Prayer and Play in Atjeh: A Comment on Two Photographs

Before God created the world He made the angels (malekat) out of light (nur). The angels had various tasks; some worshipped God, others hauled water, some brought rain. No matter what their tasks they were perfect in carrying them out because there was nothing in their nature that would make them disobedient to God. Since the angels were perfectly faithful to God there was no indication of His omnipotence. If there was a hell at that time it was empty. God therefore made the world as a testing place for a new kind of creature which could be either faithful or disobedient to God. In this way heaven and hell would be filled and God's omnipotence would be demonstrated.