take from him and leave what was commanded by the one who passed—who is the Abrogated.

[189] Al-Sadiq (Mighty is His Might) was asked about the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):

"{For every term (ajal) there is a book (kitab)}" ¹ .

He replied:

"For every cycle (dawra), there is a Person within it. The 'Term' (Al-Ajal) is the Cycle, and the 'Book' (Al-Kitab) is the Master of Speech (Al-Nutq) and the Sacred Law (Al-Shar')."