It is for this reason that the skin is the first receptacle for tactile impressions. Gradually the internal organs take over, and tactile impressions
disappear. This is why, as soon as the food enters the inner organs, its
presence is not felt.
Pause
In animals, senses are the agents for acquiring water and food, but
man enjoys precedence over them because of his rational faculty and he
is, therefore, the highest among them. He has been vouchsafed the
viceregency of the earth, so that he establishes his statesmanship and
leadership. It is because of this that, willy nilly, the earth acts in obedience to his command, God has said:
Have they not seen how We have created for them of Our
handi-work the cattle, so that they are their owners?
And have subdued them unto them, so that some of them
they have for riding, some for food?
Benefits and (diverse) drinks have they from them. Will they
not then give thanks?2
Were man not granted this gift from God, he would not have been able
to control even the smallest of things. He is proficient in his defence as
compared to many forces he has overwhelmed, nor does he have that
much power. Indeed, the statement made by God applies to him:
Glorified be He who hath subdued these unto us and we were
not capable (of subduing them).3
And, when he was granted these faculties and was chosen from amongst
His Creations so that he acquires things through struggle, two senses,
those of hearing and sight, were made the staircase between sensation
and reasoning. Sight was made the medium so that he traces among the
living things the signs of wisdom, and turns from the created things to
the Creator. And God has, therefore, said:
We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within
themselves until it will be manifest unto them that it is the
truth. . .4
And again:
Who hath created seven heavens in harmony. Thou
(Muhammad) canst see no fault in the Beneficent One's
creation; then look again. Canst thou see any rifts?
Then look again and yet again, thy sight will return unto thee
weakened and made dim. 5
How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth
which they pass by with face averted.6
Man has been given the sense of hearing so that he follows what is good
and grasps the rope of righteousness strongly, gains proximity to Him,
