The Cardinal and Dr. Wickens had come to Istanbul seeking escape from the mystic order, and—according to the last will of Isaac Newton—to find a worthy scholar to whom they could entrust several of his sacred belongings. They believed they had found this scholar in İznik. He was an exegete who purified divine revelations from superstition, clarified their meanings, and highlighted the original aims and teachings of the heavenly faiths.

Dr. Wickens, sharp-minded and perceptive, and the Cardinal, sincere in intention, quickly realized that this scholar favored no political group or ethnicity; he kept an equal distance from all, and—most importantly—he refrained from sanctifying any person or community.

Dr. Wickens had asked the Cardinal not to inquire about Newton’s entrusted relics. The Cardinal kept that promise, yet there was one trait on their list he could not understand. Unable to hold himself back, he finally asked:

“Expecting these qualities in a scholar seems reasonable. But what could he have meant by saying one of his limbs must be missing? What purpose could such a condition serve?”

“I do not know,” Dr. Wickens replied, “and I am just as curious as you are.”
Inwardly he thought:

“I am certain that my alchemist master hid his true intentions by inserting unrelated, misleading details into his testament. But what his real will is—I cannot guess. How am I to draw conclusions when his notes speak of religion, knowledge, science, research, experiments, high-level rulers, formulas… so many subjects with no clear connection?”

While listening to the scholar, they became increasingly convinced that they had found the right man. Yet time was slipping away: far from civilization, on an isolated island unknown to the outside world, innocent lives were in danger, and they needed to hurry if they were to save them.

There remained, however, the impossible question:
How were they supposed to explain such unbelievable truths in this foreign land? And how could they convince anyone to believe them?

Just as the cardinal finished murmuring, “Prayer is not only raising one’s palms to the sky; a plea whispered from the heart is also a prayer. May God grant us a way out,” the very scholar they had left behind only moments earlier suddenly appeared before them again.

They could not refuse his insistent invitation to his home.
And when they saw his humble, makeshift dwelling, they became even more certain that they had found the person they sought.

“You seem troubled by several matters,” he said gently.
“This land is also your homeland, your house. Consider me your friend; I would be glad to help you.”

The cardinal knew about what Dr. Wickens had said regarding the island, yet he had no knowledge of Newton’s entrusted relics. Thinking that perhaps Wickens did not want him to hear about them either, he gestured to leave, but Dr. Wickens asked him to stay.

The cardinal considered asking the scholar what had happened to his arm, why he had lost one of his limbs, but then refrained. It would not be proper to question a stranger about matters so personal.

Rather than diving straight into the main subject, Dr. Wickens wished to test the scholar’s knowledge once more with a remark he had heard in his circle of discourse:

“You said in the gathering of learning that the heavenly scriptures are not merely books of remembrance and admonition—they also guide us toward knowledge. Could you tell us which scientific developments they have pointed to?”

The scholar smiled gently.

“Very well, but I suspect this is not the true concern troubling your minds. I will address this question briefly, so you need not exhaust yourselves with excessive contemplation. Some matters require swift resolution.”

Hearing these words, the cardinal and Dr. Wickens exchanged a look, each thinking the same:

“Is he speaking about rescuing the islanders?”

“There is not a thing, fresh or withered, that is not written in a clear Book.
This verse from Sūrat al-An‘ām (6,59) expresses precisely what I mean. In the coming centuries—when knowledge reaches its peak—scientists will uncover the meanings to which this verse points.

Still, with my limited mind and modest learning, I wish to offer you a few examples…”

“We also softened iron for him (34:10).”
This verse points humanity toward discovering and extracting metals. As you know, thanks to metals such as iron, zinc, and aluminum, our lives have become far more comfortable and prosperous.

“We caused molten copper to flow for him like a river (34:12).”
Drawing upon this verse, human beings understood that copper could be melted and shaped. Today, many objects that make our lives easier—most notably the copper pots and pans in our homes—are crafted from this metal.

“As for the rebellious devils, We subdued them to him, bound in chains (38:38).”
This expression has shed light on the science of the unseen and the nature of spirits. When proper methods are used—without trickery or charlatanry—spiritual beings such as jinn can be made to serve humankind. I could even prove this to you with real examples: lost objects found through their help, or their being employed to work in orchards and fields.

Dr. Wickens chuckled softly.
“My dear sir, as it is, we already have human devils who could put the actual devils to shame. If anything goes wrong, the real ones may latch onto us as well…”

“And who are these human devils?” the scholar asked.
Seeing that his guests had no intention of answering, he continued:

“These are merely examples we know have already come to pass. Let me give you a few more—examples of things expected to happen in the future.

‘Its fuel is of such a nature that even if no fire touches it, it gives light (24:35).’
From this we understand that, in time, something will be discovered that produces light without flame or smoke—something that will brighten the darkness and turn night into day. I do not say this metaphorically; it will literally give off light. And from the word nūr used in the verse, we understand that it may also be used for purposes beyond mere illumination.”

“Creating conveyances of every kind for them… (36:42)” and “He could travel a month’s distance in the morning and a month’s distance in the afternoon. (34:12)” — these expressions tell us this: O humankind, work, research, and if you learn to use the potential God placed in your mind, you will one day invent vehicles capable of crossing distances of a month within a very short time.

Without realizing it, the scholar was speaking of electricity, the lightbulb, and fossil-fuel engines that would only be discovered centuries later. Dr. Wickens knew that research in these fields was already underway, and for that reason he believed the divine revelations pointing toward future advancements would surely come true. Yet what he was about to hear would strike an even deeper chord.

“You must have heard a similar account in the lands you come from,” the scholar continued. “Solomon invited Queen Belqis to believe in God. Although she did not respond negatively, she still withheld her answer. She sent various gifts to delay him and, through the envoys she dispatched, sought to understand his real intention — whether he truly wished to convey faith or whether he was a conqueror seeking entry into her kingdom under the guise of religion. When Solomon rejected the gifts to show that he desired no wealth, he asked those gathered: ‘Who can bring me the throne of Belqis?’ While beings of the unseen claimed they could bring it swiftly, a scholar deeply versed in the mysteries of the divine revelation said, ‘I will bring it to you before you even blink.’ (27:40)”

At those words, Dr. Wickens rose to his feet in excitement, breathless:

“Whose words are these — from which scripture?”

The scholar looked mildly surprised by his reaction.

“As I said, these words are recorded in the divine revelation — in the last sacred scripture, the Qur’an.”

Dr. Wickens thought to himself:

“I know that book. My master and I used to read its English translation from time to time. I even read portions of it to the islanders so they might hear of the world beyond. But this passage… this one feels entirely different.”

Seeing that his guest was listening intently, the scholar continued, careful not to interrupt the flow of thought.

“When Queen Belqis saw her own throne standing before her, she reached out and touched it, realizing it was no illusion. She understood that her throne had truly been transported there, and that such an event could only be explained by a miracle. So she believed in Allah.”

After saying this, the scholar added that he would now mention another text related to the same story. He sprinkled some crumbs of bread onto the floor and said:

“Do not take your eyes off these crumbs. I’ll prepare your coffee and return.”

Then he stepped away.

Cardinal and Dr. Wickens looked at each other.

“What does this mean now?” they whispered.

A single ant approached the piece of bread on the ground and did not leave it. It seemed to realize that it could neither carry nor break the bread on its own, yet it stayed beside it, unwilling to abandon it. The two companions noticed that the ant was slightly larger than the others and was desperately trying to manage the task alone.

Before long, many other ants arrived to help. Together, they broke the bread into small pieces and carried them back to their distant nest.

When the scholar returned with the coffee and saw that the crumbs were gone, he said:

“I shout from here and still my neighbor cannot hear me. But tell me—how do these tiny ants send word to their friends far away in their nests?

I paid close attention. They have those long feelers extending from their heads. I do not know whether those have anything to do with the transmission of sound…”

In the final divine account, we are told that the ants, fearing they would be crushed by Prophet Solomon and his army, were warned by their leader: “O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you unintentionally.” (27,18–19) From the continuation of the narrative, we understand that Solomon heard this warning, smiled, and gave thanks to God.

In essence, both the book of creation and the divine revelation we read tell us that it is possible to transmit our voices across great distances. For this, we must decipher the laws God has placed in the universe—His scientific secrets.

The fact that a single leader-ant was able to make its voice heard shows that it possessed something unique. If only some of the ants heard it, then those listeners must have had receivers compatible with what the leader-ant possessed. If all the ants heard it, then it is reasonable to think that the leader-ant used something to amplify the strength of its voice. In my view, both interpretations are possible.

What you should understand is this: this phenomenon indicates that we can indeed transmit sound across vast distances.
Likewise, the earlier story of Solomon and Belqis shows that we may one day see things from far away, and even bring an object—or a living being—from afar. The fact that the narrative mentions the transport of an inanimate throne rather than a living creature only implies that transporting living beings instantly from a distance is difficult, but not impossible.

Dr. Wickens’s first thought was mere astonishment: “Look at this man… Anyone hearing him would think he has witnessed countless objects being teleported and that’s why he speaks so comfortably!”

He was overwhelmed—astonishment, hope, joy all at once. But if there was ever a perfect moment to make the man believe what he himself had to say, this was it.

The scholar had been expecting them to explain their true problem since the moment they arrived. He occasionally peeked out the window, stroking the beard beneath his chin. Then he said:

“Do not be alarmed, my friends… but it seems someone is watching you.”

He pulled the curtain aside slightly and pointed toward a man standing at the corner of the street.

“Everyone here knows one another. Just moments ago, my neighbor who dropped by told me this man has been watching this place.”

Dr. Wickens and the cardinal exchanged glances; their expressions clearly said, “They have found us even here!”

Dr. Wickens asked:

“Then let me ask you this: you spoke earlier about the possibility of sending a voice across great distances. If I were to tell you that we have discovered a system capable of doing exactly that, that we could speak with someone living on an island far from here and that they are in need of help—would you believe me?”

The scholar was about to answer “Why shouldn’t I believe you?” but restrained himself and replied with a gentle smile:

“Of course, I would think you were mad,” he said, then grew serious and continued:
“But I would also congratulate you. Such a discovery would allow humanity to live a far more comfortable and prosperous life.”

After Dr. Wickens and the cardinal explained what they had gone through, they added:

“As you see, we must do something for these people. Besides, the discovery we mentioned—the transmission of sound across distance—has an even more advanced form, a formula that solves the transmission of an image and even of a living being itself…”

The scholar suddenly interrupted:

“My friends, I haven’t fully digested the idea of sending sound across great distances, and now you speak of transmitting a person or another being! After all, I am a scholar of religion; I don’t deal with formulas. And frankly, this secret you value so greatly should be shared only with someone whose expertise lies in such matters. To be honest, even if my mind hesitates to believe you, my heart tells me I should trust you. We must find someone who can help you—someone who…”

Dr. Wickens cut in:

“Considering that some of the people on the island speak Hebrew and that their ancestors left this land centuries ago, the person we are looking for must be someone well-versed in the teachings of the ancient sacred scripture as well as old religions such as paganism,” he said.

The Cardinal added,
“Even finding someone with only these qualities would be difficult. People usually learn only their own religion because of the pressure of their surroundings.”

“And besides,” he continued, “he must be brave and self-sacrificing, strong and daring—so that he can overcome the challenges we cannot yet foresee.”

The scholar said,
“I was going to ask what your plan is, but from your state it’s clear you haven’t formed a definite one. Still, there is someone who fits the qualities you seek.”

“Where is he? And can we trust him?”

“At the Seminary on Heybeliada. Since you trust me, I assume you will trust him as well.”

“What do you mean? Is your friend a Christian?”

The scholar shrugged.
“I don’t know, I’ve never asked. You can ask him when we get there. If you don’t mind, I will come with you. And with this excuse, I can see my old friends there as well. It has been years since I last saw them,” he said, then added:

“But I should warn you: think carefully about how you will explain all this to Noah, and how you intend to persuade him. You’d better start planning now.”

The cardinal smiled at the white-haired old man and said,
“My wise friend, God grants us many ways out.”