Addendum

The All-Powerful and All-Knowing One, the All-Wise Maker, shows through the system and order exhibited by His practices, which have taken on the form of laws, His Power and Wisdom and that chance has no part in His works. By making occasional exceptions to those laws (the wonders in His practices), changes in outward forms, differences in individual characteristics, and changes in sending His favors (the coming of rain, for example), He demonstrates His Will and free Choice, and shows that He does whatever He wills and is not restricted. By rending the veil of monotony and showing that everything is in constant need of and obedient to His Lordship, He dispels heedlessness and turns humanity and jinn from (natural) causes to the Creator of causes. This basic principle is evident in the Qur'anic explanations.

For example, some trees yield the fruits they are given from Mercy's treasury and then, even though all apparent causes are present, produce nothing the next year. Also, the coming of rain is so changeable that it is included in "the five things of the Unseen known only to God," for life and mercy have the most important position in existence. As the source of life and pure mercy, and being the water of life and mercy, rain cannot depend on a law-inducing monotony, for this leads to heedlessness and veils the Divine hand. Rather, the All-Mighty One of Majesty, the True Bestower of Bounties and the Giver of Life, and the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate, directly controls rain and makes it immune to natural causes. Thus the doors of prayer and thanksgiving remain open.

Again, for example, giving sustenance and creating every body with a particular countenance are special and unexpected Divine favors and, as such, show the Lord's Will and independence. You may compare other Divine acts (e.g., free disposal of wind and subjugation of the clouds) with these examples.

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