since this was their nature he created for them from the earth their provisions and made in that a refuge for all their senses so their hearts became attached to it and their souls yearned for it. if he had left them and the origin of nature with what he had enabled them of the provisions desired by their natures they would have turned to obeying their desires and compassion and competition would have gone. and if they were gone that would be a cause of corruption the cessation of procreation and the annihilation of the world and its people because the nature of the soul does not accept a gift of little or much of what it contains until it is compensated with more than what it is given either sooner or later from what its senses enjoy.
فلما كانت هذه طبائعهم، أنشأ لهم من الأرض أرزاقهم، وجعل في ذلك ملاذ لجميع حواسهم، فتعلقت به قلوبهم، وتطلعت إليه أنفسهم. فلو تركهم وأصل الطبيعة، مع ما مكن لهم من الأرزاق المشتهاة في طبائعهم، صاروا إلى طاعة الهوى، وذهب التعاطف والتبار. وإذا ذهبا كان ذلك سببا للفساد، وانقطاع التناسل، وفناء الدنيا وأهلها؛ لأن طبع النفس لا يسلس بعطية قليل ولا كثير مما حوته، حتى تعوض أكثر مما تعطى، إما عاجلا وإما آجلا مما تستلذه حواسها.