The universe is an originated, innovated creation (mudhathun mukhtara') folded within the grasp of its Creator, depending upon Him for its preservation, and relying upon Him for its continuity; it cannot survive independently of Him not even for the blink of an eye, nor can it survive without the continuous pouring forth of divine emanation (imdad al-fayd) upon it, hour after hour.

By my life! The Encompassing Sphere (al-Falak al-Muhit) is a spherical body that surrounds all physical things and other celestial spheres. It is stationary within its cosmic station, never moving away from it, yet all its constituent parts are in constant motion (mutaharrikun ajza'uhu). An example of this is what the astronomers have said regarding the motion of the Sun: in the brief span of time it takes a human to lift a single foot to take a step and place it down, the Sun travels for leagues (farasikh).

Every single motion within a moving body is caused by a mover, and that motion serves as a cause for something else; whenever that motion ceases, that subsequent effect is instantly invalidated. Time (al-Zaman) is simply the numerical measure of the movements of the celestial sphere, and Space (al-Makan) is its outer surface.