The World of Witnessing — Subtle Primordial Substance — Universal Form and Body

عالم شہادت — جوہر ہبا — شکل کل — جسم کل

The World of Witnessing ('Alam al-Shahāda): This is the sensory, physical world — the world we perceive through our five senses. It is the most manifest level of existence. In the World of Witnessing, only the present moment is directly known and witnessed — past and future are not directly witnessed.

Nothing that exists in the World of Witnessing is absent from the worlds above it — for its existence in the higher worlds is more complete and encompassing. Everything in the World of Witnessing, whether substance or accident, line or geometry or anything else, exists in a more comprehensive form in the higher worlds.

The Subtle Primordial Substance (Jawhar al-Habā'): This is the most subtle conceivable substance — particles too small to be divided, whose gathering and connection with one another builds the structure of all bodies. From this subtle substance, together with Universal Form, Universal Matter (Hayulā al-Kull), and Universal Body (Jism al-Kull) are derived:

Form (Shakl): This is the name given to that which gives the habā' its specific determination and individuality. Matter (Hayulā): That which has the capacity to receive any form — pure potentiality. Body (Jism): That which results from the union of both — a determined, formed, extended substance.

Universal Form (Shakl al-Kull): When the particles of habā' come near one another they become manifest in various shapes, sharing in a universal form — this is called Universal Form. Universal Matter (Hayulā al-Kull): Matter considered from the standpoint of its capacity to receive form and be in any place — all habā' is called Universal Matter. Universal Body (Jism al-Kull): The combination of Universal Matter and Universal Form is called Universal Body or the World Body. Particular Form (Shakl Juz'ī) and Particular Matter (Hayulā Juz'ī): These are the partial manifestations of Universal Matter and Universal Form, and particular bodies are their instances.