in human form, and doubt did not enter their hearts that they are humans like us; rather, they exalted them above that. It was reported from the Messenger (exalted be his might) regarding our Master (exalted be his might)—as I previously mentioned—that he said: "None doubts in him except a polytheist, and he is the Lord of the Earth."
❖ From Surah At-Tur ❖
The Verse: [“Indeed, we used to call upon Him before. Indeed, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful.”] 1
Among the things we believe and profess is that the existence of this natural universe is ancient (qadim), which only its Creator can comprehend, and that His—Exalted be He—creation of natural beings is also ancient, the extent of whose knowledge only He—Majestic is His praise—encompasses. The matter is not as the people of the exoteric (ahl al-zahir) say, that human existence began only from the era of Adam—that is, about seven to eight thousand years ago.