying: All the game ends up in the wild ass’ stomach. This is an apt answer. Even if it’s humorous, it’s true. Because even if he is joking, what he says is true.
Supposing the questioner had asked about the nature of creation. In accordance with the wise rule of the science of figurative speech (fenn‑i beyân), The listener learned something unexpected, the Prophet (UWBP) gave the appropriate and required answer. He did not give the answer the sick questioner wanted due to his false appetite. The verse,
They ask you concerning the new moons. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in [the affairs of] men is an apt introduction to this truth.
The Third Meaning: The Bull (Taurus) and the Fish (Pisces) are two constellations determined in the earth’s annual orbit. They are certainly hypothetical and imaginary, but because the law of divine practice known as gravity, which is in force in the world and is charged with holding the physical heavenly bodies in order, is centred on those constellations, it makes permissible the wise saying: “The earth rests on the constellations.” This is the point of view of modern science. For ancient philosophy supposed the constellations to be in the heavens, while modern science assumes they are in the earth’s orbit. This interpretation has great value in the view of science.
It is also narrated that the question was asked several times. One time, the reply was “it’s (the earth’s) on the Fish,” which means that a month later it would be on the Bull. That is, since the rays and beams of the above‑mentioned law, radiating in every direction through endless space, were focused on the constellation of Pisces, the globe of the earth had raced from the constellation of Aquarius, grabbed the law as it was lowered from Pisces, and was hung like a fruit on a branch of the tree of creation. Or it alighted on it like a bird. That is, the flying earth built its nest on the constellation of Taurus.
Having learnt this, consider it fairly! As is explained in the Fifth Premise, how can the well‑known fictitious tale be interpreted, other than by ascribing futility to pre-eternal wisdom, proving divine art to be superfluous, and spoiling the wondrous order of the universe, which is proof of the Maker? May ignorance be damned a thousand times!