Ibn Ata'Illah AsSakandary
  • Ahmad Ibn Ata’Illah AsSakandari was born in Alexandria, Egypt, around the middle of the seventh [AH] /thirteenth [AD] century

  • His ancestors came to Egypt after the Islamic conquest and resided in Alexandria where Ibn Ataa'Illah was born around 657 AH (1260 AD). He grew up, like his paternal grandfather, a scholar of sharia, where he studied religion, sharia and language since his early childhood, and continued his studies of 'tafseer', 'Hadith', language, literature and sharia sciences in Al-Azhar.

  • He was known as "pole of the gnostics", "translator to the reachers" and "guide to the saliks" , the great sheikh, the God knowing expert, the imam of the two parties, the clarifier of the two paths (the path of jurisprudence and the Sufi path), the guide to the way, the voice of the truth, a cornerstone of the victorious supreme sharia, one of the pillars of the Shaduli sufi way, may Allah be pleased with him and please him.

  • In the first part of his life he strongly renounced sufism and sufi sciences out of bias to the sciences of the jurists and jurisprudence, and he used to say: 'whoever claims that there is another knowledge other than what we have, is inventing lies about The Exalted and Dignified Lord'

  • He was later attracted by Lordly care to the sufi way, and as soon as he accompanied his sheikh, Abul Abbas Al-Morsy in Alexandria, he became a great admirer, and took up his sufi way, and became one of his foremost apprentices. His relation to him is detailed in his book "Lataif Alminan (the pleasantries of graces) in the virtues of Abul Abbas Al-Morsy and his sheikh Abul Hasan Al-Shaduli".

  • Ibn Ata'Illah shined as a dignified sharia scholar, imprinted with its truths and virtues which purify the self from all need and want, and elevate it to truthfulness with The Lord, and complete confidence and trust in Him.

  • He was a pious scholar, whose lessons were always heavily attended. His sermons touched every heart, and he had great knowledge of the sayings of the people of the truth and the pillars of the path, and was well versed in the sayings of the sufis and the pious forefathers.

  • He was the third master of the Shadhuli tariqa. He was the successor of Shaykh Abul Abbas Al-Mursi who was in turn the successor of Imam Abul Hasan Al-Shadhuli. The first two masters did not write any books and it was the destiny of Ibn Ata’illah to become the ultimate spokesman of the tariqa.

  • As the third Shaykh of the Shadhili Sufi order Ibn Ata'Illah, was responsible for systemising the orders doctrines and recording the biographies of its founder, Shaykh Abul Hasan and his successor, Shaykh Abul Abbas Al-Mursi. He is the author of the first systematic treatise on [zikr]. His compilation of "Hikam" (wisdoms, or wise sayings) made the order very popular and his work has been referred to as the last Sufi karamat performed on the banks of the Nile.

  • He wrote many books, which became very renowned and well known, containing secrets, knowledge, proverbs, both in verse and prose. The most renouned is "The Book of Wisdom" or "Kitab Al-Hikam".Others include:

      – Lataif Alminan لطَائف المنن، في منَاقبِ الشيخ أبى العباس وشيخه أبى الحسن
      – The crude intention in knowing The Singular Name القصد المُجرد في مَعرفةِ الاسم المُفرد
      – The crown of the bride, containing refining the selves تَاجُ العروسُ الحاوى لتهذيب النفوس
      – The key to success and the lantern of the spirits in mentioning The Generous Lord مفتاحُ الفلاحُ، ومصبَاحُ الأرواحُ في ذكر الله الكريم الفتاح
      – The serious way in achieving happiness الطريقة الجادة في نيل السعادة
      – The enlightenment in dropping planning التنوير في أسقاط التدبير وغيرها

  • There is no manuscript of such a small size that spread in different societies as his book "The Hikam" did, nor was a book accepted by minds and souls as it was. It is a collection of proverbs, aphorisms, and wisdoms, each containing broadest meanings in few words, all extracted from The Quran and the Sunna (sayings and acts) of the prophet, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam, by which he aimed at clarifying the path of the gnostics and the unifiers, and showing the ways of the seekers.
  • It is the most important of his writings, and was widely accepted and spread. Many scholars in different ages wrote books explaining and clarifying the Hikam of clear words and beautiful supreme meanings, including most recently HE Sheikh Aly Gomaa and Sheikh Al-Booty. Some extracts were translated to English by Arthur Arbry, and many to Spanish (including ArRindy's explanations) by Miguel Plasius.

  • The 264 Hikam (aphorisms) are divided to three parts: the first addresses unification and protecting the Muslim from any of the many hidden faces of polytheism (shirk), the second addresses ethics, manners and self purification, and the third revolves around behavior and its different regulations.

  • He was a contemporary of Ibn Taymiah, and they had many discussions and disputes and differences regarding Sufism and Sufis.

  • Of his selected quotes:

    • Of Ibn 'Arabi: "He was one of the greatest jurists. The method he applied to understand ultimate reality (al-haqiqa) was to search out the hidden, spiritual meaning (tariq al-batin), and to purify the inward self (tat-heer al-batin)".
    • Of Tawassul (begging and pleading with The Lord by the glory of Rasulullah): "Is there any true believer who believes that there is someone who can reward him for his good deeds and punish him for his bad ones other than Allah? Whoever seeks help from the Prophet only seeks his power of intercession with Allah. As for your statement that Allah has forbidden Muslims to call upon anyone other than Himself in seeking help, have you actually seen any Muslim calling on someone other than Allah? The only way Muslims seek the help of the Prophet is in the sense of tawassul or seeking a means, by virtue of the privilege he has received from Allah, and tashaffu' or seeking intercession, by virtue of the power of intercession which Allah has bestowed on him."
    • Of Imam Al-Ghazali: "al-Ghazali was equally an Imam both in Shari'a and tasawwuf. He treated legal rulings, the Sunnah, and the Shari'a with the spirit of the Sufi. And by applying this method he was able to revive the religious sciences. The true and sincere sufi must cultivate in his heart the faith recognized by the Ahl al-Sunnah".
  • He died in the Mansouriya school in Egypt in 709 AH (1309 AD), and is buried in the Moqattam graveyard at the foot of the hill, where his sanctum and prayer corner was located, and his grave is still present in its place. His tomb became famous as the site of homage, visitation, prayer, and miraculous occurrences. To this day this is still the case.

  • May The Lord benefit us through him and his knowledge, Amen.

 
 
 
 

The Book of Wisdom

(The Hikam of Ibn Ata'Illah AsSakandary)

With translation of the explanation [sharh] and commentary by Abdel Magueed Al-Sharnouby Al-Azhary, an abridged version of the initial explanation [sharh] and commentary by Ibn Abbad Al-Nafary Al-Rundi

Introduction

The Book of Wisdom [Kitab Al-Hikam] is a classical masterpiece in Islamic spiritual literature, written and compiled by the renowned Sufi saint and master of the 13th centuryAD Ahmed Ibn Ata’Illah AsSakandari (d. 1309), the third master of the Shadhuli [Shazli] tariqa.

In form it is a collection of aphoristic statements in beautiful Arabic. However it is an ocean of meanings whose outer simplicity often veils one from the depth and profundity of its teachings. [Al-Hikam] are considered among the jewels of Arabic prose. They are short phrases with few words which include a lot of meaning. Most of the [Hikam] are in the form of a speech addressing the [mureed] on the Sufi path, alerting to the rules of conduct to be observed.

For anyone interested in the pure pith of Shadhuli [Shazli] teachings, this book is a must. Dr. Abdul-Jabbar Victor Danner wrote: "The Hikam exists in another dimension. It is a thing in itself and works deeply on one, especially when repeatedly read over many years. It contains timeless and profound wisdoms for seekers of spiritual success and illumination based on the teachings of the Quran and Sunna".

The [Hikam] have a great Sufi value. They summarize the Sufi ideology of Ibn Ata'Illah, and they are a doctrine for the [saliks] on the Shadhuli [Shazli] path and tariqa with its different branches. A contemporary sheikh wrote: “The written teachings (of the Shadhuli [Shazli]s) can best be tasted in the Hikam of Ibn Ata’Illah".

Many scholars in different times and ages wrote books explaining and clarifying the [Hikam]. The most important along the ages are those by:

  • Ibn-Abbad Al-Rondi (of Ronda in Malaga, Spain) (d 792 AH, 1389 AD). His book is called "the alerting [al-tanbeeh]", and it has been described as being "the garden of the art and the coffer of its rulings and the collection of its essence; others books do not suffice beyond it, and it suffices beyond all others". Miguel Plasius wrote about Al-Rondi's book that it: "can be considered a complete reference in the theory of asceticism [zuhd] and Sufism; beneficial to the beginning [mureeds], and for the [saliks] on the path to completion, and to those who reached the end of witnessing [mushahada]".
  • Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sharqawy (d 1227 AH) known as "the holy gifts in explaining the Ata'y hikam", printed many times in the margin of Al-Rondi's "tanbeeh".
  • Abdel-Mageed Al-Sharnouby Al-Azhary which is translated in this website. It is based on Al-Rondi's book.
  • HE Sheikh Aly Gomaa, the current Grand Mufti of Egypt
  • HE Sheikh Saeed Al-Bouty, the contemporary renowned Syrian scholar, who wrote: “I don’t know of any other small book of similar size which has gained such diverse wide spread acceptance by the hearts and minds of people everywhere than the book of Hikam”.
  • Arthur John Arberry wrote that the [Hikam] was exceptionally appreciated as attested for by the large number of books explaining them, and described the [Hikam] as an attractive eloquent small book. He translated some parts of the book. (Arberry AJ; Sufism, London 1950)
  • Miguel Palacios (the Spanish orientalist) realized the value of [Al-Hikam] and Al-Rundi's explanation, and he translated some parts to Spanish. He suggested that the Christian Sufi San Juan de la Cruz (Saint John of the cross) may have been influenced by the opinions of Ibn Ata'Illah and the Shadhuli [Shazli] views. (Palacios, M.A; Un precursor Hispanomusulman de San Juan de La Cruz; Madrid 1946).
  • The [Hikam] was translated by the late Shadhuli [Shazli] teacher and translator, Dr. Abdul-Jabbar Victor Danner (1926-1990) (Victor Danner: Ibn Ata'Illah's Sufi Aphorisms (Kitab Al-Hikam); Leiden, Brill; 1984).

The 264 spiritual maxims contained in the Hikam address:

  • seeking knowledge,
  • obtaining sincerity,
  • disciplining the ego and the self (nafs),
  • building a solid spiritual foundation,
  • dealing with The Lord,
  • attaining Divine proximity,
  • learning to become humble,
  • patient and grateful,
  • understanding destiny and sustenance and
  • putting the reader and the [mureed] on the path of repentance and meditation.

The [Hikam] include the essence of Ibn Ata'Illah's thoughts and opinions about Sufism, and it can be said that these [Hikam] absorb his whole ideology, and that what he wrote in all his later books is further explanation and clarification of its contents.

The [Hikam] appears to be the first book Ibn Ata'Illah wrote. He referred to it and quoted many pieces in several of his later works, as

  • [Al-Tanweer] The enlightenment in dropping planning التنوير في أسقاط التدبير وغيرها
  • [Lata'if Al-minan] The Pleasantries of The Characteristics of Sheikh Abul-Abbas and His Sheikh Abul-Hasan لطَائف المنن، في منَاقبِ الشيخ أبى العباس وشيخه أبى الحسن
  • [Taj Al-'Arous] The crown of the bride, containing refining the selves تَاجُ العروسُ الحاوى لتهذيب النفوس
  • [Al-Tawfeeq] The address to success in the manners on the way عنوان التوفيق في آداب الطريق – شرح بها قصيدة الغوث أبو مدين

When Ibn Ata'Illah first wrote the [Hikam], he showed it to his sheikh, Abul-Abbas Al-Mursy, who told him: "my son, you have presented in this manuscript the intentions of [Al-Ihyaa'] and more (referring to Ihyaa' Uloom Al-Deen or Reviving the Sciences of Religion by Abu Hamed Al-Ghazaly)", which places the [Hikam] to be written before the death of Al-Mursy in the year 686 AH, and this makes [Al-Hikam] written by Ibn Ata'Illah before the age of thirty.

In the [Hikam], Ibn Ata'Illah used a lot of idioms, analogies, similes and metaphors; and used phonetic similarities as rhymes and assonance. He used a lot of interrogative questions associated with amazement and wondering (as Hikmas 13, 16, 39 and many more). He frequently used several words or several sentences to repeat the same meaning, and the same meaning was on occasions repeated in more than one [Hikma].

The [Hikam] spread among the Sufis in Egypt and beyond after Ibn Ata'Illah, mainly in the Maghreb (Tunisia, Algeria, Marrakech, Libya), and specially in Andalusia. After his death, the [Hikam] circulated wider than the Sufi circles, and came to be taught and explained in Al-Azhar by Egyptian scholars over the years.
None of the other books of Ibn Ata'Illah reached this eminent status or were the subject of this much explanation or books despite their exceptional value.

Ibn Abbad Al-Rondi in the introduction to his most renowned book of explanation of Al-Hikam, writes:

      • When we saw The Book of Wisdom [Kitab Al-Hikam] by Ibn Ata'Illah AsSakandari, (may The Lord be pleased with him and benefit us through him), and saw that it was among the best ever written in the science of Unification, and of the most glorified that was understood and memorized by every [salik] and [mureed], because it is small in size, great in knowledge, with clear statements, and supreme beautiful meanings, through which the author aimed at clarifying the path of the gnostics and unifiers, and at demonstrating the route for the [saliks] and the ascetics, we attempted to write a manuscript as an explanation to some of its obvious meanings, and as a clarification to a small glimmer of its glorious lights
      • It is beyond our abilities to encompass everything the book contains of essences. Indeed the words of the [awleyaa] and gnostics include enclosed secrets and guarded pearls of wisdom which only they can uncover, and the truths enclosed can only be clarified by directly listening to them. In what we write, we do not claim to explain the author's words, nor to state the truth of his ideologies. If we claim to do so, this would be bad [adab] that may end us in the wrong (may God forbid that), and we would be trespassing into what is improper by being un-cautious in explaining what Godly people wrote. We only write what we understand of their words, and what reached us of knowledge of their views and ideologies.
      • If we conform with the truth of the matter, and find the secret concealed, then this would be a blessing beyond value for which we cannot thank enough. If, on the other hand, we fail to do this and do not find the proper path, this would be due to our own ignorance and defects, and they are absolved and venerated from what we say and intend.
      • Since our intention is to be truthful, we initially present his words in full, then we follow by simplifying what we write, trying to put it in clearer and simpler words and form, so that it is understood that we only explain what we understood of what he wrote, and that we do not assume that it is the true explanation of what he wrote. And we also state many statements of others to increase benefit towards our target....And It is Allah Who grants success. There is No God save Him, and there is no goodness save His goodness.
      • And we plead to The Lord Almighty: since He has graced us by belonging to their sect, and relating to their generous kinship, and clinging to their tails, and following their suit; and granted us honoring them and loving them; that He does not deny us their intercession, nor expel us from the shelter of their sainthood, and not to dismiss us from their generous door, or part us with their correct direction. For their companion will never be distressed.
      • I have masters so honorable, that ..... their feet are upon the foreheads. If I am not one of them, then at least I have ..... through their love, attained rank and dignity
      • O Lord, we beg You by their love, for they loved You, and did not love You until You loved them, and they only reached loving You by Your love for them; and we did not reach their loving You except by Your grace, so please complete this for us till we meet You, O Most Merciful of The Merciful. And The Lord sent prayers upon Sayyidina Mohammed the last of the prophets, and upon his kind pure family, and their followers in goodness till judgement day, and sent abundant peace and greetings.

The Hikam are presented here in different forms;

All through, the Arabic text of both the Hikam and their explanation is presented. This is to serve several aims:

  • For those who know Arabic, the beauty of the Arabic text cannot be translated in full. If the meaning can be translated, the music of the words and the phonetic similarities cannot. Whoever can read the Arabic text will definitely benefit much more.
  • The presence of the Arabic original wil help those who can understand it to correct any mistakes or errors in the translation. Please send us any comments, corrections or suggestions by e-mail.
   
     
1 A sign of dependence on deeds is the lack of hope when you slip into an error. مِنْ عَلَامَةِ الْاعْتِمَادِ عَلَىَ الْعَمَلِ – نُقْصَانُ الْرَّجَاءِ عِنْدَ وُجُوْدِ الْزَّلَلِ

A sign that the worker (worshiper, slave [abd]) depends and relies on his deeds, is that his hope for The Lord's mercy and forgiveness decreases when he slips into an error or commits a sin. His hope, in this case, would be proportional to acts and to performing deeds and avoiding errors and sins.

This Hikma addresses the gnostics ([aarefeen]) who see all acts and deeds originating from The Lord of Both Worlds. They perceive and comprehend His saying: "And Allah has created you and all what you do [37:96]". None of their good deeds increase their hope, as they see that they are responsible for none of them. Also their hope and aspiration for The Lord's mercy and grace do not decrease if their obedience decreases or if they commit errors or sins, because they are flooded in the seas of gratification, and are content with fate and destiny, holding tight to the rope of The Lord's fate: "And your Lord does create as He pleases and chooses...[28:68]". The author wrote in one of his poems:

and a sin does not prevent him (a gnostic ([aaref])) from hope
for indeed Allah is The Forgiver of all sins.

The [saliks] who are still on the path, on the other hand, should feel joy and gratification on doing good deeds, and feel fear and diminishing hope on committing an error or a sin. Imam Al-Dardeer said:

champion and uphold fear over hope,
and walk to your Lord without hesitation,

for The Lord made good deeds cause for elevation of statuses in the final resting home, and foul deeds beget the lowest depths of hell.

And Almighty said: "As for him who gives and is fearful, [92:5] and affirms the truth of the best [word], [92:6] We shall surely ease his way to [the abode of] ease. [92:7] But as for him who is niggardly, and deems himself self-sufficient, [92:8] and denies the best [word], [92:9] We shall surely ease his way to hardship[92:10].".

Ibn Ata'Illah Assakandary started the book with a Hikma which addresses the gnostic ([aaref]), (while if he had aimed at encouraging smooth gradual progression, it would have been more suitable to start with what befits the [saliks] of encouraging repentance, and holding to the means leading to The Generous, The Granter and Acceptor of repentance), in order that the [salik] holds to a good beginning so that his end will shine. His aim in this Hikma is to stimulate the serious [salik] to perform good deeds, while elevating his will beyond depending on them, so that he depends on the generosity of The Owner of Might and Majesty.

In the Hadith, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: "No one will enter heaven because of his deeds. They said: not even you O Rasulullah? He said: not even me, except that Allah will encompass me with His Grace and Mercy". This Hadith, together with the Aya: "...Enter Paradise because of what you used to do [16:32]" point to that deeds do not count unless they are accepted, and acceptance depends on The Lords Graciousness, so it is His Graciousness that brings into heaven, and deeds are just reasons for it. And may He help us and guide us to what pleases Him.


يعني أن من علامات تعويل العامل على عمله أن ينقص رجاؤه في رحمة الله عند وجود زلله. ومفهومه رجحان الرجاء عند التحلي بالعمل والتخلي عن الزلل وهذه الحكمة إنما تناسب العارفين الذين يشاهدون أن الأعمال كلها من رب العالمين لملاحظتهم قوله سبحانه في كتابه المكنون:{وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ .(الصافات-٩٦)} فلا يعظم رجاؤهم بالأعمال الصالحة حيث إنهم لا يشاهدون لأنفسهم عملا ولا ينقص أملهم في رحمة الله إذا قصروا في الطاعة أو اكتسبوا زللا لأنهم غرقى في بحار الرضا بالأقدار متمسكون بحبل قضاء {وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء وَيَخْتَارُ...(القصص -٦٨)} فإن الرضا بالقضاء واجب من حيث إرادته له ومذموم من حيث الكسب ما انفكت الجهة. وقد قال المصنف في بعض قصائده:

ولايمنعه ذنب من رجاء
فإن الله غفار الذنوب.

وأما السالكون فإنما يناسبهم الفرح بصالح العمل وتقديم الخوف المستلزم لنقصان الرجاء عند وجود الزلل على حد قول الإمام الدردير:


وغلب الخوف على الرجاء
وسر لمولاك بلا تناء.

لا سيما في هذه الأزمنة التي رقت فيها الديانة وكثرت الجراءة على المعاصي وقلت فيه الأمانة. فإن الله تعالى جعل الأعمال الصالحة سببا لرفع الدرجات بدار القرار والأعمال الطالحة موجبة للدرك الأسفل من النار قال تعالى:{ فَأَمَّا مَن أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى {٥} وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى {٦} فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى {٧} وَأَمَّا مَن بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى {٨} وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى {٩} فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى {١٠}(الليل)} وإنما بدأ المصنف بما يناسب مقام العارفين وإن كان مقتضى الترقي البداءة بمقام السالكين من الحث على حسن المتاب والتمسك بالأسباب الموصلة إلى الكريم التواب ليكون السالك حسن البداية التي بها تشرق النهاية. فمقصوده بهذه الحكمة تنشيط السالك المجد في الأعمال ورفع همته عن الاعتماد عليها واعتماده على محض فضل ذي العزة والجلال. كما أشار لذلك ابن الفارض بقوله: تمسك بأذيال الهوى واخلع الحيا، وخل سبيل الناسكين وإن جلوا. فإنه لم يرد الأمر بترك العبادة لأنه كان من أعظم العباد بل أراد عدم التعويل عليها والاعتماد على فضل الكريم الجواد. وفي الحديث:" لن يدخل أحدا عمله الجنة. قالوا:ولا أنت يا رسول الله. قال:ولا أنا إلا أن يتغمدني الله بفضله ورحمته ". وقد جمع بين هذا الحديث وآية: {...ادْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (النحل -٣٢)} بأن العمل لا يكون معتبرا إلا إذا كان مقبولا وقبوله بمحض الفضل فصح أن دخول الجنة بمحض فضل الله وأن العمل سبب ظاهري متوقف عليه. والله تعالى يوفقنا لما فيه رضاه

2 Your desire to dispossess - when The Lord has set you up with means - is a concealed lust and your desire to possess the means - when The Lord has set you up in dispossession - is a decline away from high resolve. إِرَادَتُكَ الْتَّجْرِيْد – مَعَ إِقَامَةِ الْلَّهُ إِيَّاكَ فِيْ الْأَسْبَابِ – مِنَ الْشَّهْوَةِ الْخَفِيَّةِ، وَإِرَادَتُكَ الْأَسْبَابَ – مَعَ إِقَامَةِ الْلَّهُ إِيَّاكَ فِيْ الْتَّجْرِيْدِ – انْحِطَاطٌ عَنِ الْهِمَّةِ الْعَلِيَّةِ

The intention of the [mureed] to dispossess, or rid himself of whatever means The Lord set him up with (as means of seeking Halal sustenance [rizk] or means of access to knowledge) is a hidden lust. It is a lust because he did not accept what His Majesty wished, and it is hidden because he did not seek an immediate personal benefit or reward, but intended by dispossessing to approach proximity to The One who created and completed him. His self tempted him through its inapparent plots and intrigue to exit the means that The Lord, The Mighty Bestower, set him up with. And similarly, your desire to possess means which would otherwise occupy and distract you form The Gracious Lord when He has set you up in dispossession and continued to supply you with sustenance through His encompassing Grace, is abasement from high resolves, and regression from The Lord to people, which is a lower and a mean status. So hold to what The Lord, The Mighty, The Praiseworthy, has chosen for you. What He has set you up with and you did not seek yourself, He will support and back you in "And say: ‘My Lord, make me enter with a veritable entrance, and bring me out with a veritable departure. And grant me from Yourself a favorable authority.’ [17:80]" The truthful entering is what you do not enter by your will, and the truthful exit is that you do not exit by your wish, but through your Lord, "...And whoever holds fast to Allah, he indeed is guided to the right path. [3:101]". So abide by what The Lord Possessor of Great Graciousness set you up with, and you will achieve righteousness and integrity, and The Generous Bestower will facilitate for you the means.
يعني أن عزمك أيها المريد على التجرد أي التخلص من الأسباب التي أقامك الله فيها كطلب الرزق الحلال والاشتغال بالعلم الظاهر من الشهوة الخفية. أما كونها من الشهوة فلعدم وقوفك مع مراد مولاك وأما كونها خفية فلكونك لم تقصد بذلك حظ نفسك في العاجل بل التقرب بالتجرد لمن خلقك وسواك. فقد زينت لك النفس بالدسيسة الخفية الخروج عن الأسباب التي أقامك فيها العزيز الوهاب. وكذلك إرادتك الأسباب الشاغلة عن الله الكريم مع إقامته إياك في التجريد ورزقك من حيث لا تحتسب بفضله العميم انحطاط عن الهمة العلية لأن ذلك رجوع من الحق إلى الخلق وهي رتبة دنية.فالزم أيها المريد ما رضيه لك العزيز الحميد. فإن ما أدخلك الله فيه تولى إعانتك عليه وما دخلت فيه بنفسك وكلك إليه {وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا (الإسراء -٨٠)}. فالمدخل الصدق أن تدخل فيه لا بنفسك والمخرج الصدق أن تخرج لا بنفسك بل بربك. {...وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِاللّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِيَ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (آل عمران - ١٠١)} فكن حيث أقامك الله ذو الفضل العظيم. وعلامة الإقامة حصول الاستقامة وتيسير الأسباب من الكريم الوهاب
3 Antecedent resolves do not pierce the walls of destiny. سَوَابِقُ الْهِمَمِ لَا تَخْرِقُ أَسْوَارَ الْأَقْدَارِ

Determinations and resolves (forces of spiritual intentions that, through God's will, lead to actions, that might appear as wonders or miracles for a [waleyy]) will not reach, or tear down the walls surrounding, what The Lord has destined since eternity. You have to oblige yourself to believe that determinations and resolves are irrelevant ordinary affairs that have no effects, and whatever outcome follows them is only due to The Lord's Will and Destiny happening with and not due to them. Your determination and resolve for something contradicting what your Lord has destined has no value or effect, so do not think it brings you any benefit.
هذه الحكمة كالتعليل لما قبلها وتوطئة لما بعدها. يعني أن ما قدره الله في الأزل لا تخرق أسواره المحيطة به فضلا عن أن تصل إليه سوابق الهمم أي لهمم السوابق وهي قوى النفس التي تنفعل عنها الأشياء بإرادة الله تعالى وتكون للولي كرامة ولغيره كالساحر والعائن إهانة. وفيه تشبيه الأقدار بمدينة لها أسوار في الصيانة والحفظ على سبيل المكنية. أي جب عليك أيها المريد أن تعتقد أن الهمم أسباب عادية لا تأثير لها وما ينشأ عنها إنما هو بقضاء الله تعالى وقدره فيكون عندها لا بها. فإرادتك خلاف ماأراده مولاك لا تجدي نفعا ولا تأثيرا لها في الحقيقة حتى تظن أنها توجب لك رفعا
4 Rest yourself from planning. Whatever Someone Else has undertaken for you, don’t attempt to do for yourself. أَرِحْ نَفْسَكَ مِنَ الْتَّدْبِيرِ، فَمَا قَامَ بِهِ غَيْرُكَ عَنْكَ – لَاتَقُمْ بِهِ لِنَفْسِكَ

Rest yourself from the effort of planning that contradicts slavery and servitude, as by saying: if I had done so and so, this would not have happened. The Lord has pre-planned everything by His antecedent knowledge, and whatever He has done, don't tire yourself by trying to do, for you are incapable of doing. On the other hand, planning accompanied by realizing that all authority and power belongs to The Knower is admissible, for Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: "planning is half the livelihood and sustenance". This issue is the foundation for the path.
يعني: أرح نفسك من تعب التدبير المنافي للعبودية بأن تقول:لولا فعلت كذا ما كان كذا فإن الله تعالى دبر الأشياء في سابق علمه وماقام به غيرك عنك لا تقوم به لنفسك فإنك عاجز عن القيام به. وأما التدبير المصحوب بالتفويض للعليم الخبير فلا بأس به لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "التدبير نصف المعيشة " وللمصنف كتاب سماه " التنوير في إسقاط التدبير“ راجعه أن شئت. فإن هذه المسألة أساس طريق القوم
5 Your strive to acquire what He guaranteed for you, and your delinquency in performing what He demanded of you, are signs of your lack of insight. اجْتِهَادُكَ فِيْمَا ضَمِنَ لَكَ، وَتَقْصِيْرُكَ فِيْمَا طَلَبَ مِنْكَ- دَلِيْلٌ عَلَىَ انْطِمَاسِ الْبَصِيْرَةِ مِنْكَ

Your struggle to reach what The Lord has guaranteed and assured you of sustenance, as evident in His saying : "And there is not a creature in the earth but the sustenance thereof rests on God ...[11:6]" and your deferring and delaying performing the worships that were demanded of you by His saying: "O people, worship your Lord Who created you...[2:21]", is proof and evidence of a smear and tarnish (or mindlessness) on your insight (which is an eye to the heart that perceives spiritual matters as the seeing eye perceives material objects). The author states that what is to be considered evidence of lack of insight is the presence of both: strive to gain sustenance, and deferral of worship. On the other hand, if one strives and struggles for halal sustenance without deferral or delay in worship and performing The Lord's dues, one befits Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam's Hadith: "he who ends the day exhausted due to striving for halal, ends his day with his sins forgiven".
يعني: أن اجتهادك أيها المريد في طلب ما ضمن أي كفل الله لك به من الرزق بنحو قوله تعالى: {وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِإِلاَّ عَلَى اللّهِ رِزْقُهَا ... (هود - ٦)}. وتقصيرك أي تفريطك فيما طلب منك من العبادة بنحو قوله تعالى: {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ...(البقرة - ٢١)}. دليل وبرهان على انطماس أي عمى البصيرة منك وهي عين في القلب تدرك بها الأمور المعنوية كما أن العين الباصرة تدرك بها الأمور الحسية. وفهم من المصنف أن دليل انطماس البصيرة هو اجتماعا لأمرين أعني الاجتهاد في طلب الرزق مع التقصير في العمل وأخبر عن الأمرين بقوله: “ دليل “ لأن فعيلا يستوي فيه المفرد وغيره. وأما إذا اجتهد في طلب الرزق الحلال من غير تقصير في العبادة فإنه يدخل في حديث: "من بات كالا من طلب الحلال بات مغفورا له"ء
6 Let not the delay of answering your prayers despite your persistence in asking be cause for despair. He has guaranteed answering your prayers with what He decides for you, not with what you choose for yourself, and in the time He pleases, not the time you want. لَا يَكُنْ تَأَخُّرُ أَمَدَ الْعَطَاءِ مَعَ الْإِلْحَاحِ فِيْ الْدُّعَاءِ- مَوْجِبَاً لِيَأْسِكَ؛ فَهُوَ ضَمِنَ لَكَ الْإِجَابَةَ فِيْمَا يَخْتَارُهُ لَكَ لَا فِيِمَا تَخْتَارُ لِنَفْسِكَ وَفِيْ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِيْ يُرِيْدُ، لَا فِيْ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِيْ تُرِيْدُ

Do not let a delay in timing of answering your prayers despite your persistence and insistence, cause despair and loss of hope of their being answered. He [Subhanahu] has guaranteed answering them by saying: "...‘Call on Me and I will respond to you..[40:60]" by what He chooses for you and not by what you ask and request for yourself. He knows what better befit, benefit, and suit you more than you do. Maybe you request something that denying you would be more rewarding, so then denial becomes the essence of giving, as the author wrote later*1*: "Perhaps He gives you and in so deprives you, and perhaps He deprives you and in so gives you." And this is appreciated by those who witnessed the status of "...Yet it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you God knows, and you know not. [2:216]". That is why a gnostic ([aaref]) said: "and depriving from You is in fact actual giving". And He also guaranteed answering your prayer in the time He chooses not the time you want. You should have a Moses like patience, for patience and lack of haste more befit slavery and servitude. Moses used to pray for the demise of Pharaoh and his troops "...Our Lord, obliterate their riches and harden their hearts so that they do not believe until they see the painful chastisement [10:88]" and only after forty years were their prayers answered, as He said: "...'Your prayer has been answered. So the two of you remain upright, and do not follow the way of those who have no knowledge'. [10:89]". And Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said in a Hadith: "Allah loves those who are persistent in supplication". And it is said that if a pious one supplicates, Gabriel asks: O Lord, Your slave is requesting, shall I grant his request?, and The Lord says: "leave My slave, for I love hearing his voice". So perform what The Lord has ordered you by praying and supplicating, and deliver what He demanded. Perhaps He answers your demand by keeping in store for you in its place what grants you the best reward and more.
أي لا يكن تأخر وقت العطاء المطلوب مع الإلحاح أي المدوامة في الدعاء موجبا ليأسك من إجابة الدعاء فهو سبحانه ضمن لك الإجابة بقوله: {... ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ...(غافر-٦٠)} فيما يختاره لك لا فيما تختاره لنفسك فإنه أعلم بما يصلح لك منك. فربما طلبت شيئا كان الأولى منعه عنك فيكون المنع عين العطاء. كما قال المصنف فيما يأتي: ربما منعك فأعطاك وربما أعطاك فمنعك. يشهد ذلك من تحقق بمقام {...وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (البقرة -٢١٦)} ولذا قال بعض العارفين: ومنعك في التحقيق ذا عين إعطائي. وكذلك ضمن لك الإجابة في الوقت الذي يريد لا في الوقت الذي تريد. فكن موسوي الصبر فإن الصبر وعدم الاستعجال أولى بالعبيد. ألا ترى أن موسىكان يدعو على فرعون وقومه وهارون يؤمن على قوله: {...رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ ... (يونس - ٨٨)} إلى آخر ما قص الله في كتابه المكنون وبعد أربعين سنة حصل المدعو به وقال: {...قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا وَلاَ تَتَّبِعَآنِّ سَبِيلَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (يونس - ٨٩)}. وفي الحديث: " أن الله يحب الملحين في الدعاء ". وورد: أن العبد الصالح إذا دعا الله تعالى قال جبريل: يا رب عبدك فلان اقض حاجته فيقول: " دعوا عبدي فإني أحب أن أسمع صوته ".فقم أيها المريد بما أمرك الله به من الدعاء وسلم له مراده. فربما أجابك وادخر لك بدل مطلوبك ما تنال به الحسنى وزيادة

7 Don't doubt the promise because what was promised did not materialize - even if its due time has come - lest this becomes a smear on your insight, and an extinguish to the light of your soul. لَا يُشَكِّكَنّكَ فِيْ الْوَعْدِ عَدَمْ وُقُوْعِ المَوْعُوْدِ- وَإِنْ تَعَيَّنَ زَمَنُهُ- لِئَلَّايَكُوْنَ ذَلِكَ قَدْحَاً فِيْ بَصِيْرَتِكَ، وَإِخْمَادَاً لِنُوْرِ سَرِيْرَتِكَ

If the promised answer is delayed beyond the time you expect or hope, do not doubt The Lord's promise, lest this becomes reduction and diminution in your insight, and an extinguish to the light to your soul. The promise may have been conditional upon situations and settings hat have not occurred. A true gnostic ([aaref]) is the one who always stays on the edge of proper manners [adab] with The Lord, and is not upset and distressed when what is promised is delayed. هذه الحكمة أعم مما قبلها فإن الموعود به في تلك خصوص الإجابة وفي هذه أعم لأنه يشمل ما إذا كان الوعد من الله بإلهام رحماني بأن ألهمك أنه يحصل لك في الوقت الفلاني فتح أو يحصل في هذا العام كذا كما يقع لبعض الأولياء فيخبر بذلك ثم لا يحصل. فإذا حصل لك أيها المريد مثل ذلك، ثم تأخر الموعود به فلا تشك فيما وعدك الله به وإن تعين زمنه وبالأولى إذا لم يتعين لئلا يكون ذلك الشك قدحا أي نقصا في بصيرتك وإخمادا أي إطفاء لنور سريرتك التي هي عين القلب فهي مرادفة للبصيرة وذلك لجواز أن يكون وقوع ذلك الموعود معلقا على أسباب وشروط لم تحصل. فالعارف من تأدب مع ربه ولم يتزلزل عند تأخر ما وعده به
8 If He opens for you a path to knowing Him - do not be bothered if your deeds decrease. For He opened it wanting you to know Him. Did you not realize that allowing you knowing Him is His gift to you, while your deeds are only what you offer Him? How does what you offer Him compare to what He bestows upon you? إِذَا فَتَحَ لَكَ وِجْهَةً مِنَ الْتَّعَرُّفِ- فَلَا تُبَالِ مَعَهَا إِنَّ قَلَّ عَمَلُكَ، فَإِنَّهُ مافْتَحَهَا لَكَ إِلَا وَهُوَ يُرِيْدُ أَنْ يَتَعَرَّفَ إِلَيْكَ، أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْتَّعَرُّفَ هُوَ مُوْرِدُهُ عَلَيْكَ، وَالْأَعْمَالَ أَنْتَ مُهْدِيْهَا إِلَيْهِ! وَأَيْنَ مَا تُهْدِيْهِ إِلَيْهِ- مِّمَّا هُوَمُوْرِدُهُ عَلَيْكَ؟

If The Lord opens for you a path to knowing Him, and the path includes sicknesses and calamities and inflictions take them as cause to knowing The Lord through His Traits as Clemency and Overwhelm and Might and others. The person addressed in this Hikma is the one who is alert and comprehensive, and not the one tangled in the strings of inattention who becomes embittered when these befall. Do not bother if your effort and deeds lessen or decrease, or don't be discouraged and disheartened with the occurrence and opening of these 'directions' and the lessening of your deeds, for The Lord says in the Qudsi Hadith: "If I inflict my pious slave and he does not complain about it to others, I will free him from My bonds, and replace better flesh in place of his flesh, and better blood in place of his blood, and may he continue work". He will come out of illness exiting all his sins (being all forgiven) as the day he was born, and will not be held accountable for previous wrongdoings. And it is related that when a pious worshiper falls ill, The Lord tells the "Honorable Noble Writers" [kiram katibeen]: "record for My slave [abd] all the deeds he used to do when he was healthy". This verifies that He only opened that direction or path to you wanting to acquaint you to His Vast Graciousness upon you. And no doubt this is much greater in benefit than any amount of deeds in which you are required to present utmost sincerity.
يعني إذا فتح لك الفتاح أيها المريد وجهة أي جهة من جهات التعرف وتلك الجهة كالأمراض والبلايا والفاقات فإنها سبب لمعرفة الله تعالى بصفاته كاللطف والقهر وغيرهما. والمخاطب بذلك المتيقظ دون المرتبك في حبال الغفلة الذي يسخط عند نزولها. فلا تبال معها أيها المريد أن قل عملك أي بقلة عملك فهمزة أن مفتوحة منسكبة مع ما بعدها بمصدر مجرور بالباء المقدرة المتعلقة بتبال أي لا تغتم مع تلك الجهة ولا تهتم بقلة الأعمال. فإن الله تعالى يقول في الحديث القدسي: " إذا ابتليت عبدي المؤمن فلم يشكني إلى عواده أنشطته من عقالي وأبدلته لحما خيرا من لحمه ودما خيرا من دمه وليستأنف العمل". يعني أنه يخرج من ذنوبه كيوم ولدته أمه ولا يحاسب على الأعمال السيئة السالفة. وورد: أن الله تعالى يقول للكرام الكاتبين عند مرض عبده المؤمن: " اكتبوا لعبدي ما كان يعمل صحيحا مقيما " فصح أنه ما فتحها أي لك الجهة لك إلا وهو يرد أن يتعرف إليك بواسع فضله عليك. ولا شك أن هذا أعظم من كثرة الأعمال التي تطالب بوجود سر الإخلاص فيها. كما أشار إلى ذلك بالاستفهام التقريري بقوله: ألم تعلم أن التعرف هو مورده عليك... الخ
9 Deeds vary in type, because of the variability of conditions and states. تَنَوَّعَتْ أَجْنَاسُ الْأَعْمَالِ، لِتَنَوُّعِ وَارِدَاتُ الْأَحْوَالِ

Different deeds come from different revelations ([warid]s), which are the states touching and affecting the heart from knowledge and secrets) and result from the knowledge and states in the heart, as in the Hadith: "indeed the body contains a 'lump of flesh' [moddgha] which if set right sets the whole body in a good state, and if corrupt will corrupt the whole body, and this is the heart." So if the heart is touched by the knowledge of the benefit of night prayer [qiyam al-lail], it will prefer it to other deeds, and the body will follow. Similarly, other deeds follow the heart's state as charity and fasting and all other acts and deeds.  أي اختلفت أجناس الأعمال الظاهرة لاختلاف الواردات التي هي الأحوال القائمة بالقلب فإن الواردات ما يرد على القلب من المعارف والأسرار والأعمال الظاهرة تابعة لأحوال القلب. لما في الحديث: " ألا وإن في الجسد مضغة إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله ألا وهي القلب ". فإذا ورد على القلب العلم بفضائل قيام الليل توجه إليه وآثره على غيره فتقوم به الجوارح.وكذلك الصدقة والصيام وباقي الأعمال
10 Deeds are upright images, and their souls are the secret of sincerity inherent in them الْأَعْمَالُ: صُوَرٌ قَائِمَةٌ، وَأَرْوَاحُهَا: وُجُوْدُ سِرِّ الْإِخَلاصِ فِيْهَا

Deeds of righteousness are depicted as upright images or ghosts, and what they contain of sincerity is what puts life into them. What is required is absolute and total sincerity, which varies depending on each person's status. Slaves' [ebad]'s sincerity is purifying the deeds from apparent and hidden pretense, from hypocrisy, and from any share and benefit for the self, so that deeds are only performed for the sake of The Lord, hoping for His reward and for the avoidance of His punishment. Lovers' [muhibbeen]'s sincerity is performing deeds in veneration and glorification of The Lord's Majesty because this is what befits His Exalted Status, without waiting for any reward in return, or fearing any punishment or as Rabaa Al-Adaweyya said:

they all worship You fearing Your hellfire,
and they see escaping it a great bounty
or do it aiming to inhabit heavens and paradise,
where they own palaces and drink from the fountain of Salsabeel
but for me, I have no interest in heavens and paradise or fear of hellfire,
and want nothing other than my love to You

For "those brought nearest to Allah" [al-muqarrabeen] sincerity is their witnessing that their every motion or stillness is brought about and decided by The Lord, while denouncing every power and authority, to the extent that they see all their deeds preset, dictated, and performed through Allah, and see no role or choice for themselves.
يعني أن أعمال البر كصور قائمة أي أشباح وأرواحها التي بها حياتها وجود سر الإخلاص أي سر هو الإخلاص فيها. فمن عمل عملا بلا إخلاص كان كمن أهدى جارية ميتة للأمير يبتغي بها الثواب وهو لا يستحق على ذلك إلا أنواع العقاب والمراد مطلق الإخلاص الشامل لأنواعه فإنه يختلف باختلاف الأشخاص. فإخلاص العباد سلامة أعمالهم من الرياء الجلي والخفي وكل ما فيه حظ للنفس فلايعملون العمل إلا لله تعالى طلبا للثواب وهربا من العقاب. وإخلاص المحبين هو العمل لله إجلالا وتعظيما لأنه تعالى أهل لذلك لالقصد شيء مما ذكر. كما قالت رابعة العدوية
 كلهم يعبدوك من خوف نار
ويرون النجاة حظا جزيل
أو بأن يسكنوا الجنان فيحظوا
بقصور ويشربوا سلسبيل
ليس لي بالجنان والنار حظ
أنا لا أبتغي بحبي بديلا
وأما إخلاص المقربين فهو شهودهم انفراد الحق بتحريكهم وتسكينهم مع التبرؤ من الحول والقوة فلا يعملون إلا بالله ولا يرون لأنفسهم عملا
11 Bury your existence in the land of obscurity. For what grows out of what was not buried does not bloom in full. ادْفِنْ وُجُوْدَكَ فِيْ أَرْضِ الْخُمُولِ، فَمَا نَبَتَ مِمَّا لَمْ يُدْفَنْ لَا يَتِمُّ نِتَاجُهُ

Completely bury your existence, reputation and stardom in obscurity as the earth completely buries and covers the dead. Do not seek fame or stardom, for salvation is aided by insignificance and obscurity, unlike eminence and fame which are major interruptions that bring on punishment. Plants that come out of seeds that were not buried and planted in the ground will not produce and bloom in full, but grow feeble and yellow. A [mureed] is similar. If fame and stardom touch him in his beginnings, he is unlikely to succeed in the end. A man asked Bishr Ibn Al-Harith for advice he told him: "be obscure and insignificant, and make your food lawful and good". And a gnostic ([aaref]) said: this way of ours (the way of the gnostics ([aarefeen])) only befits those whose spirits mopped the garbage dumps. Ibrahim Ibn Adham said: "who loves fame has not been true with The Lord". And some said:

live insignificant and obscure among the people and be content with this
for this is safer for this world and for religion
and he who deals with the people will not find safety for his religion
أي ادفن أيها المريد نفسك أي شهرتها في الخمول الذي هو كالأرض للميت في التغطية التامة بأن لا تتعاطى أسباب الشهرة. فإن الخمول مما يعين على الإخلاص بخلاف حب الظهور فإنه من جملة القواطع القاصمة للظهور. فما نبت من الحب مما لم يدفن في الأرض لا يتم نتاجه بل يخرج مصفرا. وكذلك أنت أيها المريد إذا تعاطيت أسباب الشهرة في بدايتك قل أن تفلح في نهايتك. ومن ثم قال رجل لبشر بن الحارث: أوصني فقال: أخمل ذكرك وأطب مطعمك. وقال بعضهم: لا تصلح طريقتنا هذه إلا لأقوام كنست بأرواحهم المزابل. وقال إبراهيم بن أدهم: ما صدق الله من أحب الشهرة. ولله در القائل
 عش خامل الذكر بين النا س وارض به
فذاك أسلم في الدنيا وفي الدين
من عاشر الناس لم تسلم ديانته
ولم يزل بين تحريك وتسكين
12 Nothing benefits the heart more than a solitude through which it enters a field of contemplation. مَا نَفَعَ الْقَلْبَ شَيْءٌ مِثْلَ عُزْلَةٌ، يَدْخُلُ بِهَا مَيْدَانَ فِكْرَةٍ

What benefits most the [mureed] 's heart to purify it of its inattention, is a seclusion or isolation through which he enters the fields of contemplation, to meditate and reflect upon the creations of The Maker of the earths and the skies. And in the Hadith, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: "an hour of contemplation is better than seventy years of worship". Contemplation leads to knowing the essence of things, which brings closer to knowing The Lord, and to regarding the hidden maladies and diseases of the self, the plotting of conniving Satan, and the deceptions and vanities of the world. The seclusion that leads to this thinking is one of the four pillars of the path, which are collectively mentioned in the saying:

the house of [wilaya]'s corners are divided
(where our masters are from the substitutes [abdal])
into silence and continuous solitude
and hunger and valuable cherished lack of sleep.

This was further explained by Imam Ahmed Ibn Sahl when he said: your enemies are four: the world, and its weapon it uses to lure and seduce you away from 'the path' is its people, and what imprisons and chains it and makes you triumph over its temptation is seclusion; Satan [Shaytan] and his weapon is satiety, and you imprison him with hunger; the self, and its weapon is sleep, and you imprison it with wakefulness; and passion whose weapon is talking, and you imprison it in silence. And know that seclusion can be a physical solitude, by withdrawing totally away from people, and can be with the heart only, with the body among them, while the heart and soul are attached to The Lord, as Rabaa Al-Adawiyya said:

and I made You in my soul The One I converse with
and left my body for those who want my company
the body accompanies those sitting around me
and The Love of my soul in my heart is my companion.
أي انفع قلب المريد شيء من الأشياء المطهرة له من الغفلات مثل عزلة عن الخلق يدخل بها ميدان فكرة أي تفكر في مصنوعات بارئ الأرض والسماوات. وإضافة ميدان لفكرة من إضافة المشبه به للمشبه أي فكرة شبيهة بالميدان لتردد القلب فيها كتردد الخيل في الميدان. وفي الحديث: "تفكر ساعة خير من عبادة سبعين سنة " وذلك لأنه يوصل إلى معرفة حقائق الأشياء وتزداد به معرفة الله ويطلع به المتفكر على خفايا آفات النفس ومكائد الشيطان وغرور الدنيا. والعزلة التي ينشأ عنها هذا الفكر أحد أركان الطريق الأربعة المجموعة في قول بعضهم
بيت الولاية قسمت أركانه
سادتنا فيه من الأبدال
ما بين صمت واعتزا ل دائم
والجوع والسهر النزيه الغالي
يوضحها قول الإمام أحمد بن سهل: أعداؤك أربعة: الدنيا وسلاحها الخلق وسجنها العزلة. والشيطان وسلاحه الشبع وسجنه الجوع. والنفس وسلاحها النوم وسجنها السهر. والهوى وسلاحه الكلام وسجنه الصمت. واعلم أن الشأن في العزلة أن تكون بالقلب والقالب بأن يتباعد صاحبها عن الخلق. وقد تكون بالقلب فقط بأن يختلط بجسمه معهم مع تعلق قلبه بالحق كما قالت رابعة العدوية في مقام المشاهدة القلبية
ولقد جعلتك في الفؤاد محدثي
وأبحت جسمي من أراد جلوسي
فالجسم مني للجليس مؤانس
وحبيب قلبي في الفؤاد أنيسي
13 How does a heart shine while the images of the worlds are imprinted in its mirror? Or how does it depart to God, while it is chained down by its lusts? Or how does it long to enter The Presence [Hadra] of The Lord, while it is still stained by the impurities of its oblivion? Or how does it aspire to comprehend the intricacies of the secrets, while it has not repented its lapses? كَيْفَ يُشْرِقُ قَلْبٌ صُوَرُ الْأَكْوَانِ مُنْطَبِعَةٌ فِيْ مَرْآتِهِ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَرْحَلُ إِلَىَ الْلَّهِ، وَهُوَ مُكَبَّلٌ بِشَهْوَاتِهِ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ يُدْخَلُ حَضْرَةِالْلَّهِ، وَهُوَ لَمْ يَتَطَهَّرُ مِنْ جَنْابَةِ غَفْلاتِهِ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَرْجُوَ أَنْ يَفْهَمَ دَقَائِقَ الْأَسْرَارِ، وَهُوَلَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْ هَفْواتِهِ؟

A seclusion that is associated with contemplation suffices the heart to abandon othernesses [al-aghyar], and to travel to The Lord, and enter His Presence [Hadra], and comprehend the most intricate of mysteries and secrets. On the other hand, a heart occupied by othernesses and in whose mirror objects' images are imprinted, and that is chained or tied down with lusts, will not shine and will not enter the Presence [Hadra] of The Lord The Creator. This heart did not purify of its impurities of oblivion and negligences, so it is not allowed entry as an impure is denied entry to the mosques. The question in this Hikma is to emphasize that a heart will not shine if images, which are like darkness, are imprinted in its mirror (which is its vision and insight). It cannot travel and depart to The Lord and sever its own desires, while it is tied down by its lusts. It will not enter The Lord's Presence, or His circle of realm and dominion that requires purification from sin to allow entry, while it has not purified of its negligences and oblivion. It will not understand the intricacies of the secrets for which avoidance of sins and errors is a prerequisite, while it has not repented its lapses. Thus the requirements to reach this state are: a shining heart, travel to the presence of The Lord, entry to it, and understanding its intricacies. The obstacles on the path are four: imprinting images of the world in the heart's mirror, being chained and cuffed in lust, failing to purify from sins, and not repenting the lapses.
هذه الحكمة كالتوجيه للحكمة التي قبلها وذلك لأن العزلة المصحوبة بالفكرة يتخلى القلب بها عن الأغيار وبها يرحل إلى الله ويدخل حضرته ويتحلى بفهم دقائق الأسرار. وأما القلب الذي طبعت في مرآته صور المكونات فاشتغل بها وصار مكبلا أي مقيدا بالشهوات فإنه لا ينال الإشراق ولا يدخل في حضرة الكريم الخلاق لأنه لم يتطهر من غفلاته الشبيهة بالجنابة فيمنع منها كما يمنع الجنب من المسجد الذي هو محل المناجاة والاستجابة. والاستفهام في المواضع الأربعة إنكاري بمعنى النفي أي لا يكون إشراق القلب مع انطباع صور الأكوان التي هي كالظلمة في مرآته أي محل ناظره الذي هو البصيرة لما في ذلك من الجمع بين الضدين ولا يمكنه الرحيل إلى الله بقطع عقبات النفس مع كونه مكبلا بشهواته للجمع المذكور ولا يدخل حضرة الله أي دائرة ولايته المقتضية للطهارة مع كونه لم يتطهر من جنابة غفلاته لذلك الجمع ولا يرجو أن يفهم دقائق الأسرار المتوقفة على التحرز من المعاصي مع كونه لم يتب من هفواته لذلك فالمطالب أربعة: إشراق القلب والرحيل إلى الحضرة ودخولها والإطلاع على أسرارها. وكل وسيلة لما بعده. والموانع أربعة: انطباع صور الأكوان في عين القلب والتكبل بالشهوات وعدم التطهير من جنابة الغفلات وترك التوبة من الهفوات
14
The whole universe is a darkness, only illuminated by the appearance of Al-Haqq. So whoever saw the universe and did not perceive Him in it, at it, before it, or after it, lacks perception of lights, and for him suns of knowledge were blocked by clouds of impressions and signs. الْكَوْنُ كُلَّهُ ظُلْمَةٌ، وَإِنَّمَا أَنَارَهُ ظُهُوْرُ الْحَقِّ فِيْهِ، فَمَنْ رَأَىَ الْكَوْنَ، وَلَمْ يَشْهَدْهُ فِيْهِ، أَوْ عِنْدَهُ، أَوْ قَبْلَهُ، أَوْ بَعْدَهُ – فَقَدْ أَعْوَزَ وُجُوْدِ الْأَنْوَارِ، وَحُجِبَتِ عَنْهُ شُمُوْسُ المَعَارِفِ بِسُحُبِ الْآَثَارِ

The universe itself is all darkness, because it does not exist in itself, but it exists and is illuminated by the appearance of The Lord, a spiritual appearance of creating and defining and not a physical appearance of presence and shaping. He appeared in the universe and said: "Be" so it "Was", and He is capable of destroying it anytime He wishes, so nothing exists except The Creator and Originator of the universes. Some people are veiled by the universe and creations from perceiving The Creator. They do not perceive Him, [Subhanahu], do not witness His effects in the universe, and miss perceiving the presence of the lights. For them, the suns and lights of knowledge that reveal and display the essences of things are veiled and obscured, including the knowledge that deliver to the presence of The Most Holy. Others are not veiled by the universe and creation from perceiving The Creator, but witness Him through His effects, and observe Him through His Destiny and arrangement, and these are the ones who witness the effects and The Effector together. Others perceive Him before everything, and these witness The Effector and thence deduce the effects. Others witness Him after everything, and these are the ones who witness the effects and thence deduce the presence of The Effector. The expressions "in, at, before, and after" are not to be taken physically denoting time or place related to The Lord, but are used to express thoughtfulness, so comprehend and hold tight to His saying: "...nothing is any similar to Him, and He is The Hearing, The Seeing. [42:11]".
أي أن الكون بالنظر إلى ذاته كله ظلمة أي دم محض لأنه لا وجود له بذاته وإنما أناره أي أوجده ظهور الحق تعالى فيه أي ظهور إيجاد وتعريف لا ظهور حلول وتكييف بمعنى أنه تجلى عليه بذاته وقال له كن فكان وهو قادر على إعدامه في الحال والاستقبال فليس ثم إلا مبدع الأكوان ثم أن من الناس من حجبه الكون أي المكونات عن المكون تعالى فلم يشهده سبحانه أي فلم يشاهد تأثيره فيه وهو الذي قد أعوزه أي فاته وجود الأنوار فصار محتاجا لها لفقدها عنده وحجبت أي غابت عنه شموس المعارف أي المعارف التي هي كالشموس في إظهار الأشياء والكشف عن حقائقها فإضافة شموس إلى المعارف من إضافة المشبه به للمشبه كإضافة سحب إلى الآثار أي الآثار جمع أثر بمعنى المكونات الشبيهة بالسحب بضمتين جمع سحاب قد منعت عنه المعارف الشبيهة بالشموس الكاشفة عنه الحقائق الموصلة إلى حضرة القدوس ومن الناس من لم يحجبه الكون عن المكون سبحانه وتعالى بل شهده فيه بتأثيره وعنده بحفظه وتدبيره وهؤلاء الذين يشهدون الأثر والمؤثر معا. ومنهم من شهده قبله وهم الذين يستدلون بالمؤثر على الأثر. ومنهم من شهده بعده وهم الذين يستدلون بالأثر على المؤثر وهذه الظروف المذكورة في كلام المصنف ليست زمانية ولا مكانية فإن الظروف من جملة الأكوان بل هي اصطلاحات ليس المراد منها ظاهرها عند ذوي العرفان وإنما تدرك بالذوق لا بالتعبير. فقف عند حدك وتمسك بقوله تعالى: {...لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ  (الشورى - ١١)ء
15 Of the evidences of the presence of His Overwhelm, [Subhanahu], is that He veiled you from perceiving Him by what is not present alongside Him. مِمَّا يَدُلُّكَ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ قَهْرِهِ – سُبْحَانَهُ – أَنْ حَجَبَكَ عَنْهُ بِمَا لَيْسَ بِمَوْجُوْدٍ مَعَهُ

What shows you that He is The Overwhelming Subduer above all his people is that He veiled you from Him by the universe which is not present alongside Him, because you know that it is a darkness and pure void in itself. The true existence is that of The Lord. Everything else is not described by the  gnostics ([aarefeen]) as present or as missed and absent. Nothing is alongside Him because of the verification of His Oneness, and only what was found or present to start with can be missed or lost, and gnostics ([aarefeen]) did not find or perceive anything other than him, so they miss and lose nothing. Abul Hasan Al-Shaduli said: "We regard Allah from the perspective of faith and certainty [yaqeen], and this suffices beyond needing evidence and proof. Through Him we find evidence for the presence of creation and people. There is nothing in existence except The One, Al-Haqq, and we don't perceive anything else, and if we do, we see them as scattered dust in the wind, which if you inspect you find they are nothing". And Ibn Araby said: "who sees people without acts has won, and who sees them without life has been blessed, and who sees them as absolute nothing has arrived". And it is said:

whoever sees the people as an illusion
has been elevated above the veil
to a complete presence
without distancing or nearing
 he sees nothing other than Him
there guiding to what is right.

So remove this veil from upon you and cling to The Lord God. For everything is perishable save His Face, and only this path will guarantee your reaching Him.
أي ما يدلك أيها المريد على أنه سبحانه القاهر فوق عباده أن حجبك بفتح همزة أن المصدرية المنسكبة مع ما بعدها بمصدر أي حجبك عنه تعالى بالكون الذي ليس بموجود معه لأنك قد علمت أنه ظلمة أي عدم محض من حيث ذاته. فالوجود الحقيقي إنما هو لله تعالى وما سواه لا يوصف عند العارفين بوجود ولا فقد إذ لا يوجد معه غيره لثبوت أحديته ولا يفقد إلا ما وجد. وقال سيدي أبوالحسن الشاذلي: إنا لننظر إلى الله تعالى بنظر الإيمان والإيقان فيغنينا ذلك عن الدليل والبرهان ونستدل به على الخلق فإنه ليس في الوجود إلا الواحد الحق فلا نراهم وإن كان ولابد فنراهم كالهباء في الهواء أن فتشتهم لم تجدهم شيئا. وقال سيدي محي الدين بن العربي: من شهد الخلق لا فعل لهم فقد فاز ومن شهدهم لا حياة لهم فقد حاز ومن شهدهم عين العدم فقد وصل. ومما قيل في هذا المعنى
من أبصر الخلق كالسراب
فقد ترقى عن الحجاب
إلى وجود يراه رتقا
بلا ابتعاد ولا اقترا ب
ولم يشاهد به سواه
هناك يهدى إلى الصواب
 فارفع أيها المريد عنك هذا الحجاب واجعل تعلقك برب الأرباب. فإن كل شيء هالك إلا وجهه. ولا يضمن لك الوصول إلى الله إلا هذه الوجهة
16 How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He has revealed everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He has appeared with everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He has appeared in everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He has appeared for everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He was The Manifest before the existence of everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He is more apparent than everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He is The One and nothing is with Him? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He is closer to you than everything? How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while if it were not for Him, nothing would have existed? O wonder! How does existence appear in nothingness? Or how does the recent and novice compare to Who is The Eternal? كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ الَّذِيْ أَظْهَرَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ الَّذِيْ ظَهَرَبِكُل ِّشَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ الَّذِيْ ظَهَرَ فِيْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَالَّذِي ظَهَرَ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ الْظَّاهِرُ قَبْلَ وُجُوْدِ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ أَظْهَرُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الَّذِيْ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ شَيْءٌ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوِّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ؟ كَيْفَ يُتَصَوَّرُ أَنْ يَحْجُبَهُ شَيْءٌ، وَلَوْلَاهُ مَا كَانَ وُجُوْدُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ؟ يَا عَجَبا ! كَيْفَ يَظْهَرُ الْوُجُوْدُ فِيْ الْعَدَمِ!؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَثْبُتُ الْحَادِثُ مَعَ مَنْ لَهُ وَصْفُ الْقِدَمِ!؟

The author here gives evidence that He, [Subhanahu], is not veiled by universes. The questions serve to deny that anything can veil Him and to rule out that this is even imaginable. How is it imaginable that anything can veil Him, while He has revealed everything: as He created everything from nothing, and anything that depends in its existence on Him cannot veil Him. He appeared with everything: as everything points to Him, for always the effect points to The Effector, and He has a manifest sign in every thing that signals that He is The One. Almighty said: "We shall show them Our signs in the horizons and in their own souls until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth...[41:53]". He appeared in everything: when you look at anything, you should see a manifestation of His Names and his traits. When you see someone honorable, this displays t you the spirit of The Name: The Bestower of Honor [Al-Moezz], and when you see someone in humility this displays to you that He is The Humiliator [Al-Muzill], and so on. He appeared for everything: means manifested His Glory to everything so that everything got to know Him and glorify Him, as He said: "...And there is not a thing, but proclaims His praise but you do not understand their glorification,...[17:44]". Was The Manifest before the existence of everything: His existence is an everlasting eternal Self Existence, unlike everything else whose existence is incidental or coincidental, and these would not be possible to veil Him. He is more apparent than everything: Absolute Appearance is more powerful than restricted appearance but His Appearance was not perceived and comprehended by everyone in spite of its extreme supreme manifestation, because extreme appearance cannot be tolerated by the feeble the bat, for example, can see at night and not during daylight because of its weak sight and not because daylight is inapparent and as some said:

it will not harm the midday sun high in the sky
hat he who cannot see does not see its light.

The One and nothing is with Him: everything else other than Him is absolute nothingness, and He gives evidence to this and to His Oneness is in His saying: "Had there been in [either of]them gods other than God, the two would have surely deteriorated...[21:22]". He is closer to you than everything: by His knowledge of you, His encompassing you, and His regulation and arrangement for you, as The Almighty said in His Glorious Book: "...and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. [50:16]". O wonder! How does existence appear in nothingness: or join it while they are opposites, and how does the recent and novice compare to Who is The Eternal: to be able to veil The Magnificent The Beneficent. Ibn Abbad Al-Rundi said: "in these three Hikmas the author has extremely excelled, and he mentioned all issues related to Appearance, and refuted the obscurity of every light and darkness, and demonstrated Al-Haqq vividly and evidently, and elevated the reader from the status of belief [Eman] to the status of beneficence [Ehsan] in brief and eloquent words and if this book contained only this chapter, it would have been sufficient and beneficent, may Allah reward the author for our sake".

بين المصنف في هذه الحكمة الأدلة التي تدل على أنه سبحانه لا يحتجب بالأكوان وأتى بها على وجه استبعاد أن يتصور ذلك في الأذهان فقال: كيف يتصور أن يحجبه شيء وهو الذي أظهر كل شيء حيث إنه هو الذي أوجده بعد العدم وما كان وجوده متوقفا عليه لا يصح أن يحجبه وقوله: ظهر بكل شيء أي من حيث أن كل شيء يدل عليه فإن الأثر يدل على المؤثر وفي كل شيء له آية تدل على أنه الواحد قال تعالى: {سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ (فصلت - ٥٣)}. وقوله: ظهر في كل شيء أي من حيث أن الأشياء كلها مجالي ومظاهر لمعاني أسمائه فيظهر في أهل العزة معنى كونه معزا وفي أهل الذلة معنى كونه مذلا وهكذا... وقوله: ظهر لكل شيء أي تجلى لكل شيء حتى عرفه وسبحه. كما قال تعالى: {...وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدَهِ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ... (الإسراء - ٤٤). وقوله: وهو الظاهر قبل وجود كل شيء أي فهو الذي وجوده أزلي وأبدي فوجوده ذاتي والذاتي أقوى من العرضي فلا يصح أن يكون حاجبا له. وقوله: وهو أظهر من كل شيء أي لأن الظهور المطلق أقوى من المقيد وإنما لم يدرك للعقول مع شدة ظهوره لأن شدة الظهور لا يطيقها الضعفاء كالخفاش يبصر بالليل دون النهار لضعف بصره لا لخفاء النهار على حد ما قيل
ما ضر شمس الضحى في الأفق طالعة
أن لا يرى ضوءها من ليس ذا بصر
وقوله: وهو الواحد الذي ليس معه شيء أي لأن كل ما سواه في الحقيقة عدم محض كما تقدم. وقد قام البرهان على وحدانيته تعالى بقوله سبحانه: { لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ...(الأنبياء - ٢٢)}. وقوله: أقرب إليك من كل شيء أي بعلمه وإحاطته وتدبيره. كما قال تعالى في كتابه المجيد: {وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ  (ق - ١٦)}. وقوله: ولولاه ما كان وجود كل شيء هو بمعنى قوله أولا وهو الذي أظهر كل شيء. ولكون المقصود المبالغة في نفي الحجاب لم يضر هذا التكرار لأن المحل محل إطناب. ثم قال: يا عجبا كيف يظهر الوجود في العدم أي يجتمع معه وهما ضدان. أم كيف يثبت الحادث مع من له وصف القدم ؟ حتى يكون حجابا للعظيم المنان. قال ابن عباد: وهذا الفصل من قوله: الكون كله ظلمة إلى هنا أبدع فيه المؤلف غاية الإبداع وأتى فيه بما تقر به الأعين وتلذ به الأسماع. فإنه رضي الله عنه ذكر جميع متعلقات الظهور وأبطل حجابية كل ظلام ونور وأراك فيه الحق رؤية عيان وبرهان ورفعك من مقام الإيمان إلى أعلى مراتب الإحسان. كل ذلك في أوجز لفظ وأفصح عبارة وأتم تصريح وألطف إشارة. فلولم يكن في هذا الكتاب إلا هذا الفصل لكان كافيا شافيا فجزاه الله عنا خيرا
17 Full of ignorance is he who wants to bring about in a time, other than what God has revealed in it. مَاتَرَكَ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ شَيْئَاً مِنَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ فِيْ الْوَقْتِ غَيْرَ مَا أَظْهَرَهُ الْلَّهُ فِيْهِ

It is of proper manners [adab] on part of the [mureed] to be content with what The Lord has set him up in. A gnostic ([aaref]) said: "for forty years, I have not hated any state The Lord set me up in, or disliked when He moved me into another". If the [mureed] dislikes a state he is set up in, and longs to move into another state, and wants to bring about something other than what God has revealed, then he has reached utmost ignorance of The Lord, and displayed bad [adab] in His presence.
يعني أن من حسن الأدب أن يكون المريد راضيا بما أقامه الله فيه. كما قال بعض العارفين: لي منذ أربعين سنة ما أقامني الله في حال فكرهته ولا نقلني إلى غيره فسخطته. فإن سخط المريد الحالة التي يكون عليها وتشوف إلى الانتقال عنها بنفسه وأراد أن يحدث غير ما أظهره الله تعالى فقد بلغ غاية الجهل بربه وأساء الأدب في حضرته
18 Your delaying performing deeds till availability of a spare time shows self ineptitude. إِحَالَتُكَ الْأَعْمَالِ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ الْفَرَاغِ – مِنْ رُعُوْنَاتِ الْنَّفْسِ

Your delaying performing good deeds till availability of spare time and vacancy from being occupied with worldly affairs is counted as self ineptitude, or its thoughtlessness, as this is evidence of preferring this world to the Hereafter. Worldly affairs never end, and no one is ever sufficed of them, and a finished matter only leads to another. And some said: we move here and there for our affairs, and the affairs of anyone living never end. And it was said: Time is like the sword, if you don't cut it, it will cut you. And in the Hadith: "There is not a day except that calls: 'O son of Adam, I am a new creation, and a witness for your deeds!! So seize of me (all benefits you can), for I do not return till resurrection day'."
أي إحالتك أيها المريد الأعمال الصالحة على وجود الفراغ من أشغال الدنيا تعد من رعونات النفس أي حماقتها لما في ذلك من إيثار الدنيا على الآخرة وأشغال الدنيا لا تنقضي فما قضى أحد منها لبانته ولا انتهى أرب إلا إلى أرب وقال آخر: نروح ونغدو لحاجاتنا وحاجات من عاش لا تنقضي. وقد قالوا: الوقت كالسيف أن لم تقطعه قطعك. وفي الحديث: "ما من يوم إلا وهو ينادي: يا ابن آدم أنا خلق جديد وعلى عملك شهيد فاغتنم مني فإني لا أعود إلى يوم القيامة"ء
19 Don't ask Him to withdraw you from a state to engage you elsewhere. If He wanted you, He would have engaged you without withdrawing you. لَا تَطْلُبْ مِنْهُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَكَ مِنْ حَالَةٍ؛ لِيَسْتَعْمِلَكَ فِيْمَا سِوَاهَا، فَلَوْ أَرَادَكَ – لَاسْتَعْمَلَكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ إِخْرَاجٍ

Don't ask The Lord to withdraw you from a status compliant with religion, whether in worldly or religious matters, because you imagine that another is better and more superior. This would be choosing beyond your Lord's choice, and you have no choice in this. If He wanted you, or wanted to make you of His special ones, He would have used you and engaged you wherever He likes without withdrawing you from the status you are in. On the other hand, if the status you are in is not compliant with religion, you have to hasten to request withdrawal and being moved to another. As a learned said:

If The Great Bestower sets you up
in a status compliant with the [sunna]
then this is the status that befits you
So don't desire another because of your lust
If He wished, our Lord The Great The Majestic
Who has the arrangement of The Kingdoms and Dominions
you would have been where you want without your requesting
so be content with The Lord's rule and abide by [adab]
And if desire sets you up
in a status opposing religion
undertake leaving without delay
and sever with the sword of will every obstacle.
أي لا تطلب أيها المريد من الله تعالى أن يخرجك من حالة موافقة للشرع دنيوية أو دينية لتوهمك أن غيرها أرقى منها لأنه تخيير على مولاك ولا خيرة لك في ذاك. فلو أرادك أي جعلك من أهل إرادته وخاصته لاستعملك استعمالامحبوبا عنده من غير إخراج من الحالة التي أنت عليها. وأما لوكانت الحالة غير موافقة للشرع فإنه يجب عليك المبادرة وطلب الإخراج منها والانتقال إلى غيرها. كما قال بعض الأكابر
فإن أقامك عظيم المنة
في عمل موافق للسنة
فهو مقامك الذي يليق بك
فلاترم خلافه بشهوتك
لو شاء ربنا العظيم المالك
ومن له التصريف في الممالك
لكنت في المطلوب من غير طلب
فارض بحكم الله والزم الأدب
وأن أقامك هواء الطبع
في عمل مخالف للشرع
فبادر الخروج لا تماطل
واقطع بسيف العزم كل حائل
20 Whenever the determination of a [salik] wants to stop at what it perceived from what has been revealed, the calls of truth will call on him: what you seek is still ahead of you. And whenever the manifest appearances of creations show their outwardly forms, their realities will call on him: "...We are but a temptation do not disbelieve... [2:102]" مَا أَرَادَتْ هِمَّةُ سَالِكٍ أَنْ تَقِفَ عِنْدَ مَا كَشَفَ لَهَا – إِلَا وَنَادَتْهُ هَوَاتِفُ الْحَقِيقَةِ: الَّذِيْ تَطْلُبُ أَمَامَكَ، وَلاتَبَرِجَتِ لَهُ ظَوَاهِرُ الْمُكَوَّنَاتِ – إِلَا وَنَادَتْهُ حَقَائِقُهَا {إنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ (الْبَقَرَةِ - ١٠٢)}ء

Whenever a [salik] or a strider on the path to The Exalted Lord intends to stop in his endeavor at what has been displayed to him of lights and secrets along the path thinking that he has reached the end of the journey of knowledge, the calls of the truth will call on him: what you seek is still ahead of you, so don't stop. And Abul Hasan Al-Tustury said:

Don't turn in your journey to anything besides Allah
and take His remembrance as a fortress
Don't linger in any spiritual status
it's a veil, but strive in the journey and ask for help
Every time you see a rank revealed to you
depart it, since we have left its like
And say I do not want anything besides You
not an image that displays or a glimpse that flashes

Ibn Al-Faridd said:

the beauty of all things appeared and called on me
regard me but I said my intention is beyond you
I have a Love in Whom I see you
so tempt someone else
my heart found its love, so my noticing
you is [shirk] and I do not plan on [shirk]

Whenever the manifest appearances of creations show their outwardly forms, their realities will call: "..We are but a temptation.." or a tribulation and test, so "do not disbelieve ...[2:102]", or do not let us tempt you, and do not stop at us, lest you become veiled from knowing The Lord. Knowing Him is the insurmountable knowledge in the home of eternal life, not to mention in this world, home of this menial trivial life. In summary, stopping the will and endeavor at anything short of The Lord is utmost failure and loss, and striving for seeking what brings closer to Him is dignity and gratification from The Lord. So be serious and resolute in seeking, and abide by proper manners (good [adab]).
أي ما قصد سالك أي سائر إلى الله تعالى أن يقف بهمته عند ما كشف لها من الأنوار والأسرار في أثناء السير ظنا منه أنه وصل إلى النهاية في المعرفة إلا ونادته هواتف الحقيقة جمع هاتف وهو ما يسمع صوته ولا يرى شخصه. أي قالت له بلسان الحال: الذي تطلب أمامك فلا تقف وما ألطف قول أبي الحسن التستري في هذا المعنى
ولا تلتفت في السير غيراً فكل ما
سوى الله غيرٌ فاتخذ ذكره حصناً
وكل مقام لا تقم فيه إنه
حجاب فجد السر واستنجد العونا
ومهما ترى كل المراتب تجتلى عليك
فحل عنها فعن مثلها حلنا
وقل ليس لي في غير ذاتك مطلب
 فلا صورة تجلى ولا طرفة تجنى
وقال سلطان العاشقين ابن الفارض
قال لي حسن كل شيء تجلى
بي تملى فقلت قصدي وراكا
لي حبيب أراك فيه معنى
غر غيري وفيه معنى أراكا
وجد القلب حبه فالتفاتي
 لك شرك ولا أرى الإشراكا
قوله: ولا تبرجت أي أظهرت له زينتها ظواهر المكونات التي هي كالعروس في تبرجها إلا ونادته حقائقها أي بواطنها بلسان الحال: {...إنما نحن فتنة...} أي ابتلاء واختبار {..فلا تكفر... (البقرة ١٠٢) } أي فلا تفتتن بنا ولا تقف عندنا فتحجب بنا عن معرفة الله التي لا تتناهى في دار البقاء الأبدية فضلا عن هذه الدار الدنية وهو كفر بحق المنعم جل شأنه. وبالجملة فالوقوف بالهمة على شيء دون الحق خسران والاشتغال بطلب ما يقرب إليه كرامة من الله ورضوان. فجد في الطلب والتزم حسن الأدب
   
     
21 Your seeking from Him, is accusation to Him, and your seeking Him, shows your distance from Him. Your seeking anything else is because you lack respect for Him, and your asking from anyone else is because of your remoteness from Him. طَلَبُكَ مِنْهُ – اتِّهَامٌ لَهُ، وَطَلَبُكَ لَهُ- غَيْبَهٍ مِنْكَ عَنْهُ – وَطَلَبُكَ لِغَيْرِهِ، لِقِلَّةِ حَيَائِّكَ مِنْهُ، وَطَلَبُكَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ –لِوُجُوْدِ بُعْدِكَ عَنْهُ

Requesting your needs from Him and relying on your requests thinking if it were not for your asking what you seek would not occur is accusation to Him that He does not give you except upon request. If you trusted Him in delivering your needs without you asking, you would not have requested. But if you request and ask as a form of worship in submission to His saying: "...‘Call on Me and I will respond to you..[40:60]" then the request is not improper. Your seeking Him by seeking nearness to and reaching Him through deeds shows how distant you are from Him for what is present is not to be sought and He is closer to you than your jugular vein. And also your seeking worldly objectives or Hereafter statuses other than Him shows lack of respect, or else you would have preferred nothing to Him to ask for. Also requesting from anyone else while unmindful of your Exalted Lord, shows your distance from Him for if He was close to you, others would have been distant. So requesting and seeking in these four forms is improper, whether from The Lord or from the people, except what was in a state of worship and proper manners and with the intention of following His orders and directives, and showing need and poverty to Him.
أي طلبك منه تعالى حوائجك معتمدا على الطلب معتقدا أنه لولاه لما حصل مطلوبك اتهام له تعالى بأنه لا يرزقك إلا بالطلب إذ لو وثقت به في إيصال منافعك إليك من غير سؤال لما طلبت. وأما إذا كان الطلب على وجه التعبد امتثالا لقوله تعالى: {...ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ... (غافر - ٦٠)} فلا يكون معلولا وبهذا يجمع بين طلب الدعاء والنهي عنه. وكذلك طلبك له تعالى بأن تطلب قربك منه والوصول إليه بعملك غيبة منك عنه إذ الحاضر لا يطلب وهو تعالى أقرب إليك من حبل الوريد. وكذلك طلبك لغيره من الأعراض الدنيوية أو المراتب الأخروية لقلة حيائك منه إذ لواستحيت منه لم تؤثر عليه سواه وكذلك طلبك من غيره تعالى غافلا في حال الطلب عن مولاك إنما يكون لوجود بعدك عنه إذ لو كان قريبا منك لكان غيره بعيدا عنك. فالطلب بأوجهه الأربعة معلول سواء كان متعلقا بالحق أوالخلق إلاما كان على وجه التعبد والتأدب واتباع الأمر وإظهار الفاقة
22 There is not a breath you take, without Him having a fate destined for you. مَامِنْ نَفَسٍ تُبْدِيْهِ – إِلَّا وَلَهُ قَدَرٌ فِيْكَ يُمْضِيهِ

There is not a breath you take with God's will and power, except that He has a preordained fate destined for you, for you are at the disposal of His fate and destiny in every moment and every breath and every blink. So be His servant and slave in every state, during abundance and privation, pride and humility, contraction [qabdd] and unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ), and all different changes in states. Those who have been completed [alkamileen] observe The Lord, Al-Haqq with every breath, so that they are always affiliated with Him, which is an honorable status fit only those whom The Lord "cared for" [ahl al-inayat]. And a gnostic ([aaref]) said: "who realizes a change in himself with every breath he takes is the one who is mindful of His saying: "...Every day He is upon some matter. [55:29]". And others said:

The Lord's destiny and orders have been passed
so rest yourself from 'if' and from 'maybe'.
النفس بفتح الفاء جزء من الهواء يخرج من باطن البدن في جزء من الزمن والمعنى ليس من نفس من أنفاسك تبديه أي تظهره بقدرة الله تعالى إلا وله تعالى فيك قدر بفتح الدال المهملة أي أمر مقدر ناشئ عن قدرته وإرادته. يمضيه أي ينفذه كائنا ما كان فأنت رهن القضاء والقدر في كل نفس وفي كل طرفة عين فكن عبدا لله في كل شيء عطاء ومنعا وعزا وذلا وقبضا وبسطا وفقدا ووجدا إلى غير ذلك من مختلفات الآثار وتنقلات الأطوار فإن الكاملين من أهل الله يراعون الحق في كل نفس حتى يكونوا أبدا بالموافقة مع الله تعالى. وهذا مقام شريف لا يوفي به إلا أهل العنايات. ومن غفل في حسابه خسر في اكتسابه. وقال بعض العارفين: من أدرك في نفسه التغيير والتبديل في كل نفس فهو العالم بقوله تعالى: {...كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ (الرحمن -٢٩)} وما ألطف قول بعضهم
نفذت مقادير الإله وحكمه
فأرح فؤادك من لعل ومن لو
23 Don't await the conclusion of othernesses [al-aghyar], for this detaches you from continuously observing Him in whatever He has set you. لَاتَتَرَقَّبْ فَرَاغَ الْأَغْيَارِ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يَقْطَعُكَ عَنْ وُجُوْدِ الْمُرَاقَبَةِ لَهُ، فِيْمَا هُوَ مُقِيْمُكَ فِيْهِ

Do not await conclusion of othernesses [al-aghyar] which are the concerns and affairs that occupy your time, including those The Lord set you up in but continuously observe Him during whatever you are doing while awaiting its end. Awaiting a next time prevents you from performing the dues of the time you are in, and a truthful [fakir] gives every time its dues and rights. A gnostic ([aaref]) was asked: when will a [fakir] rest? and he answered: when he does not observe a time other than the time he is in. And some authors of [tafsir] said of His saying: "..and We will try you with ill and good as an ordeal..[21:35]" that it means We test and try you by harshness and affluence, by sickness and health, by wealth and poverty, by what you love and what you hate, to see your thankfulness for what you like and patience in what you detest.
أي لا تنتظر أيها المريد انتهاء الأغيار أي الشواغل التي منها ما أقامك فيه الحق بل راقبه فيما تترقب فراغه فإن تأميلك للوقت الثاني يمنعك من القيام بحق الوقت الذي أنت فيه. والفقير الصادق يكون في كل وقت بحسبه وسئل بعض العارفين متى يستريح الفقير ؟ فقال: إذا لم ير وقتا غير الوقت الذي هو فيه. وقال بعض المفسرين في قوله تعالى: {..وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً... (الأنبياء - ٣٥)} أي نختبركم بالشدة والرخاء والصحة والسقم والغنى والفقر وقيل بما تحبون وما تكرهون لننظر شكركم فيما تحبون وصبركم فيما تكرهون
24 Don't feel the occurrence of mishaps unusual, as long as you are in this world, for this world only brings about what befits its traits and what its descriptions merit. لَاتَسْتَغْرِبْ وُقُوْعَ الْأَكْدَارِ – مَا دُمْتَ فِيْ هَذَا الْدَّارْ – فَإِنَّهَا مَا أَبْرَزَتْ إِلَا مَا هُوَ مُسْتَحِقُّ وَصْفِهَا، وَوَاجِبُ نَعْتِهَا

Don't consider the occurrence of mishaps and calamities strange or shocking as long as you are in this world, for the world demonstrates and shows only what it merits and what befits its description. Hardships are an essential part of life on earth, as one who described it said:

it was built on and imprinted with hardship
and you want it free of hurt and adversity
and whoever expects from time other than what is its nature
is as if looking in water for a cinder of fire.

Gaafar Al-Sadeq said: he who seeks what has not been created will tire himself and will not find it asked what that was, he said: rest and peace on earth. Another said:

You are seeking rest in the home of struggle
and he who seeks what is not there will always fail.

And another said: whoever seeks in this world a life free of worry and trouble seeks the impossible. The [mureed] should always prepare himself for hardships so he does not panic and does not lose the calmness in his heart when they befall. And it was said:

the wise simulates
his mishaps before they fall
so if they come about suddenly he does not panic
of what he already envisaged
he has seen an event leading to another
and he saw the last of it
and the ignorant believes in the safety of his days
and does not pay heed to the dooms of those who passed
so that if time swamps him
with a taste of disaster he wails and panics
and had he been strict with himself
he would have learnt to be patient at times of trouble and suffering
أي لا تعد وقوع الأكدار أمرا غريبا مدة كونك في هذه الدار الدنيوية فإنها ما أبرزت أي أظهرت إلا ما هو مستحق وصفها أي وصفها المستحق لها وواجب نعنها أي نعتها الواجب أي اللازم لها. فمن ضرورياتها وجود المكاره فيها مع الانهماك عليها كما قال بعض واصفيها
طبعت على كدر وأنت تريدها
صفوا من الأقذاء والأقذار
ومكلف الأيام ضد طباعها
متطلب في الماء جذوة نار
ومن كلام جعفر الصادق: من طلب ما لم يخلق أتعب نفسه ولم يرزق قيل له: وما ذاك ؟ قال: الراحة في الدنيا. وأخذ بعضهم هذا المعنى فقال
 تطلب الراحة في دار العنا
خاب من يطلب شيئا لا يكون
وقال الصفي الحلي
قال العذول لم اعتزلت عن الورى
وأقمت نفسك في المقام الأوهن
ناديت طالب راحة فأجابني
أتعبتها بطلاب ما لم يمكن
وقال آخر: ومن رام في الدنيا حياة سليمة من الهم والأكدار رام محالا. فينبغي للمريد أن يوطن نفسه على المحن فإنه لا يتحرك من قلبه عند نزولها به ما سكن. على حد ما قيل
يمثل ذو اللب في لبه
شدائده قبل أن تنزل
فإن نزلت بغتة لم يرع
لما كان في نفسه ماثل
رأى الأمر يفضي إلى آخر
فصير أخره أول
وذوالجهل يأمن أيامه
وينسى مصارع من قد خل
فإن دهمته صروف الزمان
ببعض مصائبه أعول
ولوقدم الحزم في نفسه
لعلمه الصبر عند البلا
25 What you seek by The Lord will never be interrupted, and what you seek by your self will not be facilitated. مَاتَوَقَّفَ مَطْلَبٌ أَنْتَ طَالِبُهُ بِرَبِّكَ، وَلَا تَيَسَّرَ مَطْلَبٌ أَنْتَ طَالِبُهُ بِنَفْسِكَ

No requests for worldly or Hereafter matters will be delayed or interrupted if you seek depending on your Lord and pleading to Him. When you transfer your needs to Him you hold fast to the most powerful reason, and all your requests will be fulfilled out of His Benevolence without tiredness "...And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him ...[65:3]". And the meaning of "what you seek by your self will not be facilitated" is that if you depend on your power and abilities, the paths to your requirements will be hindered, and you will not attain your need.
أي ما تعسر مطلب من مطالب الدنيا والآخرة أنت طالبه بربك أي بالاعتماد عليه والتوسل إليه. فمتى أنزلت حوائجك به فقد تمسكت بأقوى سبب وفزت بقضائها من أفضاله بغير تعب. {...وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ... (الطلاق - ٣)} ومعنى قوله: ولا تيسر مطلب أنت طالبه بنفسك أنك لو اعتمدت أيها المريد على حولك وقوتك تعسرت عليك المطالب ولم تتحصل على بغيتك
26 Among the signs of ultimate success: a return to Allah in the beginnings. مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ النّجَاحِ فِيْ النِّهَايَاتِ – الَرْجُوَعُ إِلَىَ الْلَّهِ فِيْ الْبِدَايَاتِ

Among the signs that foretell ultimate success and attaining the final aspirations for a [mureed] is going back to and depending on The Lord and seeking His aid and help in the initiation. For whoever has a correct beginning by going back to His Lord and having faith in Him in all his affairs will ultimately succeed in reaching his goals and will win what brings nearer to Him. On the other hand, he who does not amend his beginnings according to what is said, will be denied reaching, and will not arrive at his goals at the end of the journey. A gnostic ([aaref]) said: whoever thinks he will reach The Lord without The Lord will be severed by Him...and whoever relies, to worship The Lord, on himself will get referred back to himself.
أي من العلامات الدالة على النجح بضم النون أي الظفر للمريد بمقصوده في نهايته الرجوع إلى الله تعالى بالتوكل عليه والاستعانة به في بدايته. فمن صحح بدايته بالرجوع إلى الله والتوكل عليه في جميع أموره نجح في نهايته التي هي حال وصوله إلى مطلوبه وفاز بما يقربه لديه. وأما من لم يصحح بدايته بما ذكر انقطع عن الوصول ولم يبلغ في نهاية أمره المأمول قال بعض العارفين: من ظن أنه يصل إلى الله بغير الله قطع به. ومن استعان على عبادة الله بنفسه وكل إلى نفسه
27 Whoever has a shining beginning will have a shining end. مَنْ أَشْرَقَتْ بِدَايَتُهُ – أَشْرَقَتْ نِهَايَتُهُ

Who fills and occupies his times along his path with obedience and adhering to [wird]s, his end will shine by floods of lights and knowledge till he attains all his goals. But who does not exert the effort in the beginnings will not find a shining end.
أي من عمر أوقاته في حال سلوكه بأنواع الطاعة وملازمة الأوراد أشرقت نهايته بإفاضة الأنوار والمعارف حتى يظفر بالمراد. وأما من كان قليل الاجتهاد في البداية فإنه لا ينال مزيد الإشراق في النهاية
28 Whatever was deposited in the hidden unseens, appears in the testimony of the visible manifestations. مَا اسْتُوْدِعَ فِيْ غَيْبِ الْسَّرَائِرِ – ظَهَرَ فِيْ شَهَادَةِ الْظَّوَاهِرِ

Outer appearance is a manifestation of the hidden interior, and whoever has virtuous inside will have an acclaimed and commended reputation. Whatever a person's hidden and secret trait and character is, will eventually become known no matter how secret he thinks it is, as the bearer of concealed musk will be known when its scent exudes. Whatever the heart holds of good or evil will show evidently on the appearance, as in the Hadith: "if this person's heart had been humbled, his faculties would have been humbled". Whoever claims that his heart knows The Lord without his outwardly appearance showing fruit (as continuous [zikr] and haste to following His orders and avoiding what occupies away from Him), then his claim is untrue and he is enslaved by his whim.
هذه علامات يعرف بها حال المريد السلك. فإن الظاهر عنوان الباطن. فمن طابت سريرته حمدت سيرته. ومهما تكن عند امرئ من خليقة وإن خالها تخف عن الناس تعلم. وقال آخر: دلائل الحب لا تخفى على أحد ...كحامل المسك لا يخفى إذا عبقا ...فما في القلب من محمود أو مذموم يظهر على الجوارح. لما في الحديث: " لو خشع قلب هذا لخشعت جوارحه " فمن ادعى بقلبه معرفة الله تعالى ومحبته ولم تظهر على ظاهره ثمرات ذلك من اللهج بذكره والمسارعة إلى اتباع أمره والفرار من القواطع الشاغلة عنه والاضطراب عن الوسائط المبعدة منه فهو كذاب في دعواه متخذ إلهه هواه
29 There is a big difference between he who finds by Him, and he who finds Him. Who finds by Him knows the true essences of things, and verifies matters by the origin of their existence. To find Him is from being unable to reach Him. When was He ever absent so He would be found? And when was He ever distant so that signs are needed to lead to Him? شَّتَّانُ بَيْنَ مَنْ يَسْتَدِلُّ بِهِ، أَوْ يَسْتَدِلُّ عَلَيْهِ: الْمُسْتَدِلُّ بِهِ – عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ لِأَهْلِهِ؛ فَأَثْبَتَ الْأَمْرَ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ أَصْلِهِ، وَالِاسْتِدْلَالُ عَلَيْهِ – مِنْ عَدَمِ الْوُصُوْلِ إِلَيْهِ، وَإِلَافَمَتَّىَ غَابَ حَتَّىَ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَتَىْ بَعُدَ حَتَّىَ تَكُوْنُ الآثَارُ هِيَ الَّتِيْ تُوَصِّلُ إِلَيْهِ؟

What a great difference between those who find creation through and by Him The Almighty, and these are those who witnessed [ahl al-shohood], and between those who find Him through and by creations, and these are the [mureeds] who are the [saliks]. Their status varies greatly. Those who find others by Him have realized the truth of Self Existence as being only that of The Lord Almighty, and verified that the occurrence of events originate only from His existence and presence if He had not created them, they would have not occurred. These are the attracted ([madjzooboon]) who have been attracted by His Care, either initially or along or after the path, and became the gnostics ([aarefeen]) who knew The Lord, and see nothing other than Him, and identify and find others through and by Him. On the other hand, finding Him [Subhanahu] is from not reaching Him. The [salik] along the way is veiled by othernesses, and through them he finds evidence to The Creator of days and nights. He is as if through the unknown finds evidence to The Known, through nothingness finds evidence to The Ever-Present, and through the invisible finds evidence to The Manifest, The Apparent. When was He absent so that His creations would be evidence to Him? And when was He distant so that the effects and outcome of His Will become what bring to Him? And someone said:

How strange is he who needs evidence and witness for You,
while it is You who made him witness everything.

Ibn Abbad Al Rundi said, quoting Lataif Al Minan: "and know that evidence is needed for he who seeks Al-Haqq, not for he who found and witnessed Him, because the clarity of witnessing suffices the witness beyond needing evidence. And if a certain creation is apparent beyond needing evidence of its presence, then The Creator is more worthy of not needing evidence. And can any creation have clearer appearance than His so it displays Him? Creatures that lead to Him can do that because He permitted them to lead to Him and not because of their inherent self, and nothing reached Him other than His Divinity. It is He, The Wise, who created causes and reason, and they suffice those who stop at them and those whose wills did not pierce the veil.
شتان اسم فعل ماض بمعنى بعد. أي بعد ما بين من يستدل به تعالى على المخلوقات، وهم المراودون أهل الشهود. "أو" بمعنى الواو. أي وبين من يستدل عليه تعالى بالمخلوقات وهم المريدون أهل السلوك. فأحوال هذين الفريقين متفاوتة في الرتبة. فالمستدل به تعالى على غيره عرف الحق وهو الوجود الذاتي لأهله وهو الله تعالى وأثبت الأمر أي وجود الحوادث من وجود أصله وهو الله تعالى أي جعل وجودهم مستفادا من وجوده إذ لولا إيجاده لهم لما وجدوا وهؤلاء هم أهل الجذب الذين جذبتهم يد العناية إما ابتداء أوبعد السلوك وهم العارفون بربهم فلا يشهدون غيره ولذلك يستدلون به على الأشياء في حال تدليهم. وأما الاستدلال عليه تعالى فلا يكون إلا من عدم الوصول إليه لأن السالك يكون محجوبا بالآثار فيستدل بها على من كور الليل والنهار فيكون من الاستدلال بالمجهول على المعلوم وبالمعدوم على الموجود وبالأمر الخفي على الظاهر الجلي. وذلك لوجود الحجاب ووقوفه مع الأسباب. وإلا فمتى غاب الحق حتى يستدل بمخلوقاته عليه ومتى بعد حتى تكون الآثار الناشئة عن قدرته هي التي توصل إليه. وما ألطف قول بعض أهل الشهود في هذا المقام المحمود
عجيب لمن يبغي عليك شهادة
وأنت الذي أشهدته كل مشهد
قال ابن عباد نقلا عن لطائف المنن: واعلم أن الأدلة إنما تنصب لمن يطلب الحق لا لمن يشهده لأن الشاهد غني بوضوح الشهود عن أن يحتاج إلى دليل فتكون المعرفة باعتبار توصيل الوسائل إليها كسبية ثم تعود في نهايتها ضرورية. وإذا كان من الكائنات ما هو غني بوضوحه عن إقامة دليل فالمكون أولى بغناه عن الدليل منها. ثم قال: ومن أعجب العجائب أن تكون الكائنات موصلة إليه. فليت شعري هل لها وجود معه حتى توصل إليه ؟ أوهل لها من الوضوح ما ليس له حتى تكون هي المظهرة له ؟ وإن الكائنات موصلة إليه فليس لها ذلك من حيث ذاتها لكن هو الذي ولاها رتبة التوصيل فوصلت فما وصل إليه غير إلاهيته. ولكن الحكيم هو واضع الأسباب وهي لمن وقف عندها ولم تنفذ قدرته عين الحجاب
30 "Let the affluent man expend out of his affluence...[65:7]" : those who have reached Him. ".. And let he whose provision has been straitened for him...[65:7]": those traveling to Him. ء{ليُنْفِقُ ذُوُ سَعَةٍ مِنْ سِعَتِةِ (الطَّلاق -٧)}: الْوَاصِلُوْنَ إِلَيْهِ، {وَمَنْ قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ (الطَّلاق - ٧)}: الْسَّائِرُوْنَ إِلَيْهِ

May those who have excess in comprehension and knowledge of secrets spend from their excess, and these are those who reached Him [al-wasiloon] so they radiate to others from what The Lord gave them. Those whose resources are restricted in this aspect may they spend as much as they can from what The Lord gave them, and they are those who are still along the path to him [al-sa'iroon].
أي لينفق الفريق صاحب السعة في المعرفة وعلوم الأسرار من سعته وهم الواصلون إليه تعالى فيفيضون على غيرهم مما آتاهم الله ويتصرفون في العوالم كيف شاءوا ومن قدر بضم القاف وكسر الدال المهملة أي والفريق الذي ضيق عليه رزقه من ذلك فلينفق مما آتاه الله على قدر ما أعطاه وهم السائرون إليه تعالى
31 Those traveling towards Him are guided by the guiding lights. Those who reach Him have the encounter lights. The first belong to the lights, and the lights belong to the these, because they belong to Him and to nothing else: "...Say: 'God', then leave them to play in their discourse. [6:91]" اهْتَدَىَ الْرَّاحِلُوْنَ إِلَيْهِ بَأَنْوَارِ التَّوَاجُهِ، وَالْوَاصِلُونَ لَهُمْ أَنْوَارُ الْمُوَاجَهَةِ. فَالْأَوَّلُونَ لِلْأَنْوَارِ، وَهَؤُلَاءِ الْأَنْوَارُ لَهُمْ؛ لِأَنَّهُمْ لِلَّهِ، لَاشَيْءَ دُوْنِهِ: {... قُلِ الْلَّهُ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِيْ خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُوْنَ (الْأَنْعَامِ - ٩١)}ء

The travelers [saliks] along the path to Him were guided by the guiding lights, or the lights radiating from their worships [ebadat] and disciplines which set them on the direction of the path to The Presence of The Lord, for He says: "But as for those who struggle for Our sake, We shall assuredly guide them in Our ways...[29:69]". Those who reached Him ([al-wasiloon]) have the lights of encounter or the lights of nearness and endearment. The first are enslaved by the lights because they need them to reach their aspiration, and those who reached ([al-wasiloon]) have the lights, because they belong to The Lord and nothing else, as He said: "..Say: 'God'.." or head towards Him and don't incline to lights or others, ".., then leave them to play in their discourse. [6:91]" . To single Unification after the extinction of othernesses is the truth of certainty [yaqeen], and seeing anything other than Him is indulge and play.
أي اهتدى السالكون السائرون إلى الله تعالى بأنوار التوجه أي الأنوار الناشئة من العبادات والرياضات التي توجهوا بها إلى حضرة الرب فإن الله تعالى يقول: {وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا...(العنكبوت - ٦٩)}. والواصلون إلى الله تعالى لهم أنوار المواجهة أي التقرب والتحبب. فالأولون عبيد للأنوار لاحتياجهم إليها في الوصول إلى مقصودهم. وهؤلاء أي الواصلون الأنوار لهم لأنهم لله لا لشيء دونه عملا بإشارة قوله تعالى: {قُلِ اللّهُ} أي توجه إليه ولا تمل إلى أنوار ولاغيرها {ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ } أي اتركهم {فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ (الأنعام - ٩١)}. فإفراد التوحيد بعد فناء الأغيار هو حق اليقين. ورؤية ما سوى الله خوض ولعب
32 Your quest to seek your inner flaws is better than your quest to know the unknowns concealed from you. تَشَوُّفُكَ إِلَىَ مَا بَطَنَ فِيْكَ مِنَ الْعُيُوْبِ – خَيْرٌ مِنْ تَشَوُّفِكَ إِلَىَ مَا حُجِبَ عَنْكَ مِنَ الْغُيُوْبِ

Your insight's quest to seek what is hidden of your flaws and limitations and diseases of the heart (as grandiosity, envy, spite, self amusement, hypocrisy, insincerity, loving supremacy and fame and stardom, and the like), and striving to rid your self of them, is more beneficial than seeking to know what was concealed of the unknown that was not revealed to you of Lordly secrets and celestial wonders and miracles. The latter is your self's fortune, and the former is your duty towards The Lord. Your self seeks the fame of being gifted with wonders and miracles [karamat], and your Lord orders you to remain on the straight path. To follow The Lord's orders and directives is better than to fulfill your self's desires and wishes. This Hikma is a pillar on the path, so purify your self of vice before you bring upon it blame.
تشوفك بالفاء في الموضعين أي تطلعك بعين البصيرة إلى ما بطن أي خفي فيك من العيوب والأمراض القلبية كالكبر والحقد والعجب والرياء والسمعة والمداهنة وحب الرياسة والجاه ونحو ذلك حتى تتوجه همتك إلى زوال ذلك بالرياضة والمجاهدة خصوصا على يد شيخ عارف خير لك من تطلعك إلى ما حجب عنك من الغيوب أي ما غاب عنك كالأسرار الإلهية والكرامات الكونية لأن هذا حظ نفسك وذلك واجب عليك لربك. فإن نفسك تطلب الكرامة ومولاك مطالبك بالاستقامة ولأن تكون بحق مولاك خير من أن تكون بحظ نفسك وهواك. وهذه الحكمة عمدة في طريق القوم فطهر نفسك من أنواع الرذائل قبل أن يتوجه إليها اللوم
33 Al-Haqq is not veiled. It is you who are veiled from perceiving Him. For if anything can veil Him, then it could conceal Him, and if He was possible to conceal, then His presence would have been limited, and anything that limits something would subdue it, whereas: "and He is the Vanquisher over His servants,...[6:18]". الْحَقُّ لَيْسَ بِمَحْجُوبٍ، وَإِنَّمَا الْمَحْجُوْبُ أَنْتَ عَنِ الْنَّظَرِ إِلَيْهِ، إِذْ لَوْ حَجَبَهُ شَيْءٌ – لَسَتَرَهُ ماحَجَبَهُ، وَلَوْ كَانَ لَهُ سَاتِرٌ – لَكَانَ لِوُجُوْدِهِ حَاصِرٌ، وَكُلُّ حَاصِرٍ لِشَيْءٍ – فَهُوَ لَهُ قَاهِرٌ {وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ.. (الْأَنْعَام - ١٨)} ء

Al-Haqq [Subhanahu] cannot be veiled as it is not possible for anything to veil him. It is you, O slave [abd] who is veiled by your human spiritual traits from perceiving Him. If you seek reaching Him ([wesool]), then search for your own flaws and vices and treat them. Only then may the veil be lifted from upon you that you may regard Him with the eye of your insight. This is the status of perfect goodness [Ehsan] that they call the status of viewing [mushahada]. The author gives logical reason to the impossibility of The Lord being veiled: if something were to veil Him, it would conceal Him from view, and if something was to conceal Him, it would have been able to encompass His existence or surround it in order to become a veil, as veiling necessitates totally covering what is veiled, and anything that covers and surround and encompass something can subdue it as it holds it and controls it, and this is impossible for The Lord as He said "and He is the Vanquisher over His servants,...[6:18]" A spiritual "over" not a physical over, for He is Exalted beyond time and place.
يعني أن الحجاب لا يتصف به الحق سبحانه وتعالى لاستحالته في حقه. وإنما المحجوب أنت أيها العبد بصفاتك النفسانية عن النظر إليه فإن رمت الوصول فابحث عن عيوب نفسك وعالجها فإن الحجاب يرتفع عنك فتصل إلى النظر إليه بعين بصيرتك وهو مقام الإحسان الذي يعبرون عنه بمقام المشاهدة. وقد استدل المصنف على استحالة الحجاب على رب الأرباب بقوله: إذ لوحجبه شيء لستره ما حجبه أي عن النظر إليه ولوكان له ساترا لكان لوجوده أي ذاته حاصر أي محيط به لاستلزام الساتر لانحصار المستور فيه وكل حاصر لشيء فهو له قاهر لأنه يجعله في أسر قبضته وتحت حكمه وذلك لا يصح في حقه تعالى لقوله في كتابه: {وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ.. (الأنعام - ١٨)} فوقية معنوية لا مكانية فإنه تعالى منزه عن الزمان والمكان
34 Remove from your human traits every trait that contradicts your status of slavery, so that you become able to answer The Lord's call, and come close to His presence. اخْرِجْ مِنْ أَوْصَافِ بَشَرِيَّتِكَ عَنْ كُلِّ وَصْفٍ مُنَاقِضٍ لِّعُبُوْدِيَّتِكَ؛ لِتَكُوْنَ – لِنِدَاءِ الْحَقِّ – مُجِيْبَاً، وَمِنْ حَضْرَتِهِ قَرِيْبا

Human traits are either apparent and physical, or concealed in the heart. Both can be either in obedience or disobedience. Observing whether apparent physical acts are in obedience is called [Fiqh], and observing what relates to the heart is 'Sufism'. And whenever the heart is put right, the apparent will also be put right, for the heart is the king, and the body is like troops who will never disobey it. The heart is put right by denouncing all traits that contradict slavery and servitude (like grandiosity, self amusement, hypocrisy and the like), and by embracing virtuous traits that bring closer to The Lord The King (as modesty, forbearance, clemency, contentment, sincerity in servitude, and other traits of belief through which the brightest privileges are attained). If the [mureed] were to embrace these virtuous traits, he would be truthful in verifying his state of slavery and servitude. (This is the 'special' slavery, for slavery is in two parts: slavery due to possession, conquer, and subdue which is the slavery all creatures are subjected to, as in His saying: "There is none in the heavens and the earth but he comes to the Compassionate One as a servant. [19:93]" and slavery exclusive to His loved ones, which is what is meant by Alqady Aayyadd's saying:

and what increased me in honor, glory and pride,
that I almost stepped over the stars
is my being included in your saying "My slaves"
and that You made Ahmad a prophet for me

He will come closer to His Presence [Hadra] because of his distancing from his self (which is impelled by nature to withdraw and distance from The Presence [Hadra]), and it is the state of slavery that gained this singularity. And know that "being in The Lord's Presence [Hadra]" means that the person [abd] believes that he is always in front of The Lord. As long as this perception is clear to him, he is in His Presence [Hadra], and whenever it is veiled from Him, he departs it. And know that this path is amenable only for he who holds his self accountable and is always on the alert for its transgressions.
أوصاف البشرية إما ظاهرة وهي أعمال الجوارح. وإما باطنة وهي أعمال القلب. وكل منهما إما طاعة وإما معصية. والنظر فيما يتعلق بالأعمال الظاهرة من طاعة أو معصية يسمى تفقها. وفيما يتعلق بالأعمال الباطنة يسمى تصوفا. ومتى صلح الباطن صلح الظاهر. فإن القلب كالملك والجوارح كالجنود التي لا تتخلف عن طاعته. وصلاحه إنما يكون بالتخلي عن كل وصف مناقض للعبودية كالكبر والعجب والرياء وغير ذلك والتحلي بالأوصاف المحمودة التي تقربه إلى السيد المالك كالتواضع والحلم والرضا والإخلاص في العبودية إلى غير ذلك من أوصاف الإيمان التي يكتسب بها أبهى مزية. فإذا تخلق المريد بذلك ناداه الحق بقوله له: يا عبدي فيجيبه حينئذ بقوله: لبيك يا ربي فيكون صادقا في إجابته محققا لنسبته. وهذه هي العبودية الخاصة لأن العبودية قسمان: عبودية ملك وقهر وهي عامة لكل المخلوقات كما في قوله تعالى: {إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدًا  (مريم - ٩٣)}. وعبودية خاصة بأحبابه وهي المرادة بقول القاضي عياض
ومما زادني شرفا وتيها
وكدت بأخمصي أطأ الثريا
دخولي تحت قولك يا عبادي
وأن صيرت أحمد لي نبيا
ويكون أيضا من حضرته تعالى قريبا لبعده عن نفسه التي من شأنها النفور عنها والفرار منها فمرتبة العبودية أنالته هذه الخصوصية. واعلم أن المراد بحضرة الله تعالى حيث أطلقت في لسان القوم شهود العبد أنه بين يدي الله تعالى فما دام هذا مشهده فهو في حضرة الله تعالى. فإذا حجب عن هذا المشهد فقد خرج منها. ثم أن هذا السلوك لا يتيسر إلا لمن حاسب نفسه وأخذ حذره منها. كما قال المصنف
35 The origin of every sin, oversight, and desire, is pleasure with one's self, and the origin of every obedience, insight and chastity is discontent with it. To accompany a self-discontent illiterate benefits you more than accompanying a self-pleased scholar. What knowledge does a scholar pleased with himself have? and how is he ignorant the illiterate discontent with himself? أَصْلُ كُلِّ مَعْصِيَةٍ وَغَفْلَةٍ وَشَهْوَةٍ – الْرِّضَا عَنِ الْنَّفْسِ، وَأَصْلُ كُلِّ طَاعَةٍ وَيَقَظَةٍ وَعِفَّةٍ، عَدَمُ الْرِّضَا مِنْكَ عَنْهَا وَلََأََنْ تَصْحَبَ جَاهِلاً لَا يَرْضَىَ عَن نَفْسِهِ – خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَصْحَبَ عَالِمَاً يَرْضَىَ عَنِ نَفْسِهِ، فَأَيُّ عِلْمٍ لِعَالِمٍ، يَرْضَىَ عَنِ نَفْسِهِ؟ وَأَيُّ جَهْلٍ لِجَاهِلٍ، لَا يَرْضَىَ عَنِ نَفْسِهِ؟

Regarding one's self with satisfaction and content and pleasure necessitates overlooking its flaws and pretending its ugliness is good. Being discontent and dissatisfied with it is to the contrary, and it was said:

the eye of content is blind to every flaw
and the eye of discontent displays all faults.

Whoever is pleased with his self will like whatever state it is in, and will approve everything it does. He will disregard The Lord, and his heart will neglect His dues, and desire will overtake him and he will surely transgress and go astray, because of the lack of monitoring and control from the heart. Oversight and desire are to sin as cause to effect and similarly are insight and chastity to obedience. Insight alerts the self to what pleases The Lord, and chastity elevates the will above desires. They both lead to obedience, following His orders and avoiding His prohibitions. Pleasure with the self is the origin of every sin and disobedience. The self is inciting to evil, and is the ever-present ever-accompanying enemy, as in the Hadith: "Your worst enemy is your self which is between you sides". And contemplate what Joseph said: "Yet I do not exculpate my own soul verily the soul is ever inciting to evil,,...[12:53]". And may God bless Al-Boseiry who said:

And oppose your self and Satan and disobey them
and if both advise you, be suspicious,
and don't obey them, whether as an enemy or as a judge
for you know the deviousness of enemies and judges

Pleasure with one-self results from worldly knowledge that do not point out self's flaws. Accompanying a self-discontent illiterate benefits you more than to accompany a scholar in worldly knowledge who is pleased with his 'self'. The reward from companionship results from knowledge of The Lord's Greatness, Might, and Benevolence, which result from knowing the self and its flaws and shortcomings. What beneficial knowledge does a scholar of worldly knowledge who is pleased with his self have? And what harmful ignorance has an illiterate who is discontent with himself knowing its flaws and shortcomings? Although his knowledge is limited, it will definitely grow with time. A [mureed] should only accompany he who knows his self's defects and imperfections and is discontent with it, to follow his guidance in his acts, for habit in infectious. As some said:

don't inquire about the person but inquire about his friend
for every companion follows his company
and if you are among people, then accompany their best
and don't follow their worst lest you perish with those who are evil
يعني أن النظر إلى النفس بعين الرضا يوجب تغطية عيوبها ويصير قبيحها حسنا. والنظر إليها بعين السخط يكون بضد ذلك على حد قول القائل
وعين الرضا عن كل عيب كليلة
كما أن عين السخط تبدي المساويا
فمن رضي عن نفسه استحسن حالها فتستولي عليه الغفلة عن الله تعالى فينصرف قلبه عن مراعاة خواطره فتثور عليه الشهوة وتغلبه لعدم وجود المراقبة القلبية التي تدفعها فيقع في المعاصي لا محالة. فعطف الغفلة والشهوة على المعصية من عطف السبب على المسبب. وكذا عطف اليقظة والعفة على الطاعة فإن اليقظة التي هي التنبه لما يرضي الله تعالى والعفة التي هي علو الهمة عن الشهوات يتسبب عنهما الطاعة التي هي اتباع المأمورات واجتناب المنهيات. وإنما كان الرضا عن النفس أصل كل المعصية لأنها أمارة بالسوء فهي العدو الملازم. وفي الحديث: " أعدى عدوك نفسك التي بين جنبيك " وناهيك قول يوسف الصديق: {وَمَا أُبَرِّىءُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ... (يوسف - ٥٣)}. ولله در الإمام البوصيري حيث قال
وخالف النفس والشيطان واعصهما
وإن هما محضاك النصح فاتهم
ولا تطع منهما خصما ولا حكما
فأنت تعرف كيد الخصم والحكم
ولما كان الرضا عن النفس من شأن من يتعاطى العلوم الظاهرية التي لا تدل على عيوب النفس نهى المصنف عن صحبتهم بقوله: ولأن تصحب بفتح لام الابتداء الداخلة على أن المصدرية أي لصحبتك جاهلا لا يرضى عن نفسه خير لك في تحصيل فائدة الصحبة التي هي الزيادة في حالك من أن تصحب عالما بالعلوم الظاهرية يرضى عن نفسه. فإن المدار في الانتفاع بالصحبة إنما هو على العلم بعظمة الله وجلاله وإحسانه الذي ينشأ عن معرفة النفس وعيوبها لاعلى العلوم العقلية والنقلية.فأي علم أي نافع لعالم بالعلوم الظاهرية يرضى عن نفسه. وأي جهل ضار لجاهل بالعلوم الظاهرية لا يرضى عن نفسه لعلمه بعيوبها فإنه وإن قلت بضاعته من الأحكام لا بد أن يحصلها بالوقائع على مدى الأيام. فلا ينبغي للمريد أن يصحب إلا من يكون عارفا بعيوب نفسه غير راض عنها ليقتدي به في أفعاله فإن الطبع سراق كما قال بعضهم
عن المرء لا تسأل وسل عن قرينه
فكل قري بالمقارنة يقتدي
إذا كنت في قوم فصاحب خيارهم
ولا تصحب الأردى فتردى مع الردى
36 A glimmer of insight shows you His proximity to you, and the eye of insight shows you your nothingness because of His existence, and the true insight shows you His existence and not your nothingness nor your existence. شُعَاعُ الْبَصِيْرَةِ يُشْهِدُكَ قُرْبَهُ مِنْكَ، وَعَيْنُ الْبَصِيْرَةِ تُشْهِدُكَ عَدَمَكَ لِوُجُوْدِهِ، وَحَقُّ الْبَصِيْرَةِ يُشْهِدُكَ وُجُوْدَهُ، لَا عَدَمَكَ، وَلَا وُجُوْدَكَ

Points to three statuses: The glimmer of insight, symbolized by the light of reasoning and the knowledge of certainty [yaqeen], shows you His closeness to you a closeness of knowledge and encompassing (He knows your every move and every thought, and is with you wherever you are), so that you would be ashamed if He sees you where He forbade you, or that He does not find you where He ordered you. The eye of insight, symbolized by the light of knowledge and the eye of certainty [yaqeen], shows you your nothingness in His Presence (a presence that diminishes and fades everything existing) where you have nothing to hold to save Him, and you regard nothing other than Him. The true insight, symbolized by the light of the truth and the truth of certainty [yaqeen], shows you His Presence not your nothingness nor your presence, so you become regarding The Lord while you are in the state of complete extinction, where you perish beyond your extinction in His Presence.
يشير إلى ثلاث مراتب: فشعاع البصيرة ويعبر عنه بنور العقل وبعلم اليقين يشهدك قربه تعالى منك قرب علم وإحاطة فتستحي منه أن يراك حيث نهاك أويفقدك حيث أمرك. وعين البصيرة ويعبر عنه بنور العلم وبعين اليقين يشهدك عدمك لوجوده الذي تضمحل الموجودات معه فإن وجودها عارية منه وعند ذلك لا يبقى في نظرك ما تستند إليه سواه فإنك إذ ذاك لا تشهد إلا إياه. وحق البصيرة ويعبر عنه بنور الحق وبحق اليقين يشهدك وجوده لا عدمك ولا وجودك فتكون في مشاهدة الحق حال كونك في مقام الفناء الكامل الذي تفنى فيه حتى عن فنائك استهلاكا في وجود سيدك وبعد الفنا في الله كن ما تشا فعلمك لا جهل وفعلك لاوزر
37 God Was, and nothing was with Him. He Is now, as He Was. كَانَ الْلَّهُ وَلَاشَيْءَ مَعَهُ، وَهُوَ – الْآَنَ – عَلَىَ مَا عَلَيْهِ كَانَ

A Presence unassociated with time or place, for they are both His creation. There was nothing with Him since His eternity, and nothing with Him till His eternity, because of the verification of His Unification. This is clarified by the author later in: "The universes are present and proven only by His Evidence and Proof, and vanish into nothingness by witnessing the Singleness ([Ahadeyya]) of His Self."
أي كينونة لا يصحبها زمان ولا مكان فإنهما من مخلوقاته والمراد بهذه الحكمة أنه لا شيء معه في أبده كما لم يكن معه شيء في أزله لثبوت أحديته. يوضح ذلك قوله فيما سيأتي: الأكوان ثابتة بإثباته ممحوة بأحدية ذاته
38 Don't let the intention of your resolve pass Him to any other, for aspirations should not pass The Most Generous. لَا تَتَعَدَّ نِيّةُ هِمَّتُكَ إِلَىَ غَيْرِهِ، فَالْكَرِيْمُ – لَا تَتَخَطَّاهُ الْآَمَالُ

Don't let your intention pass to anything other than Him, for aspirations of the hopeful do not pass The Most Generous. A person with dignity would refrain presenting his needs and requests to someone who is not generous, and the only really generous is The Lord of Both Worlds. Of the best words describing generosity: a generous is he: who is clement when he has power and authority, who fulfills every promise he makes, who when gives provides in abundance beyond expectation and does not care how much he gives or to whom, who if requests are presented to someone else he would not be pleased, who if ignored would only blame and not retaliate, and who would never let down anyone who seeks his shelter and protection and would suffice him beyond seeking means and allies. And since these descriptions only befit His Dignified Majesty, then aspirations of the pious should not pass Him to any else. A gnostic ([aaref]) said:

It is [haraam] for whoever believed in the Oneness his Lord
and Unified Him to ask any else for any giving.
أي لا تجعل قصدك متعديا إلى غيره تعالى فالكريم لا تتخطاه آمال المؤملين فإن ذا الهمة العلية يأنف من رفع حوائجه إلى غير كريم ولا كريم على الحقيقة إلا رب العالمين. وأجمع العبارات في معنى وصف الكريم ما قيل: الكريم هو الذي إذا قدر عفا وإذا وعد وفى وإذا أعطى زاد على منتهى الرجاء ولا يبالي كم أعطى ولا لمن أعطى وإن رفعت حاجة إلى غيره لا يرضى وإذا جفي عاتب وما استقصى ولا يضيع من لاذ به والتجا ويغنيه عن الوسائل والشفعاء. فإذا كانت هذه الصفات لا يستحقها أحد سوى الله تعالى فينبغي أن لا تتخطاه آمال المؤملين. كما قال بعض العارفين
 حرام على من وحد الله ربه
وأفرده أن يجتدي أحدا رفدا
ويا صاحبي قف بي مع الحق وقفة
أموت بها وَجدا وأحيا بها وُجدا
وقل لملوك الأرض تجهد جهدها
فذا الملك ملك لا يباع ولا يهدى
39 Don't request another to relieve a need He set you up in, for how can anyone else remove what He sets? How can he who cannot relieve a hardship for himself, relieve it for others? لَاتَرْفَعَنَّ إِلَىَ غَيْرِهِ حَاجَةً، هُوَ مُوْرِدُهَا عَلَيْكَ، فَكَيْفَ يَرْفَعُ غَيْرُهُ مَا كَانَ هُوَ لَهُ وَاضِعا!؟ مَنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيْعُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ حَاجَةً عَنْ نَفْسِهِ – فَكَيْفَ يَسْتَطِيْعُ أَنْ يَكُوْنَ لَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِهِ رَافِعا!؟

Don't raise a request (as when in poverty or hardship and calamity He set you up in) to any other than Him, but raise it to Him, for The Lord, Dignified is He, loves to be asked and requested. And in the Hadith: "The Lord becomes angry with whoever does not ask Him". And of the nicest verse:

Don't ask a son of Adam for a need
and ask Him whose doors never close
for The Lord is Upset if you stop asking Him
and a son of Adam when asked becomes upset.

And it is impossible that anyone else save He [Subhanahu] can remove what He inflicted, for The Lord is Overwhelming, and a slave [abd] is incapable of removing any hardship from upon himself, so how can he lift it for someone else? Asking people is vain and falsehood, and is futile in the eye of the mindful, specially if this asking is associated with dependence upon them and ignoring The Lord Almighty, unless this asking is by way of seeking the means while observing that the Giver in reality is The Lord The Bestower. And The Lord better knows what is right.
أي لا ترفعن إلى غيره تعالى حاجة كفقر أو نازلة هو موردها عليك اختبارا لك بل ارفع إليه ذلك فإنه سبحانه يحب أن يسأل وفي الحديث: " من لم يسأل الله يغضب عليه ". وما ألطف قول بعضهم
لا تسألن بني آدم حاجة
وسل الذي أبوابه لا تحجب
فالله يغضب أن تركت سؤاله
وبني آدم حين يسأل يغضب
ومن المحال أن يرفع غيره سبحانه ما كان هو له واضعا فإن الله غالب على أمره والعبد شأنه العجز عن رفع النازلة عن نفسه فكيف يستطيع أن يرفعها عن غيره؟ فالطلب من الخلق غرور وباطل وليس تحته عند أرباب البصيرة طائل وهذا إذا كان على وجه الاعتماد عليهم والاستناد إليهم مع الغفلة في حال الطلب عن الله تعالى. وأما إذا كان من باب الأخذ بالأسباب مع النظر إلى أن المعطي في الحقيقة الملك الوهاب فهو من هذا الباب. والله أعلم بالصواب
40 If His beautiful Traits do not give you good thoughts and expectations of Him, improve and better your thought and expectations of Him because of the way he treats you. Did He treat you with anything other than good? And did He give you other than bestowals? إِنْ لَمْ تُحْسِنُ ظَنَّكَ بِهِ، لِأَجْلِ حُسْنِ وَصْفِهِ – فَحَسِّنْ ظَنَّكَ بِهِ، لِأَجْلِ مُعَامَلَتَهُ مَعَكَ، فَهَلْ عَوَّدَكَ إِلَا حُسْنَاً!؟ وَهَلْ أَسْدَىَ إِلَيْكَ إِلَا مِنَناً!؟

Know that having good thoughts and expectations of The Lord is one of the statuses of certainty [yaqeen], and in this, people are of two types: the special have good thoughts and expectations of Him because of His superior traits and sublime descriptions, and the common because of the good to which He accustomed them, and because of what He delivered them of bountiful blessings. If you cannot reach the status of the special, then better your thoughts of Him because of the good He has treated you with, for He only accustomed you to generous giving, and only delivered to you bestowals. The slave [abd] should have good thoughts and expectations of His Lord in both worldly matters and matters of the Hereafter. In worldly matters, he should trust The Lord delivering his needs without effort and striving, or with little permissible striving for which he will be rewarded, while not missing an obligatory worship or an elective rite. This will establish tranquility and serenity in his heart that prevents him being distressed by want or upset by cause. In matters of the Hereafter, he should have strong aspirations that his good deeds will be accepted, which will drive him to comply with following orders and directives, and to increase in righteous deeds. And the time where it is more important to have good thoughts and expectations of The Lord is the moment of death, as in the Hadith: "none of you should die except while having good thoughts and expectations of Allah". And it is related that The Lord said: "I Am as My slave supposes, so may he suppose of Me what he wishes."
اعلم أن تحسين الظن بالله تعالى أحد مقامات اليقين والناس فيه على قسمين: فالخاصة يحسنون الظن به لاتصافه بالصفات العلية والنعوت السنية. والعامة لما عودهم به من الإحسان وأوصله إليهم من النعم الحسان فإن لم تصل أيها المريد إلى مقام الخاصة فحسن ظنك به لحسن معاملته معك فإنه ما عودك إلا عطا ء حسنا ولا أسدى أي أوصل إليك إلا مننا والله عودك الجميل فقس على ما قد مضى وينبغي للعبد أن يحسن الظن بربه في أمر دنياه وأمر آخرته أما أمر دنياه فأن يكون واثقا بالله تعالى في إيصال المنافع إليه من غير كد ولا سعي أو بسعي خفيف مأذون فيه مأجور عليه بحيث لا يفوته شيئا من فرض ولا نفل فيوجب له ذلك سكونا وراحة في قلبه فلا يستفزه طلب ولا يزعجه سبب. وأما أمر آخرته فأن يكون قوي الرجاء في قبول أعماله الصالحة فيوجب له ذلك المبادرة لامتثال الأوامر والتكثير من أعمال البر. ومن أعظم مواطن حسن الظن بالله تعالى حالة الموت لما في الحديث: " لا يموتن أحدكم إلا وهو يحسن الظن بالله " وورد: " أنا عند ظن عبدى بى فليظن بي ما شاء"ء
   
     
41 How strange is he who tries to avoid the inescapable, and seeks what will not last with him. "...Indeed it is not the eyes that turn blind, but it is the hearts that turn blind within the breasts. [22:46]" الْعَجَبُ كُلُّ الْعَجَبُ مِمَّنْ يَهْرَبُ مِمَّنْ لَا انْفِكَاكَ لَهُ عَنْهُ، وَيَطْلُبُ مَا لَا بَقَاءَ مَعَهُ، {... فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَىَ الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِنَّ تَعْمَىَ الْقُلُوْبُ الَّتِيْ فِيْ الْصُّدُوْرِ (الْحَجِّ-٤٦)}ء

How completely strange is the slave [abd] who tries to evade and avoid his Lord, Who is Inescapable, by not performing what brings him nearer and closer to Him despite all His continuous generous gifts and bestowals, and seeks what does not last, which is the world and everything other than The Lord, by embracing his lusts and follows his devil [Shaitan] and whim. Among the nicest verses:
Pleasures will vanish, O you who fulfilled his lusts
by disobedience, then you are left with guilt and shame
you are left with dire consequences which cannot be undone
for there is no good in a pleasure that is followed by hellfire.

And this is blindness of the insight, for he exchanged the better for lowlier, and preferred the perishable over The Everlasting. The aya: "...Indeed it is not the eyes that turn blind, but it is the hearts that turn blind within the breasts. [22:46]" likens visual blindness to blindness of the insight, for visual blindness blocks perception of the exterior, while blindness of the insight, which is the eye for the heart, blocks meaningful signals of the heart and Lordly knowledge.
أي العجب الكامل من العبد الذي يهرب بضم الراء من باب نصر أي يتباعد من ربه الذي لا انفكاك له عنه بأن لا يفعل ما يقربه إليه مع توارد إحسانه عليه ويطلب ما لا بقاء له معه وهو الدنيا وكل شيء سوى الله بأن يقبل على شهواته ويتبع شيطانه وهواه. وما ألطف ما قيل لمن هو من هذا القبيل
تفنى اللذائذ يا من نال شهوته
من المعاصي ويبقى الإثم والعار
تبقى عواقب سوء لا انفكاك لها
لاخير في لذة من بعدها النار
وهذا إنما يكون من عمى البصيرة التي هي عين القلب حيث استبدل الذي هو أدنى بالذي هو خير وآثر الفاني على الباقي. فإنها أي القصة والشأن وجملة لا تعمى الأبصار خبر مفسر لها. وفي الآية إشارة إلى أن عمى الأبصار بالنسبة لعمى البصائر كالأعمى فإن عمى الأبصار إنما يحجب عن المحسوسات الخارجية وأما عمى البصائر أي عيون القلوب فإنه يحجب عن المعاني القلبية والعلوم الربانية
42 Don't travel from one state to another state, else you will be like the mill-donkey, who keeps on walking, and the place he ends up in is the one he leaves. But leave from all states towards The Creator of States. "and that the ultimate end is toward your Lord, [53:42]". And contemplate his saying Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam 'whose [Hijra] (emigration) is towards Allah and His messenger, then his [Hijra] is towards Allah and His messenger, and whose [Hijra] is towards a worldly affair or a woman to marry, then his [Hijra] is for whatever he traveled to.' So understand his words Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, and reflect upon this matter if you understand. لَاتَرْحَلْ مِنْ كَوْنٍ إِلَىَ كَوْنٍ؛ فَتَكُوْنُ كَحِمَارَ الْرَّحَىَ، يُسَيِّرُ وَالْمَكَانُ الَّذِيْ ارْتَحَلَ إِلَيْهِ هُوَ الَّذِيْ ارْتَحَلَ مِنْهُ، وَلَكِنْ ارْحَلْ مِنَ الْأَكْوَانِ إِلَىَ الْمُكَوِّنِ {وَأَنَّ إِلَىَ رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهَىَ (الْنَّجْمِ - 42)}، وَانْظُرْ إِلَىَّ قَوْلُهُ صَلَّىَ الْلَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَىَ الْلَّهِ وَرَسُوْلِهِ – فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَىَ الْلَّهِ وَرَسُوْلِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَىَ دُنْيَا يُصِيْبُهَا، أَوْ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا – فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَىَ مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ، فَافْهَمْ قَوْلَهُ عَلَيْهِ الْصَّلاةُ وَالْسَّلامُ، وَتَأَمَّلْ هَذَا الْأَمْر، إِنَّ كُنْتَ ذَا فَهْمٍ وَالْسَّلامُ

Don't ask a reward for your good deeds, even in the Hereafter. The Hereafter is a universe as the world, and the universes are similar in being othernesses, even if there are lights in some. Only ask for The Face of The Most Generous The Bountiful The Beneficent, Who created the universes, fulfilling the requirements of slavery and servitude, and performing the dues of Divinity, to attain the state of: "and that the ultimate end is toward your Lord, [53:42]" This is the status of the virtuous who renounce asking for reward, and exclusively regard The Most Generous The Bestower, whereby they reach the sincerity emanating from exclusive unification. On the other hand, who purifies his worship of hypocrisy and insincerity yet asks for reward, is as if escaped from a universe to a universe. He is like the mill donkey, continuously walking but never going to a place other than where he started. This likening strongly urges against asking for reward for obedience, and regard his saying Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in the Hadith: 'Actions are but according to intention, and each person will have what he intended whose [Hijra] is towards Allah and His messenger,' in intention and goal, 'then his [Hijra] is towards Allah and His messenger' in final arrival. To 'leave from all states towards The Creator of States', should be the sublime quest of the slave [abd], and he should not desire leaving to another state, where he would be remain with the universes.
أي لا تطلب بأعمالك الصالحة عوضا ولو في الآخرة. فإن الآخرة كون كالدنيا والأكوان متساوية في أنها أغيار وإن وجد في بعضها أنوار بل اطلب وجه الكريم المنان الذي كون الأكوان وفاء بمقتضى العبودية وقياما بحقوق الربوبية لتحقق بمقام: {وَأَنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَى (النجم - ٤٢)}. وهذا مقام العافين الذين رغبوا عن طلب الثواب ومحضوا النظر إلى الكريم الوهاب فتحققوا بمقام الإخلاص الناشئ عن التوحيد الخاص. وأما من فر من الرياء في عباداته وطلب بها الثواب فقد فر من كون إلى كون بلا ارتياب فهو كحمار الرحى أي الطاحون يسير ولا ينتقل عما سار منه لرجوعه إليه. وفي هذا التشبيه التنفير عن هذا الأمر ما لا مزيد عليه وانظر إلى قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الحديث الصحيح: " إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله " أي نية وقصدا " فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله " أي وصولا. فلم يتحد الشرط والجزاء في المعنى. فقوله: " فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله " هو معنى الارتحال من الأكوان إلى المكون وهو المطلوب من العبد. وقوله: " فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه " هو البقاء مع الأكوان وهو المنهي عنه
43 Do not accompany whose state does not elevate you, and whose talk does not direct you to God. لَاتَصْحَبْ مَنْ لَا يُنْهِضُكَ حَالُهُ، وَلَا يَدُلُّكَ عَلَىَ الْلَّهِ مَقَالَهُ

Do not accompany whose state does not elevate you because of his low resolve, for habit in infectious. Some said:

Son, avoid every one with heresy ([bed'aa])
and don't accompany who is characterized by it
lest your habit steals from his habit
while you don't know it.

But accompany a learned 'sheikh' whose zeal and resolve is attached to The Lord, seeking refuge only with Him, and trusting all affairs only to Him. He will elevate you by his state, and his talk will direct you to The Lord because of his knowledge of Him. Accompanying the righteous is an important principle on the path (to reaching His Presence [Hadra]), while accompanying the wicked begets evil consequences that result in retreat and decline from elevated ranks.
أي لا تصحب من لا يرقيك حاله الذي هو عليه لعدم علو همته فإن الطبع سراق كما قال بعضهم
بني اجتنب كل ذي بدعة
ولا تصحبن من بها يوصف
فيسرق طبعك من طبعه
وأنت بذلك لا تعرف
بل اصحب شيخا عارفا ينهضك حاله بأن تكون همته متعلقة بالله تعالى فلا يلجأ إلا إليه ولا يتوكل في جميع أموره إلا عليه ويدلك على الله مقاله لمعرفته بالله تعالى فصحبة الأخيار أصل كبير في طريق القوم وأما صحبة الأشرار ففيها كبير اللوم لما فيها من عظيم الآفات الموجبة إلى رجوع القهقرى والانحطاط عن علي الدرجات كما قال المصنف
44 Maybe you were transgressing, so you were shown that you are good by your keeping the company of who is in a worse state than you. رُبَّمَا كَنَتَ مُسِيْئاً، فَأَرَاكَ الْإِحْسَانُ مِنْكَ صُحْبَتُكَ مَنْ هُوَ أَسْوَأُ حَالاً مِنْكَ

Your accompanying who is worse than you masks your self's flaws and hides them, so you see your self as perfect compared to others. This way you fall in the abyss of arrogance, amusement and pride in your deeds, while they may have been in reality an illusion.
فإن صحبتك أي انضمامك إلى من هو أسوأ حالا منك سبب لتغطية عيوب نفسك ورؤية كمالها بالنسبة لغيرك فتقع في مهاوي الإعجاب والزهو بالأعمال التي ربما كانت في الحقيقة كسراب
45 A deed emanating from an ascetic [zahid] heart is never insignificant, and there is no deed emanating from a greedy heart that has any significance. مَا قَلَّ عَمَلٌ بَرَزَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ زَاهِدٍ، وَلَا كَثُرَ عَمَلٌ بَرَزَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ رَاغِبٍ

A deed coming from an ascetic [zahid] renouncing the world is always valuable no matter how small. It is free of the flaws that prevent acceptance, as hypocrisy, insincerity, pretentiousness, and seeking worldly affairs. To the contrary, deeds coming from the greedy desirous who seeks the world will all be insignificant even if plenty. Someone complained to a pious man that he performs good deeds and charities but does not taste their sweetness in his heart, he answered: because the Devil's daughter, which is the world, lives in your heart, and the father must visit his daughter at home, and his entry only brings evil. Then the author pointed to what proves this:
يعني: أن العمل الصادر من الزاهد في الدنيا كثير في المعنى وإن كان قليلا في الصورة لسلامته من الآفات القادحة في قبوله من الرياء والتصنع للناس وطلب الأعراض الدنيوية بخلاف الصادر من الراغب فيها فإنه على العكس من ذلك وقد شكا بعض الناس لرجل من الصالحين أنه يعمل أعمال البر ولا يجد لها حلاوة في قلبه فقال: لأن عندك بنت إبليس وهي الدنيا ولا بد للأب أن يزور ابنته في بيتها وهو قلبك ولا يؤثر دخوله إلا فسادا. ثم أشار إلى ما هو كالدليل لذلك بقوله
46 Good deeds result from good states. And good states originate from perceiving the Divine statuses. حُسْنُ الْأَعْمَالِ – نَتَائِجُ حُسْنِ الْأَحْوَالِ، وَحُسْنُ الْأَحْوَالِ – مِنَ الْتَّحَقُّقِ فِيْ مَقَامَاتِ الْإِنْزَالِ

Good deeds result from good states taking over the heart, as renunciation of the world and sincerity to The Lord Almighty without aiming for an immediate fortune (in this world) or a deferred reward (in the Hereafter). Good states come about due to perceiving the of Divine knowledge that are delivered to the hearts of the gnostics ([aarefeen]). These become cause for freeing from both pretense and attachment to any other than The Lord. And the three mentioned (deeds, states, knowledge) are in order of cause and effect, each requiring the next. This clarifies what imam Al-Ghazali said: Every status of certainty [yaqeen] requires knowledge, state, and deeds, for knowledge produces state, and the state produces the deeds.
يعني: أن الأعمال الحسنة إنما هي نتائج الأحوال الحسنة القائمة بالقلب من الزهد في الدنيا والإخلاص لله تعالى لا لطلب حظ عاجل ولا ثواب آجل. وحسن الأحوال ناشئ من التحقق أي التمكن في مقامات الإنزال أي في المقامات التي تنزل في قلوب العارفين وهو كناية عن المعارف الإلهية التي يوردها الله تعالى على قلوبهم فتكون سببا في رفع الدعوى وعدم التعلق بغير المولى وهذه الثلاثة المذكورة مرتب بعضها على بعض وبهذا اتضح قول الإمام الغزالي: لا بد في كل مقام من مقامات اليقين من علم وحال وعمل فالعلم ينتج الحال والحال ينتج العمل
47 Do not abandon [zikr] because of being absent-minded. Your oversight 'OF' the presence of  [zikr] is greater than your oversight 'IN' the presence of [zikr]. Maybe He elevates you from [zikr] with oversight to [zikr] with awareness, and from  [zikr] with awareness to [zikr] with presence, and from [zikr] with presence to [zikr] with absence from everything other than Him. "And that for God is surely no great matter. [14:20]" لَاتَتْرُكْ الْذِّكْرَ، لِعَدَمِ حُضُوْرِكَ مَعَ اللَّهِ فِيْهِ، لأنَّ غَفْلَتَكَ عَنْ وُجُوْدِ ذِكْرِهِ – أَشَدُّ مِن غَفْلَتِكَ فِيْ وُجُوْدِ ذِكْرِهِ، فَعَسَىَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَكَ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مَعَ وُجُوْدِ غَفْلَةٍ – إِلَىَ ذِكْرٍ مَعَ وُجُوْدِ يَقَظَةٍ، وَمِنْ ذِكْرٍ مَعَ وُجُوْدِ يَقَظَةٍ إِلَىَ ذِكْرٍ مَعَ وُجُوْدِ حُضُوْرٍ، وَمَنْ ذِكْرٍ مَعَ وُجُوْدِ حُضُوْر إِلَىَ ذِكْرٍ مَعَ وُجُوْدِ غَيْبَةٍ عَمَّا سِوَىْ الْمَذْكُوْرِ، {وَمَا ذَلِكَ عَلَىَ الْلَّهِ بِعَزِيْزٍ (إِبْرَاهِيْمَ - ٢٠)}ء

Don't abandon the  [zikr], which is the principle of sainthood [wilaya], because of being absent minded and your heart is not present with The Lord during performing it on account of its being distracted by worldly affairs. Perform His [zikr] in all circumstances, because your oversight 'OF' performing [zikr] is graver than your oversight 'IN' or while performing [zikr], because in the latter you have actually uttered His [zikr] although your heart is occupied beyond Him. Perhaps The Lord elevates you or promotes you with His Grace from [zikr] with oversight of His Presence to [zikr] with awareness or alertness of the heart to the manners [adab] which befit His Presence and from [zikr] with awareness to [zikr] with presence near His Presence, and from [zikr] with presence to [zikr] with absence from everything other than Him, so you ultimately fade and perish even beyond [zikr]. In this state, any [zikr] that comes is emanating absolutely from The Lord, because the slave [abd] would be in the state of being loved by Him, as referred to in the Qodsy Hadith: "My slave keeps drawing closer to me by performing additional prayers and duties [nawafel] until I love him, and if I love him, I become his hearing through which he hears, and his sight through which he sees, and his tongue with which he talks, ...". The truth of these elevated states is only known to the [saliks], so take them for granted if you don't see yourself in one of them "...and do not follow the desires of those who do not know. [45:18]", and hold fast to the means and the veil will be lifted from upon you "And that for God is surely no great matter. [14:20]"
أي لا تترك أيها المريد الذكر الذي هو منشور الولاية لعدم حضور قلبك مع الله فيه لاشتغاله بالأعراض الدنيوية بل اذكره على كل حال لأن غفلتك عن وجود ذكره بأن تتركه بالكلية أشد من غفلتك في وجود ذكره لأنك في هذه الحالة حركت به لسانك وإن كان قلبك غافلا عن المذكور. فعسى أن يرفعك أي يرقيك بفضله من ذكر مع وجود غفلة عنه إلى ذكر مع وجود يقظة أي تيقظ قلب لما يناسب حضرته من الآداب ومن ذكر مع وجود يقظة إلى ذكر مع وجود حضور في حضرة الاقتراب ومن ذكر مع وجود حضور إلى ذكر مع وجود غيبة عما سوى المذكور فتفنى حتى عن الذكر. وفي هذا المقام ينقطع ذكر اللسان ويكون العبد محوا في وجود العيان كما قال بعض أهل هذا المقام
ما أن ذكرتك إلا هم يلعنني
سري وقلبي وروحي عند ذكراكا
حتى كأن رقيبا منك يهتف بي
إياك ويحك والتذكار إياكا
أما ترى الحق قد لاحت شواهده
وواصل الكل من معناه معناكا
وإذا صدر ذكر اللسان في هذا المقام فإنه يخرج من غير قصد ولا تدبر بل يكون الحق المبين لسانه الذي ينطق به لأن صاحبه في مقام الحب المشار إليه بالحديث: " لا يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ولسانه الذي ينطق به " إلى آخر الحديث وهذه المراقي لا يعرف حقيقتها إلا السالكون فقابلها بالتسليم أن لم تكن من أهلها {...وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاء الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (الجاثية - ١٨)} وخذ في الأسباب يرتفع عنك الحجاب {وَمَا ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ  (إبراهيم - ٢٠)}ء
48 A sign of a heart's death is absence of sorrow for the attainments you missed, and ceasing to regret its slips and sins. مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ مَوْتُ الْقَلْبِ – عَدَمَ الْحُزْنِ عَلَىَ مَا فَاتَكَ مِنَ الْمُوَافِقَاتِ، وَتَرْكُ الْنَّدَمِ عَلَىَ مَافَعَلَهُ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ الْزَلّاتِ

Absence of sorrow for the attainments and obedience missed, and stopping to regret slips and sins, are signs of the death of your heart. From this it is understood that joy in attainments and obedience and sorrow for slips and sins are signs of its life, as in the Hadith: "whose good deed pleases him and whose sin saddens him is indeed a believer". Performing good deeds is a sign that The Lord is satisfied, and satisfying Him deserves pleasure and performing foul deeds is a sign of The Lords displeasure, and displeasing Him deserves sorrow. Whoever Allah is pleased with, He will help him to do good deeds, and whoever He is displeased with, He will ignore him totally. Ask Allah for His aid to the straightest path.
أي إن عدم حزنك أيها المريد على ما فاتك من الموافقات بكسر الفاء أي الطاعات الموافقة للشرع وترك ندمك على ما فعلته من وجود الزلات أي المعاصي التي توجد منك علامة موت قلبك ويفهم منه أن سرورك بالطاعة وحزنك على المعصية علامة حياته. لما في الحديث: " من سرته حسنته وساءته سيئته فهو مؤمن ". فإن الأعمال الحسنة علامة على رضا الحق ورضاه يقتضي السرور. والأعمال السيئة علامة على غضبه وغضبه يقتضي الحزن. فمن رضي الله عنه وفقه لصالح الأعمال. ومن غضب عليه تركه في زوايا الإهمال. أسأل الله التوفيق لأقوم طريق
49 Don't magnify a sin to a level that it blocks you from favorable expectations of The Lord, for he who knows Him would trivialize his sin in front of His Generosity. لَايَعْظُمُ الْذَّنْبُ عِنْدَك عَظَمَةً تَصُدُّكَ عَنْ حُسْنِ الْظَّنِّ بِالْلَّهِ تَعَالَىْ؛ فَإِنَّ مَنْ عَرَفَ رَبَّه اسْتَصْغَرَ فِيْ جَنْبِ كَرَمِهِ ذَنْبَهُ

Regretting sin is a sign of the heart's life; however, the regret should not lead to hopelessness and despair of The Lord Almighty's mercy. What is required is to be fearful and hopeful, for fear will drive you to repent your sins, and hope will make you aspiring for acceptance. Whoever knows his Lord as Gentle, Benevolent and Gracious, will trivialize his sin, whatever it is, in front of His Generosity. The Lord Almighty said: "God does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him He forgives all except that, to whomever He will. ...[4:116]". And may he bless who said:

When I think of my sins, they are plenty,
but my Lord's mercy is much vaster
He is my Lord, my Majesty, who is my Creator,
and to Him I am a slave, humiliated and subjugated
And I do not hope and aspire for a right I have done
but for The Lord's mercy I am hopeful.
لَمَّا أفهم كلامه أن الندم على المعصية حياة القلب أشار بهذا إلى أن المراد الندم الذي لا يؤدي لليأس من رحمة الله تعالى. فالمطلوب أن تكون خائفا راجيا فالخوف يحملك على التوبة من الذنب والرجاء يطمعك في القبول. فإن من عرف ربه باللطف والفضل والامتنان استصغر في جنب كرمه ذنبه أيا كان. قال الله تعالى: {إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاء... (النساء - ١١٦)}. ولله در القائل
ذنوبي أن فكرت بها كثيرة
ورحمة ربي من ذنوبي أوسع
هو الله مولاي الذي هو خالقي
وإنني له عبد أذل وأخضع
وما طمعي في صالح قد عملته
ولكنني في رحمة الله أطمع
50 No sin is trivial if you are met with His Justice, and none is grave if you are met with His Graciousness. لَاصَغِيْرَةً إِذَا قَابَلَكَ عَدْلُهُ، وَلَا كَبِيْرَةً إِذَا وَاجَهَكَ فَضْلُهُ

None of your sins is trivial, but they are all major sins if you are faced with His Justice. For if His Justice is revealed to whoever The Lord hates, his good deeds will be wiped, and his trivial sins become major ones, because He will punish him for the smallest sin. And no sin is major if you are faced with His Graciousness, which is giving without anything in return. If The Lord's Graciousness is revealed to whoever The Lord loves, his sins will vanish and be replaced by good deeds. And as imam Al Shadhuli said: O Lord, make our sins the sins of those You love, and don't make our good deeds the good deeds of those You hate, for goodness will do no good in the presence of Your dislike, and wrongdoing will bring no harm in the presence of Your love.
أي لا صغيرة من ذنوبك بل كلها كبائر إذا قابلك عدله تعالى. فإن صفة العدل إذا ظهرت على من أبغضه الله تلاشت حسناته وعادت صغائره كبائر لأنه يعذبه على أصغر ذنب. ولا كبيرة إذا واجهك فضله وهو إعطاء الشيء بغير عوض فإن صفة الفضل إذا ظهرت لمن أحبه اضمحلت سيئاته وبدلت حسنات وأنا أقول كما قال الإمام الشاذلي: اللهم اجعل سيئاتنا سيئات من أحببت ولا تجعل حسناتنا حسنات من أبغضت. فالإحسان لا ينفع مع البغض منك والإساءة لا تضر مع الحب منك
51 The deed hoped to benefit the heart most is the one you do not regard, and which you think is very trivial and worthless. لَا عَمَلٌ أَرْجَىَ لِلْقُلُوْبِ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَغِيْبُ عَنْكَ شُهُودُهُ، وَيُحْتَقَرُ عِنْدَكَ وُجُوْدُهُ

There is no good deed more hoped to benefit and mend the heart than a deed which you do not witness and regard. When you do not regard your deed, you remain with The Lord, and you see your deed as despicable and accuse your self of not fulfilling The Lord's dues. And that is why a gnostic ([aaref]) said: if your vision connects to and notices any of your deeds, this is evidence that it will not be accepted. What will be accepted is the deed you did not regard, and was raised while concealed from you, for this is evidence of its acceptance. This is pointed to in His saying: "...To Him ascends good words and as for righteous action, He exalts it...[35:10]"
أي لا عمل من أعمال البر أكثر رجاء للقبول أي لقبول الله له وفي نسخة للقلوب أي لإصلاحها من عمل يغيب عنك شهوده لأنك إن غبت عن شهود عملك فقد بقيت حينئذ بربك وصار وجود العمل محتقرا عندك لاتهامك لنفسك في القيام بحقه. ولذا قال بعض العارفين: كل شيء من أفعالك إذا اتصلت به رؤيتك فذلك دليل على أنه لا يقبل منك لأن المقبول مرفوع مغيب عنك وما انقطعت عنه رؤيتك فذلك دليل على القبول. يشير إلى قوله تعالى: {...إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ ...(فاطر - ١٠)}ء
52 He only delivered a revelation ([warid]) to you, so that through it you reach Him. إِنَّمَا أَوْرَدَ عَلَيْكَ الْوَارِدَ؛ لِتَكُوْنَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ وَارِدا

If The Lord delivered to you a revelation ([warid]), which is what is placed inside your heart of Lordly knowledge and beneficent gentleness which purify your heart, He did so in order that you attempt to reach Him. For The Presence [Hadra] is dignified and ennobled beyond the presence of any heart turbid and troubled with impressions and signs, and tainted with the foulness of othernesses.
أي إنما أورد الله عليك أيها المريد الوارد وهو ما يرد على قلبك من المعارف الربانية واللطائف الرحمانية. لتكون به أي بذلك الوارد المطهر لقلبك عليه سبحانه وارد ا. فإن الحضرة منزهة عن كل قلب متكدر بالآثار متلوث بأقذار الأغيار
53 He delivered a revelation ([warid]) to you to release you from the bonds of otherness [al-aghyar], and from slavery to impressions and signs. أَوْرَدَ عَلَيْكَ الْوَارِدَ، لِيَسْتَعْمِلُكَ مِنْ يَدِ الْأَغْيَارِ، وَيُحَرِّرُكَ مِنْ رِقِّ الْآَثَارِ

Othernesses [al-aghyar] and impressions and signs, which are worldly affairs and self lusts, seize you because you desire, prefer, and rest to them. He delivered a revelation ([warid]) to you to forcefully liberate you from the bonds of what seized you, and free you from belonging to what enslaved you so that you become befitting slavery and servitude to Him, and regard the magnificence of His Divinity.
فالأغيار والآثار التي هي من أعراض الدنيا وشهوات النفس غاصبة لك لحبك لها وسكونك إليها. فأورد عليك الوارد ليستلمك قهرا من يد من غصبك ويحررك من ملكية من استرقك فتكون حينئذ صالحا لعبوديته ومشاهدا لعظمة ربوبيته. كما قال المصنف
54 He delivered a revelation ([warid]) to you to free you from confinement in the prison of your existence to the vastness of the space witnessing. أَوْرَدَ عَلَيْكَ الْوَارِدَ، لِيُخْرِجُكَ مِنْ سِجْنِ وُجُوْدِكَ – إِلَىَ فَضَاءِ شُهُوْدِكَ

Your existence becomes similar to a prison when you witness your self and observe your fortune. Your existence, on the other hand, becomes similar to space in its vastness and expanse, when you become absent from them by witnessing The Grandness and Magnificence of your Lord. And that is why some said: Your self is your prison, but if you exit it you find rest and serenity for eternity.
فإن وجودك الشبيه بالسجن هو شهودك لنفسك ومراعاتك لحظك. وشهودك الشبيه بالفضاء في السعة هو أن تغيب عن ذلك بمشاهدتك عظمة ربك. ولذا قال بعضهم: سجنك نفسك إذا خرجت منها وقعت في راحة الأبد
55 The lights are the rides of the hearts and the secrets. الْأَنْوَار مَطَايَا الْقُلُوْبِ وَالْأَسْرَارِ

Lordly lights that are revealed to the heart of the [mureed] , and usually occur due to performing [zikr] and tasks (of worship), are rides for the hearts and the secrets inside the hearts. Through them they reach their target, which is entry into The Presence [Hadra] of nearness to The Lord Almighty, as a ride delivers its passenger to his destination.
أي أن الأنوار الإلهية التي ترد على قلب المريد وتحصل غالبا من الأذكار والرياضات هي مطايا القلوب والأسرار جمع سر وهو باطن القلب أي توصلها إلى مطلوبها الذي هو متوجهة إليه وهو دخولها حضرة القرب من الله تعالى كما أن المطية توصل راكبها إلى مطلوبه
56 Lights are the troops to the heart, as darkness are troops to the self ([nafs]). So if The Lord wishes to deliver His slave, He reinforces him with troops of light, and prevents reinforcing troops of darknesses and of otherness [al-aghyar] الْنُّوْرُ جُنْدُ الْقَلْبِ، كَمَا أَنَّ الْظُّلْمَةَ جُنْدُ الْنَّفْسِ، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ الْلَّهُ أَنْ يَنْصُرَ عَبْدَهُ – أَمَدَّهُ بِجُنُوْدِ الْأَنْوَارِ، وَقَطَعَ عَنْهُ مَدَدَ الْظُّلَمِ وَالْأَغْ

Lordly lights are for the heart (from the aspect that they deliver it to its target destination which is The Presence [Hadra] of The Lord) like troops to the prince, who deliver him to his target of conquering his enemies. Satan's [al-Shaytan's] whispering (which is darkness) is troops to the self that incites to evil, not the calm satisfied self. The target aims of the inciting to evil self are lusts and immediate gains. If The Lord wants to deliver His slave [abd] and render him victorious over in suppressing his lusts, He will supply his heart with troops of lights (lights that are like troops, or troops that are lights) and will cut the reinforcement of otherness [al-aghyar] which are similar to darkness. And if He wants to fail him He will do the opposite. The slave [abd] should rush to his Lord when both troops clash, and ask for His assistance over his inciting to evil self, begging by the status of the master of both universes (Sayyidina Mohammed, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam). Ibn Abbad Al Rundi said: these past five Hikmas, starting with 'He only delivered a revelation' are artistic repetitions by the author conveying similar meaning in different wording, as he does in several places in this book.


يعني أن النور للقلب في كونه يتوصل به إلى مقصده وهو حضرة الرب بمنزلة الجند للأمير في كونه يتوصل به إلى مقصوده من قهر أعدائه كما أن الظلمة التي هي من وساوس الشيطان جند النفس الأمارة بالسوء دون المطمئنة فإنها توافق العقل أبد ا. ومقصد النفس الأمارة الشهوات والأغراض العاجلة. فلا يزال الحرب بينهما وبين العقل. فإذا أراد الله أن ينصر عبده أي يعينه على قمع شهواته أمده أي أمد قلبه الذي فيه العقل بجنود الأنوار أي بالأنوار الشبيهة بالجنود أو بجنود هي الأنوار وقطع عنه مدد الظلم بفتح اللام جمع ظلمة أي مددا هو الظلم. وعطف الأغيار عليه من عطف المرادف يعني وإذا أراد خذلانه فعلى العكس من ذلك. فعلى العبد أن يفزع إلى ربه عند التقاء الصفين ويسأله الإعانة على النفس الأمارة بالسوء متوسلا بسيد الكونين. قال ابن عباد: وهذه العبارات الخمس من قوله إنما أورد عليك الوارد إلى هنا تفنن فيها صاحب الكتاب وكررها بألفاظ مختلفة والمعاني فيها متقاربة. وهذه عادته في مواضع كثيرة من هذا الكتاب
57 Light unveils, and insight judges. The heart then approaches or retreats and withdraws. الْنُّوْرُ لَهُ الْكَشْفُ، وَالْبَصِيْرَةُ لَهَا الْحُكْمُ، وَالْقَلْبُ لَهُ الْإِقْبَالُ وَالْإِدْبَارُ

As vision cannot perceive objects without manifest lights as from the sun and moon, insight cannot comprehend and perceive meanings for anything without internal lights. The light that The Lord delivers to the heart of the [mureed] , which is Divine knowledge, unveils, or clarifies the true meanings of things as the beauty of obedience and the ugliness of wrongdoing. Insight, which is the eye to the heart, judges or comprehends what it saw revealed by the lights. The heart then approaches whatever was unveiled and the insight judged as good, as obedience, and withdraws from what was unveiled and the insight judged as ugly, as wrongdoing and sin. The body follows the heart suit, as in the Hadith: "indeed the body contains a 'lump of flesh' [moddgha] which if set right sets the whole body in a good state, and if corrupt will corrupt the whole body: which is the heart."
يعني أن النور الذي يقذفه الله في قلب المريد وهو العلم اللدني له الكشف أي كشف المعاني كحسن الطاعة وقبح المعصية. والبصيرة التي هي عين القلب لها الحكم أي إدراك الأمر الذي شاهدته وكشف لها عنه بالنور. فإنه كما لا يمكن إدراك البصر للمحسوسات إلا بالأنوار الظاهرة كالشمس والسراج لا يمكن إدراك البصيرة لشيء من المعاني إلا بالأنوار الباطنية. والقلب له الإقبال على ما كشف للبصيرة وحكمت بحسنه كالطاعة والإدبار عما كشف لها وحكمت بقبحه كالمعصية وحينئذ تتبعه الجوارح لما في الحديث: " ألا وإن في الجسد مضغة إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله ألا وهي القلب " كما تقدم
58 Don't rejoice in obedience because it originated from you, but find joy in His allowing you to obey. "Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy: therein let them rejoice. It is better than what they hoard. [10:58]" لَا تُفْرِحْكَ الْطَّاعَةُ؛ لِأَنَّهَا بَرَزَتْ مِنَكَ، وَافْرَحْ بِهَا لِأَنَّهَا بَرَزَتْ مِنَ الْلَّهِ إِلَيْكَ: {قُلْ بِفَضْلِ الْلَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوْا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُوْنَ (يُوْنُسَ - ٥٨)}ء

Don't rejoice in performing obedience because it originated from you. If you rejoice in it from this aspect, arrogance and pride will overtake you, which will render it worthless, as you saw that it originated of your own will and power. Your rejoice in it should be because The Lord permitted you performing it, and bestowed it upon you. Almighty said: "And Allah has created you and all what you do [37:96]". And so comprehend His saying: "Say: In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy: therein let them rejoice. It is better than what they hoard. [10:58]"
أي لا يكون فرحك بالطاعة لأجل كونها برزت منك فإنك إذا فرحت بها من هذه الحيثية أورثتك العجب المحبط لها لأنك شاهدت أنها بحولك وقوتك. وإنما يكون فرحك بها لأجل كونها برزت من الله إليك وتفضل بها عليك قال تعالى: {وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (الصافات - ٩٦)}. ولذا استدل بآية: {قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ  (يونس - ٥٨)}ء
59 He prevented those traveling towards Him and those who have reached Him from seeing their deeds and witnessing their states. Those still traveling because they have not ascertained genuineness with Allah in their deeds and states, and those who have reached Him because witnessing Him blocks their perception of everything else. قَطَعَ الْسَّائِرِيْنَ لَهُ وَالْوَاصِلِيْنَ إِلَيْهِ عَنْ رُؤْيَةِ أَعْمَالِهِمْ وَشُهُوْدِ أَحْوَالِهِمْ. أَمَّا الْسَّائِرُوْنَ فَلِأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَتَحَقَّقُوْا الْصِّدْقَ مَعَ الَلَّهِ فِيْهَا، وَأَمَّا الْوَاصِلُوْنَ – فَلِأَنَّهُ غَيَّبَهُمْ بِشُهُوْدِهِ عَنْهَا

The Lord Almighty veiled those traveling towards Him from regarding their deeds, and prevented those who have reached Him from perceiving their states. The traveler on the path to The Lord does not see anything of his deeds in accusation to himself for the lack of its completeness. He who has reached Him is completely absorbed regarding Him even from witnessing himself, for it is impossible that he regards Him and sees anything else beside Him. The Lord has granted both of His Grace, and granted the better state to the second group
يعني أن الله تعالى حجب السائرين له عن رؤية أعمالهم ومنع الواصلين إليه عن شهود أحوالهم. فهو لف ونشر مرتب. وخص الواصلين بالأحوال وإن كانت لهم أعمال لأن تلك الأحوال التي هي الأعمال الباطنة الصالحة أفضل من الأعمال الظاهرة فعبر في جانبهم بالأفضل. كما أنه عبر في جانب السائرين بالأعمال وإن كانت لهم أحوال أيضا لمناسبة ذلك لهم فالسائر إلى الله لا يرى شيئا من أعماله اتهاما لنفسه بعدم كماله. والواصل غائب في شهوده حتى عن نفسه فإنه محال أن يراه ويشهد معه سواه. فقد أسبغ الله نعمته على الفريقين وأعطى الفريق الثاني أفضل المنزلتين
60 Branches of humility only flourish out of seeds of greed مَا بَسَقَتْ أَغْصَانُ ذُلٍّ – إِلَا عَلَىَ بِذْرِ طَمَعٍ

A palm tree is said to flourish when it grows tall, and Almighty said: "and the date-palms that stand tall, ...[50:10]". The author likened humility to a tree with branches, that grows tall and flourishes, and likened greed to seeds from which the tree grows. And what is meant is that you should not plant the seed of greed in your heart, or a tree of humiliation and abasement will grow out of it and its branches will flourish. Greed is the origin of all ills and evil, because it necessitates befalling into every devastation. The greedy continues flattering and being servile and obsequious to people till he becomes devoid of lights of certainty [yaqeen]. The believer, on the other hand, should always be eager to hold to the dignity and honor of his strong faith, and always repeat His saying [Subhanahu]: "...Yet [the real] might belongs to God and to His Messenger, and to the believers,...[63:8]", and this only can happen if he relies totally on His Lord, and severs every desire for anything other than Him. Whoever greeds for something will humiliate himself for it, and yields and submits to its rule.
يقال: بسقت النخلة إذا طالت. قال تعالى: {وَالنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَاتٍ..(ق - ١٠)}. والأغصان جمع غصن وهو ما تشعب عن سوق الشجر. وقد شبه هنا الذل بشجرة على طريق الاستعارة المكنية وأثبت لها الأغصان تخييلا وبسقت ترشيح. وإضافة بذر إلى طمع من إضافة المشبه به للمشبه أي طمع شبيه بالبذر أي المبذور الذي تنشأ عنه الشجرة. والمراد لا تغرس بذر الطمع في قلبك فتخرج شجرة من الذل وتتشعب أغصانها. فإن الطمع أصل جميع الآفات لأنه موجب للوقوع في عظيم المهلكات فلا يزال صاحبه يتملق إلى الناس حتى يحصل له من نور يقينه الإفلاس مع أن المؤمن ينبغي أن يحرص على عزة إيمانه المتين ويردد قوله سبحانه {...وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ... (المنافقون - ٨)} ولا يكون ذلك إلا باعتماده على مولاه وقطع طماعيته فيما سواه. فإن من طمع في شيء ذل له وانقاد لحكمه حتى يقال: قاده وذلله. وما ألطف قول بعضهم: أتطمع في ليلى وتعلم أنما تقطع أعناق الرجال المطمع
   
     
61 Nothing leads you on like delusion does. مَا قَادَكَ شَيْءٌ مِثْلَ الْوَهْمِ

The self submits more to delusive false issues than to stable evident facts. Being under the delusion that benefit and reward may be gained from people is the reason for greed. The truthful are in isolation from greed, and their desire holds fast only to The Lord, and they put their trust only in Him. Their hearts were promoted beyond noticing othernesses [al-aghyar], so greed did not touch them. They are characterized by the traits of completeness, the most sublime of which are asceticism [zuhd], piety and sanctity. So The Lord made them lead a life of goodness in contentment, free of slavery to othernesses [al-aghyar].
يعني أن انقياد النفس إلى الأمور الوهمية الباطلة أشد من انقيادها إلى الحقائق الثابتة. فتوهم النفع من المخلوقين هو السبب في الطمع في الناس وهو في الحقيقة مبني على غير أساس لأن الطمع تصديق الظن الكاذب والطمع فيهم طمع في غير مطمع ولذلك كانت أرباب الحقائق بمعزل عنه فلا تتعلق همتهم إلا بالله ولا يتوكلون إلا على الله قد ترقت عن ملاحظة الأغيار قلوبهم فلم يحل فيها الطمع واتصفوا بصفات الكمال التي من أجلها الزهادة والورع فأحياهم الله حياة طيبة بالقناعة ولم يكشف أحد منها لمخلوق قناعه تخلصا من رق الأغيار وتطلبا لأن يكون من الأحرار. كما قال المصنف
62 You are free from what you relinquish, and you are enslaved to what you greed for. أَنْتَ حُرٌّ مِمَّا أَنْتَ عَنْهُ آَيِسٌ، وَعَبْدٌ لِمَا أَنْتَ لَهُ طَامِعٌ

You are free of everything that you relinquish, because not wanting or hoping for something is evidence that the heart emptied of it, and this is the peak of freedom of it. And greed for something is evidence of loving and needing it, which is the peak of slavery to it. The greedy is enslaved and the despairer is free. And as was said:
A slave is free if he is content
and the free is enslaved if he greeds
so be content and do not greed
for nothing dishonors as greed.
And also:
humble yourself to The Lord but not to the people
and be content with glory, for glory is in despair
and relinquish every kin and every relation
the wealthy is he who dispensed with people.
أي أنت حر من كل شيء أنت عنه أي منه آيس لأن اليأس من الشيء دليل على فراغ القلب منه وذلك عين الحرية منه كما أن الطمع في الشيء دليل على الحب له وفرط الاحتياج إليه وذلك عين العبودية له. وقوله لما أنت له أي فيه طامع. فالطامع عبد واليائس حر. كما قيل
العبد حر ما قنع
والحر عبد ما طمع
فاقنع ولا تطمع فما
شيء يشين سوى الطمع
وقوله: “ ما قنع “ في آخر المصراع الأول بكسر النون بمعنى رضي والثاني بفتحها بمعنى سأل وقوله: “ فاقنع “ بفتح النون أمر من القناعة. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
اضرع إلى الله لا تضرع إلى الناس
واقنع بعز فإن العز في اليأس
واستغن عن كل ذي قربى وذي رحم
إن الغني من استغنى عن الناس
63 He who does not come to God because of the sweetness of His Generosity, will come pulled in the chains of trials and tests. مَنْ لَمْ يُقْبِلُ عَلَىَ الْلَّهِ بِمُلاطَفَاتِ الْإِحْسَانِ – قُيِّدَ إِلَيْهِ بِسَلَاسِلِ الْإِمْتِحَانِ

He who does not approach The Lord Almighty because of the sweetness of His Generosity, The Lord will drag him in chains of trials. Dignified souls approach Him because of His Generosity, and the mean and evil souls only come back to Him because of His inflictions and tests. The Lord's desire is that the slave [abd] return to Him, whether voluntarily or forcibly.
أي من لم يقبل على الله تعالى بسبب ملاطفاته هي الإحسان قيد بالبناء للمفعول أي قاده الله إليه بالامتحانات الشبيهة بالسلاسل. فالنفوس الكريمة تقبل على الله لإحسانه والنفوس اللئيمة لا ترجع إليه إلا ببلائه وامتحانه. ومراد الرب من العبد رجوعه إليه طوعا أو كرها
64 He who does not thank for blessings risks their disappearance, and he who thanks for them has tied them down with their knots. مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرُ الْنِّعَمِ – فَقَدْ تَعَرَّضَ  لِزَوَالِهَا وَمَنْ شَكَرَهَا – فَقَدْ قَيَّدَهَا بِعِقَالِهَا

Likens blessings to camels that go astray if not tied down with their knots. And some said: thanking is tying down what is present, and fishing what is missing and wanted, and as Almighty said: "...“If you are thankful, then assuredly I shall give you more...[14:7]". Thanking literally means: an act, either by word, or act, or belief, of magnifying a bestower of favors for his giving. And a poet said:

my thanking was never sufficient for repaying Your bounties,
but I tried hard to do so
I submitted three things to thank for blessings:
my hand, my tongue, and my conscience that is veiled

And thanking by definition means: the slave [abd] spends everything The Lord blessed him with for what he was created for. Imam Al-Gonaid was asked at the age of seven: what is thanking? He answered: that The Lord is not disobeyed by His blessings.
فيه تشبيه النعم بالإبل التي شأنها النفار أن لم تقيد بالعقال على سبيل المكنية وإثبات العقال تخييل والتقييد ترشيح. ومن كلامهم: الشكر قيد للموجود وصيد للمفقود. وناهيك قوله تعالى: {...لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ... (إبراهيم - ٧)} وهو لغة: فعل ينبئ عن تعظيم المنعم بسبب كونه منعما على الشاكر أو غيره سواء كان ذكرا باللسان أو عملا بالأركان أو اعتقادا بالجنان. كما قال الشاعر
وما كان شكري وافيا بنوالكم
ولكنني حاولت في الجهد مذهبا
أفادتكم النعماء مني ثلاثة
يدي ولساني والضمير المحجبا
وفي الاصطلاح: صرف العبد جميع ما أنعم الله به عليه فيما خلق لأجله. وقد قيل للجنيد وهو ابن سبع سنين يا غلام ما الشكر؟ فقال: أن لا يعصى الله بنعمه
65 Always fear of His continuous Generosity towards you despite your continued wrongdoings lest this is just luring you to commit more: "...We will draw them on by degrees, whence they do not know. [7:182]" خِفْ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ إِحْسَانِهِ إِلَيْكَ، وَدَوَامِ إِسَاءَتِكَ مَعَهُ – أَنْ يَكُوْنَ ذَلِكَ اسْتِدْرَاجاً لَكَ: {... سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنَ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ . (الْأَعْرَافِ - ١٨٢)}ء

Fear the continuous presence of Almighty's generosity towards you despite your continued wrongdoings and abandoning His orders, lest this is luring you and leading you on gradually so that He seizes you suddenly to punishment. Fear of being drawn and led on by blessings is a characteristic of pious believers, and absence of fear with continued wrongdoing is a characteristic of the infidels [kafireen]. Almighty said: "...We will draw them on by degrees, whence they do not know. [7:182]". This is by deceiving them to think that they are on the good path while they are not. He leads them on and lures them till He suddenly seizes them to punishment. As Almighty said: "So, when they forgot that whereof they were reminded," by disobeying, "We opened to them the gates of all things" or gates of affluence "until, when they rejoiced in what they were given," of worldly pleasantries they did not thank for, "We seized them suddenly and lo! they were confounded. [6:44]" or despairing of The Lord's mercy. And it was said about His saying: "...We will draw them on by degrees, whence they do not know. [7:182]" we supply them with blessings, and make them forget to thank for them if they become secure and comforted with the blessings, and veiled from The Benefactor, they are seized.
أي خف أيها المؤمن من وجود إحسانه سبحانه عليك مع دوام إساءتك معه بترك أوامره أن يكون ذلك استدراجا أي تدريجا لك شيئا فشيئا حتى يأخذك بغتة. فإن الخوف من الاستدراج بالنعم من صفات المؤمنين كما أن عدم الخوف منه مع الدوام على الإساءة من صفات الكافرين. قال تعالى: {...سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ  (الأعراف - ١٨٢)} أي لا يشعرون بذلك وهو أن يلقي في أوهامهم أنهم على شيء وليسوا كذلك يستدرجهم بذلك حتى يأخذهم بغتة. كما قال تعالى: {فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ..} إشارة إلى مخالفتهم وعصيانهم {..فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ..} أي فتحنا عليهم أبواب الرفاهية {..حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَا أُوتُواْ.. } من الحظوظ الدنيوية ولم يشكروا عليها {..أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً ..} أي فجأة {..فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ . (الأنعام - ٤٤)} أي آيسون قانطون من الرحمة. وقيل في قوله تعالى {...سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ  (الأعراف - ١٨٢)}. نمدهم بالنعم وننسيهم الشكر عليها. فإذا ركنوا إلى النعمة وحجبوا عن المنعم أخذوا. ومن أنواع الاستدراج ما ذكره المصنف بقوله
66 A sign of ignorance on part of the [mureed] : he disobeys, and if punishment is not immediate, so he says: if this was disobedience, then He would have cut His supplies [madad] and links, and distanced me. Supplies [madad] and links can be cut where he does not feel them, even if just by the absence of increase. And you can be distanced without knowing it, even if only by Him allowing you having all your desires. مِنْ جَهْلِ الْمُرِيَّدِ – أَنْ يُسِىءَ الْأَدَبِ؛ فَتُؤَخِرُ الْعُقُوْبةُ عَنْهُ، فَيَقُوْلُ: لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا سُوَءُ أَدَبٍ لَقَطَعَ الْإِمْدَادَ، وَأَوْجَبَ الْإِبْعَادَ، فَقَدْ يَقْطَعُ الْمَدَدَ عَنْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَايَشْعُرُ، وَلَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ إِلَا مَنْعَ الْمَزِيْدِ، وَقَدْ يُقَامُ مَقَامَ الْبُعْدِ – وَهُوَ لَا يَدْرِيِ، وَلَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ إِلَا أَنْ يُخَلِّيَكَ وَمَا تُرِيْدُ

It is ignorance of the facts of matter on part of the [mureed] to behave badly (show bad [adab]) towards The Lord (as by objecting His destiny by saying: I wish this did not happen), or towards people (as by showing contempt and disrespect), then if he is not punished manifestly by illnesses and calamities, or internally according to what he claims, he says: if this had been bad [adab], supplies [madad] of Lordly favors would have been cut, and He would have distanced me. This is ignorance on part of the [mureed] because He can deny him supplies [madad] while he does not feel, and it would be enough cutting if He were only to maintain current level and prevent increase in favors and supplies. You may be positioned in a position of distancing without knowing it, even if the only manifestation of distancing is that He grants you, while disobedient, everything you want, and He incites your self against you and denies you His support over it. A [mureed] who doubts his bad behavior and disobedience and says 'if this was disobedience' is satisfied with his self, which in itself necessitates blame and punishment. Satisfaction with the self is the base of every harm, while on the contrary, accusing it and dissatisfaction with it is the base of every good.
يعني أن من جهل المريد بحقائق الأشياء أن يسيء الأدب إما مع الله بنحو الاعتراض عليه في أفعاله كأن يقول: ليت هذا الأمر لم يكن. وإما مع المشايخ بنحوالاعتراض عليهم وعدم قبول إشارتهم فيما يشيرون به عليه. وإما مع بعض الناس بنحو الازدراء بهم. فتؤخر العقوبة عنه أي عن ذلك المريد بأن لا يعاقب في ظاهره بالأسقام والبلايا ولا في باطنه بحسب زعمه فيقول: لوكان الذي وقع منه سوء أدب لقطع الإمداد بكسر الهمزة مصدر أمده أوبفتحها جمع مدد أي ما يرد من بحر إفضال الواحد الصمد. وأوجب الإبعاد أي ببعدي عنه. وإنما كان ذلك جهلا من المريد لأنه قد يقطع المدد عنه من حيث لا يشعر ولو لم يكن من قطع المدد عنه إلا منع المزيد أي الزيادة من المدد لكان كافيا في قطعه. فجواب لومحذوف. وقد يقام أي ذلك المريد مقام أي في مقام البعد وهو لا يدري ولو لم يكن من إقامته في مقام البعد إلا أن يخليك أيها العبد المسيء وما تريد بأن يسلط نفسك عليك ويمنع نصرتك عليها لكان ذلك كافيا في البعد. وفي هذا التفات من الغيبة إلى الحضور فإنه التفت إلى مخاطبة المريد كأنه حاضر بين يديه. ولعمري إنه يستحق هذا التصنيف. فإن قوله: “ لوكان هذا سوء أدب “ يشعر برضاه عن نفسه الذي يوجب الملام عليه فإن الرضا عن النفس لا ينشأ عنه إلا كل ضير كما أن اتهامها وعدم الرضا عنها أصل كل خير. ومن إساءة الأدب مع أعص الناس ما ذكره المصنف بقوله
67 When you see a worshiper whom The Lord has set up with the presence and persistence of litanies [wird]s, with continuous supplies, never look down on what His Lord has given him if his appearance does not show the appearances of the gnostics ([aarefeen]) or the delight of the (Lordly) lovers. If there was no revelation ([warid]) there would not have been a litany [wird]. إِذَا رَأَيْتَ عَبْدا أَقَامَهُ الْلَّهُ تَعَالَىْ بِوُجُوْدِ الْأَوْرَادِ، وَأَدَامَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَعَ طُولِ الْإِمْدَادِ – فَلَا تَسْتَحْقِرَنَّ مَا مَنَحَهُ مَوْلَاهُ؛ لِأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَرَ عَلَيْهِ سِيْمَ الْعَارِفِيْنَ، ولابَهْجَّةَ الْمُحِبِّيْنَ، فَلَوْلَا وَارِدٌ مَا كَانَ وِرْدٌ

The Lord's selected and specialized slaves [ebad] are two types: A group were set up by Al-Haqq in performing [wird]s of different worships as prayer and fasting and [zikr] and the like. These are the worshipers and the ascetics [zahids] who strive for entry to, and for increase in levels in, heavens. They work hard for their own fortune and are occupied beyond concentrating on regarding The Lord. The other group were completely taken away from caring for their fortunes, and only strive for The Lord and regarding Him, and these are the gnostics ([aarefeen]) and the lovers. If you see someone from the first group, whom The Lord has set up with the presence and persistence of litanies [wird]s, with continuous supplies or continuous help and facilitation to continue performing them, do not trivialize or look down on what His Lord has given him. He might be trivialized and looked down upon because his appearance does not show signs of the gnostics ([aarefeen]) who work without expecting reward and denounce their own wills, nor does it show the delight of the lovers who are eager to please The Loved One without hoping for elevation in heaven. You should not look down on him because: If there was no revelation ([warid]) sent down by The Lord upon his heart, there would not have been a litany [wird] or worship. So do not belittle what his Lord has given him, for every group stood up with the status The Lord has set them into.
اعلم أن عباد الله المخصوصين على قسمين: منهم من أقامه الحق بوجود الأوراد بأن أظهرها منه والمراد بها ما يقع بكسب العبد من أنواع العبادات الموظفة على الأوقات كصلاة وصيام وذكر ونحوذلك. وهؤلاء هم العباد والزهاد الذين عملوا لرفع الدرجات في علي الجنات فعملوا لحظوظهم ولم يمحضوا النظر إلى وجه ربهم. ومنهم من أخذوا عن حظوظهم ولم يطلبوا إلا وجه ربهم وهم العارفون والمحبون. فإذا رأيت عبدا من الفريق الأول أقامه الله بوجود الأوراد وأدامه عليها أي جعله مداوما عليها مع طول الإمداد أي إدامة المعونة والتيسير فلا تستحقرن ما منحه أي أعطاه مولاه. وعلل الاستحقار بقوله: لأنك أي لكونك لم تر عليه سيما العارفين أي علامتهم من ترك الحظوظ والإرادات ولا بهجة المحبين من الشغف بمرضاة محبوبهم من غير نظر إلى علي الجنات. ثم علل عدم الاستحقار بقوله: فلولا وارد أي تجل إلهي أورده الله على قلبه ما كان ورد أي عبادة فهو لم يخرج عن دائرة العناية ولم يبعد عن الملاحظة والرعاية. فلا تستقل ما منحه مولاه فإن كل فريق قام بحق المقام الذي أقامه الحق فيه وتولاه. كما قال المصنف
68 There are people whom The Lord has set up in His service, and there are people whom The Lord selected for and distinguished by His love. "Each We supply [to] these and [to] those from your Lord’s bounty. And your Lord’s bounty is not confined. [17:20]" قَوْمٌ أَقَامَهُمُ الْحَقُّ لِخِدْمَتِهِ، وَقَوْمٌ أَخْتَصَّهُمْ بِمَحَبَّتِهِ: {كَلَّا نَمُدُّ هَؤُلَاءِ وَهَؤُلَاءِ مِنْ عَطَاءِ رَبِّكَ وَمَا كَانَ عَطَاءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُوْرا (الْإِسْرَاءِ - ٢٠)}ء

There are people whom The Lord has selected to serve Him till they became fit to enter heavens, and these are the worshipers [aabidoon], and there are people whom He selected for loving Him till they became befitting to enter His Presence [Hadra] and these are the gnostics ([aarefeen]) and the lovers. All are set up in servitude, but the service of the first group is mostly physical, and the second group is mostly by the heart (spiritual) depending on what He, The Knower Of All Unknowns, has destined since eternity, as He The Almighty said: "Each We supply [to] these and [to] those from your Lord’s bounty. And your Lord’s bounty is not confined. [17:20]". So if you witness that The Lord Almighty is The One who set up each in his state, you would not trivialize or look down, for this becomes ignorance of the Wisdom of The Lord The Mighty The Forgiver.
أي قوم اختارهم الحق تعالى لخدمته حتى صلحوا لجنته وهم العابدون. وقوم اختصهم بمحبته حتى صلحوا لدخول حضرته وهم العارفون والمحبون. والكل منتسبون إلى خدمته لكن خدمة الأولين أكثرها بالجوارح والآخرين أكثرها بالقلوب على حسب ما يليق بكل من القسمة الأزلية التي منحها لهم علام الغيوب. كما قال تعالى: {كُلاًّ نُّمِدُّ هَـؤُلاء وَهَـؤُلاء مِنْ عَطَاء رَبِّكَ وَمَا كَانَ عَطَاء رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا (الإسراء - ٢٠)} أي ممنوعا. فإذا شهد العبد انفراد الله تعالى بهذه الإقامة رجع عن الاحتقار فإن ذلك من الجهل بحكمة العزيز الغفار
69 Seldom are Lordly revelations [warid]s except sudden. Hence worshipers cannot claim they came upon because of being ready and prepared. قَلَّمَا تَكُوْنُ الْوَارِدَاتُ الْإِلَهِيَّةُ – إِلَا بَغْتَةً، لِئَلَّا يَدَّعِيَهَا الْعُبَّادُ بِوُجُوْدِ الاسْتِعْدَادِ

Lordly revelations ([warid]) which are the secrets of knowing, rarely happen except suddenly, or unanticipated without preparedness by worship, so that worshipers cannot claim they are ready for them. The Lord's gifts are sacred beyond needing excuses of deeds and worship, because they are the bounties of The All Sufficient, The Rich, The Giver. Their occurrence without preparedness is very frequent, but their occurrence due to preparedness is rare and unusual.
أي أن الواردات الإلهية التي هي الأسرار العرفانية يقل حصولها غير بغتة أي فجأة من غير استعداد لها بعبادة لئلا يدعيها العباد بضم العين المهملة وشد الموحدة جمع عابد بوجود الاستعداد لها. فإن تحف الله تعالى وهداياه مقدسة عن أن تعلل بالأعمال لأنها من مواهب الغني المفضال فحصولها بغير استعداد كثير وأما حصولها بالاستعداد فنزر يسير
70 Whoever you find answering all questions, repeating everything he witnessed, and stating everything he learnt, take this as evidence of his ignorance. مَنْ رَأَيْتَهُ مُجِيْبا ًعَنْ كُلِّ مَا سُئِلَ، وَمَعْبَرَا ًعَنْ كُلِّ مَا شَهِدَ، وَذَاكِراً كُلَّ مَا عَلِمَ – فَاسْتَدِلُّ بِذَلِكَ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ جَهْلِهِ

If you find a person answering all questions he was asked about everything, repeating all the knowledge and sciences he witnessed and internally tasted, and stating everything he learnt, take this as evidence of his ignorance. Answering all questions about everything is a sign of ignorance as this requires encompassing all knowledge, which is impossible, and Almighty said: "... And of knowledge you have not been given except a little’. [17:85]". And some said:
 
Whoever likes to be seen in the forefront
and hates 'I don't know' has been hit fatally.

To repeat everything witnessed is a sign of ignorance because it entails divulging secrets while ordered to keep them, and it was said: the hearts of the free are the graves of the secrets. And since perception of what was witnessed cannot be relayed in word, the gnostics ([aarefeen]) had to suffice with signaling, and as some of them said: our knowledge is in signal, and if it is turned into words it disappears. Stating everything learnt is also a sign of ignorance: for not everything is suitable to be relayed to everyone, for there will be some who will not comprehend it or deduce meanings other than what was said. This also shows he cannot differentiate between different knowledge and information. A gnostic ([aaref]) said: I hide the jewels of my knowledge so that the truth is not seen by an ignorant who might be enticed into sedition.
يعني: أنك إذا رأيت إنسانا مجيبا عن كل ما سئل فيه من المسائل ومعبرا عن كل ما شهده أي ذاقه بباطنه من العلوم والمعارف وذاكرا كل ما علم فاستدل بذلك على وجود جهله. أما الإجابة عن كل سؤال فلاقتضائها منه الإحاطة بجميع المعلومات وذلك محال في حقه. قال تعالى: {...وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً  (الإسراء - ٨٥)}. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
ومن كان يهوى أن يرى متصدرا
ويكره لا أدري أصيبت مقاتله
وأما التعبير عن كل مشهود فلأن فيه نوعا من إفشاء السر الذي أمروا بكتمه فإنهم قالوا: قلوب الأحرار قبور الأسرار. ولأن مدارك الشهود يضيق عنها نطاق التعبير بالعبارة ولذلك اكتفى العارفون فيما بينهم بالإشارة كما قال بعضهم: علمنا إشارة فإذا صار عبارة خفي. وأما الذكر لكل معلوم فلعدم تفرقته بين المعلومات وقد يكون له علم يختص به فإذا ذاكره لغيره استغربه كما قال بعض العارفين: إني لأكتم من علمي جواهره ... كي لا يرى الحق ذوجهل فيفتتنا
71 He made the Next World a place to reward His faithful worshipers because this world cannot encompass what He wants to give them, and because He honored their status beyond rewarding them in a world that is not permanent. إِنَّمَا جَعَلَ الْدَّارَ الْآَخِرَةَ مَحَلاً لِجَزَاءِ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ؛ لِأَنَّ هَذِهِ الْدَّارَ – لَا تَسْعَ مَا يُرِيْدُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُمْ؛ وَلِأَنَّهُ أَجَلَّ أَقْدَارَهُمْ عَنْ أَنْ يُجَازِيَهُمْ فِيْ دَارِ لَا بَقَاءَ لَهَا

The Lord Almighty made the Next World a place to reward His faithful worshipers, and not this world, on two accounts: The first is that this world cannot encompass what He wants to give them of blessings, as several sayings state that The Lord gives some of the people in heavens many multiples of the like of this whole world. The other is that He dignified and venerated their statuses than to reward them in a world that will not last, for everything in this world will perish to nothing, no matter how long it lasts. But He will grant them in heavens everlasting blessedness, and will pleasure them by regarding His Generous Face. I ask Allah by the eminence of His great messenger to make us among them, for He is Clement and Merciful.
أي إنما جعل الله تعالى الدار الآخرة محلا لجزاء عباده المؤمنين دون الدنيا لوجهين: الأول أن هذه الدار لا تسع ما يريد أن يعطيهم من صنوف النعم لما في عدة أخبار من أن الله تعالى يعطي لبعض أهل الجنة أضعاف أمثال الدنيا. والثاني أنه أجل أي أعظم أقدارهم عن أن يجازيهم في دار لا بقاء لها فإن كل ما يفنى وإن طالت مدته كلاشيء بل أعطاهم في الجنة النعيم المقيم ومتعهم بالنظر إلى وجهه الكريم. أسأل الله بجاه نبيه العظيم أن يجعلنا منهم إنه رؤوف رحيم
72 Whoever finds immediate fruit to his deed has found a sign of later acceptance. مِنَ وَجَدَ ثَمَرَةَ عَمَلِهِ عَاجِلّا – فَهُوَ دَلِيْلٌ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ الْقَبُوْلِ آُجِلَا

Whoever finds to his good deed immediate fruit as amiability of disclosure [mukashafah] and pleasantness of confiding [munajah], as exemplified by what Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: "and the delight and joy to my eye was made to be prayer", has found evidence of later acceptance. And some said about Almighty's saying: "But for those who feared the station of their Lord, there will be two gardens. [55:46]": an immediate paradise, which is the pleasantness of obedience and the deliciousness of confiding [munajah] and amiability of disclosure [mukashafah], and a delayed paradise, which is all types or reward and elevation of statuses. A person should not stop performing deeds when finding sweetness and joy. If he does, he would have been fulfilling The Lord's dues in appearance, while in fact was working for his own self's fortune. Finding sweetness and joy should not be the target of deeds, as this blemishes sincerity and the truthfulness of servitude and worship, but finding them should be taken as indicators and measures for deeds and state.
يعني: أن من وجد ثمرة عمله الصالح عاجلا من استئناس مكاشفات وحلاوة مناجاة كما يشير إلى ذلك قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " وجعلت قرة عيني في الصلاة " فهو دليل على وجود القبول آجلا. قال بعض المحققين في قوله تعالى: {وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ  (الرحمن - ٤٦)} جنة معجلة وهي حلاوة الطاعات ولذاذة المناجاة والاستئناس بفنون المكاشفات. وجنة مؤجلة وهو فنون المثوبات وعلوالدرجات اه. ولا ينبغي للعامل إذا وجد الحلاوة أن يفرح بها أويقف معها لأنه في الظاهر يكون قائما لله وفي الباطن إنما قام لحظ نفسه بل لا ينبغي أن يكون عمله لنيلها لما فيها من اللذة والحظ وذلك يقدح في إخلاص عبادته وصدق عبادته وصدق إرادته. وليكن اعتناؤه بحصولها لتكون ميزانا لأعماله ومحكا لأحواله
73 If you want to know how He regards and values you, regard where He sets you up. إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ قَدْرَكَ عِنْدَهُ – فَانْظُرْ فِيْمَا يُقِيْمُكَ

This points to his saying Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam: "whoever wants to know his status with The Lord, let him regard The Lord's status in his heart." And as the common say: if you want to know your status, regard in what He has set you up. And in the Hadith: "Work!! For everyone is facilitated for what he was created." If The Lord accepts you for obedience then know the value of this and thank Him for His great blessing.
هذه الحكمة تشير إلى قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من أراد أن يعلم منزلته عند الله فلينظر كيف منزلة الله تعالى من قلبه ". ومما يدور على ألسنة العوام: إذا أردت أن تعرف مقامك فانظر في أي شيء أقامك. وفي الحديث: "اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلق له " فإذا رضيك الله أيها المريد لحسن طاعته فاعرف قدرها واشكره على عظيم نعمته
74 When He bestows upon you obedience, and independence through Him beyond relying on it, then know that He has bestowed upon you His apparent and hidden blessings. مَتَىَ رَزَقَكَ الْطَّاعَةَ وَالْغِنَى بِهِ عَنْهَا – فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكَ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً

When He bestows upon you obedience, which is your outwardly abiding by orders and avoiding prohibitions, and internally being independent through Him beyond relying on it, then know that He has bestowed and completed upon you His blessings: the apparent which is obedience, and hidden which is knowledge enough to distanced you from it and earn you the highest statuses. The slave [abd] is required to do two things: perform the required duties apparently [zahir], and to hang on to The Lord and nothing other than Him in his unseen [batin]. Whoever The Lord blessed with these two gifts, then He has bestowed upon him His apparent and hidden blessings, and delivered him to his utmost desired goal in both worlds.
أي متى رزقك الله الطاعة التي هي امتثال المأمورات واجتناب المنهيات في ظاهرك والغنى به عنها بأن لا تركن إليها بباطنك فاعلم أنه قد أسبغ أي أتم عليك نعمه: ظاهرة وهي تلك الطاعات وباطنة وهي معرفتك التي باعدتك عنها وأوجبت لك رفيع الدرجات. فإن المطلوب من العبد شيئان: إقامة الأمر في الظاهر والتعلق بالله لا غيره في الباطن. فمن رزقه الله هذين الأمرين فقد أسبغ عليه نعمه ظاهرة وباطنة وأوصله إلى غاية أمله في الدارين. وقد كان أبوبكر الوراق يقول: إني لأصلي الركعتين وانصرف عنهما كأني أنصرف عن السرقة استحياء منه
75 The best to request from Him, is what He demands from you. خَيْرُ ماتَطْلُبُهُ مِنْهُ – مَا هُوَ طَالِبُهُ مِنْكَ

The best thing to ask from The Lord Almighty is what He demanded of you: staying straight on the path of servitude and slavery to Him. This is better for you than requesting your fortunes and your desires, whether for this world or the Hereafter. Abul Qasem Al-Gonaid used to pray: O Lord, please make my ultimate intention on the path to You what is Yours, and don't make the intention of my path what I request from You.
أي خير شيء تطلبه من الله تعالى ما هو طالبه منك من الاستقامة على سبيل العبودية له. فإن هذا خير لك من طلبك لحظوظك ومراداتك دنيوية كانت أو أخروية. ومن دعاء أبي القاسم الجنيد: اللهم اجعل غاية قصدي إليك ما هو لك ولا تجعل قصدي إليك ما أطلبه منك
76 Sorrow for loss of obedience, while not attempting to perform it, is a sign of vanity الْحُزْنُ عَلَىَ فُقْدَانِ الْطَّاعَةِ – مَعَ عَدَمِ الْنُّهُوْضِ إِلَيْهَا – مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ الاغْتِرَارِ

Untrue sorrow for loss of an obedience, while not attempting to perform it, is a sign of vanity and holding on to what is not real. This should not be a status of the righteous [saliks], but their befitting status should be true sorrow, with attempting to perform it and lamenting over its loss. He who is truly sorrowful as this will cover on the path in a months what others do not cover in years. And in the Hadith: 'The Lord loves every sad heart', and Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam was continuously sorrowful and in permanent contemplation.
يعني: أن الحزن الكاذب على فقدان الطاعة بكسر الفاء وضمها أي عدم وجودها في الحال مع عدم النهوض إليها في المستقبل من علامات الاغترار وهو التعلق بما لا حقيقة له فليس بمقام السالكين الأبرار. وإنما مقامهم الحزن الصادق مع النهوض إليها والبكاء عليها فإن صاحب هذا الحزن يقطع من طريق الله تعالى في كل شهر ما لا يقطعه غيره في سنين. وفي الحديث: "أن الله يحب كل قلب حزين" وقد كان صلى الله عليه وسلم متواصل الأحزان دائم الفكر
77 A gnostic ([aaref]) is not the one who, when he signals, finds Al-Haqq closer to him than his signal. The gnostic ([aaref]) is the one who has no signal, because of his dissolution in His Existence, and his folding in witnessing Him. مَا الْعَارِفُ مَنْ إِذَا أَشَارَ – وُجِدَ الْحَقَّ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ إِشَارَتِهِ، بِلِ الْعَارِفُ مَنْ لَا إِشَارَةَ لَهُ؛ لِفَنَائِهِ فِيْ وُجُوْدِهِ، وَانْطِوَائِهِ فِيْ شُهُوْدِهِ

A true gnostic ([aaref]) complete in knowledge is not the one who, when he signals (makes a reference or signal that directs to a Lordly secret) notices and regards Al-Haqq Almighty close to that signal. Then he would be remaining with his self and noticing that there is a signal and a signaler, in which case he would be still regarding and witnessing otherness [al-aghyar]. The complete gnostic ([aaref]) is the one who has no manifest signal, because of his dissolution in The Almighty's Existence, and regards and notices nothing but Him. A signal for the sufis is: exhibiting the secrets of unification through metaphors, analogy and gesture. Al-Shibly said: and every signal to Al-Haqq people used is refuted and invalid, till they signal to Al-Haqq by Al-Haqq, and they have no way to this. Some were asked about extinction [fanaa] and said: it occurs when Glory and Magnificence appear to the [abd], and make him forget the world and the Hereafter and the levels and the states and the statuses and the [zikr], and dissolve him beyond everything, even his own dissolution, so he becomes totally absorbed in glorifying.
يعني ليس العارف الكامل في المعرفة من إذا أشار إلى شيء من أسرار التوحيد وجد الحق تعالى وشهده قبل تلك الإشارة لأنه حينئذ يكون باقيا مع نفسه وملاحظا أن هناك إشارة ومشيرا فهو مع الأغيار بل العارف الكامل من لا إشارة له أصلا مشهودة لفنائه عنها في وجوده تعالى فلا يشهد إلا إياه. وقوله: “ وانطوائه في شهوده “ عطف تفسير. والإشارة عند الصوفية هي: إفادة أسرار التوحيد بالكناية والتلويح. قال الشبلي: وكل إشارة أشار بها الخلق إلى الحق فهي مردودة عليهم حتى يشيروا إلى الحق بالحق وليس لهم إلى ذلك طريق اه. ولذا قال الشيخ يوسف العجمي: من تكلم في مقام الجمع فليس بمتكلم وإنما المتكلم الحق سبحانه وتعالى على لسان عبده وهو قوله في الخبر القدسي: "فبي يسمع وبي يبصر وبي ينطق ". وسئل بعضهم عن الفناء فقال: هو تبدو العظمة على العبد فتنسيه الدنيا والآخرة والدرجات والأحوال والمقامات والأذكار وتفنيه عن كل شيء حتى عن نفسه وعن فنائه عن الأشياء وعن فنائه عن الفناء فيستغرق في التعظيم آه
78 Hope is what is associated with effort and deeds, or else it is only a wish. الْرَّجَاءُ مَا قَارَنَهُ عَمَلٌ، وَإِلَّا فَهُوَ أُمْنِيَةٌ

True hope, which is a noble state of the states of certainty [yaqeen] is what is associated with actions and deeds. True hope is what drives effort and endeavor in performing deeds, because who hopes for something will try to attain it, otherwise it is just a worthless wish without effect. And in the Hadith: "The courteous (the wise) is he who judges and condemns his self and works for what follows death, and the helpless is he who lets his self follow its affections, and wishes for desires from The Lord." And Al-Hasan Al-Basry, may Allah be pleased with him said: "there are people who were deceived by wishes of forgiveness till they exited the world devoid of a single good deed [hasana]. One of them would say: I have expect well of my Lord!! then he is a liar. If he had expected good, he would have done good deeds". Then he recited Almighty's saying: "And that supposition of yours which you supposed of your Lord has ruined you. So you have become among the losers’ [41:23]". And may The Lord have mercy on he who said:
O you who wants the statuses of the substitutes [abdal]
without intending to do any deeds
don't greed for them, for you they are not for you
if you do not compete with them in deeds and states
يعني: أن الرجاء الصادق الذي هو مقام شريف من مقامات اليقين هو ما قارنه عمل لأن الرجاء الحقيقي ما كان باعثا على الاجتهاد في الأعمال لأن من رجا شيئا طلبه وإلا فهو أمنية أي مجرد أمنية لا طائل تحتها. وفي الحديث: "الكيس أي العاقل من دان نفسه أي حاسبها وعمل لما بعد الموت. والعاجز من أتبع نفسه هواها وتمنى على الله الأماني ". وقال الحسن رضي الله عنه: أن قوما ألهتهم أماني المغفرة حتى خرجوا من الدنيا وليس لهم حسنة يقول أحدهم: أحسن الظن بربي وهو يكذب لو أحسن الظن بربه لأحسن العمل وتلا قوله تعالى: {وَذَلِكُمْ ظَنُّكُمُ الَّذِي ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُمْ أَرْدَاكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم مِّنْ الْخَاسِرِينَ  (فصلت - ٢٣)} ويرحم الله القائل
يا من يريد منازل الأبدال
 من غير قصد منه للأعمال
لا تطمعن فيها فلست من أهلها
إن لم تزاحمهم على الأحوال
79 What the gnostics ([aarefeen]) request from The Lord is to allow them to be true in servitude and to perform the dues of Divinity. مَطْلَبُ الْعَارِفِيْنَ مِنَ الْلَّهِ – الْصِدْقُ فِيْ الْعُبُوْدِيَّةِ – وَالْقِيَامُ بِحُقُوْقِ الرُّبُوْبِيَّةِ

What the gnostics ([aarefeen]) request from The Lord is more sublime than the requests of others, whether worshipers [obbad] or ascetics [zahids]. The request of the gnostics ([aarefeen]) is to allow them to be true and faithful in servitude, and to perform the dues of Divinity, without looking for fortune or regarding and accompanying their self. Others did not part with seeking fortunes and purposes in their requests. And what a difference between whose target is houris (splendid maid companions) and palaces, and whose target is elevating veils and continuous presence.
يعني: أن مطلب العارفين من ربهم أعلى من مطلب غيرهم سواء كانوا عبادا أوزهادا. فإن مطلب العارفين إنما هو الصدق أي الإخلاص في العبودية والقيام بحقوق الربوبية فقط من غير مراعاة حظ ولا بقاء مع نفس. وأما من عداهم فلم يفارقوا الحظوظ والأغراض في مطالبهم. وشتان بين من همته الحور والقصور وبين من همته رفع الستور ودوام الحضور
80 He unfolded (relaxed, opened [basstt] ) you so He does not leave you contracted [qabdd] , and contracted [qabdd] you so He does not leave you unfolded (relaxed, opened [basstt] ), and extracted you from both states so that you belong to nothing else other than Him. بَسَطَكَ؛ كَيْلَا يُبْقِيَكَ مَعَ الْقَبْضِ، وَقَبَضَكَ؛ كَيْلَا يَتْرُكُكَ مَعَ الْبَسْطِ، وَأَخْرَجَكَ عَنْهُمَا؛ كَيْلَا تَكُوْنَ لِشَيْئٍ دُوْنَهُ

Your Lord unfolded (relaxed, opened [basstt] )*1* your heart, O gnostic ([aaref]), so He does not leave you contracted [qabdd] , which entails oppression of your self, though it may be beneficial for you and contracted [qabdd] your heart so He does not leave you unfolded, which may be beneficial for your self and extracted you from both states by your extinction from your self and your existing by Him, so that you belong to nothing else other than Him. Contraction and unfolding are gnostic states, which correspond to what fear and hope represent for the beginning [mureed] s. The reasons that bring them about are the different revelation ([warid]) which affect the person's heart. If the heart perceives a revelation of The Lord's Majesty and Might, it will contract and tighten, while if His Beauty and Grace appear, it will unfold (open [basstt] ) and relax. Both states lack what is above and better, which is dissolution from self and persisting by The Lord, for the persistence of the gnostic ([aaref]) with any of his pleasant or painful states veils him from his Majesty.
أي بسطك مولاك أيها العارف كي لا يبقيك مع القبض الذي فيه قهر لنفسك وإن كان فيه نفع لك وقبضك كي لا يتركك مع البسط الذي فيه حظ لها وأخرجك عنهما بفنائك عن نفسك وبقائك به كي لا تكون لشيء دونه. فالقبض والبسط من الأحوال التي يتلون بها العارفون. وهما بمنزلة الخوف والرجاء للمريدين المبتدئين. وسببهما الواردات التي ترد على باطن العبد فإذا تجلى للقلب وارد الجلال حصل فيه القبض وإذا تجلى له وارد الجمال حصل فيه البسط. والمقصود هاهنا أنهما وصفان ناقصان بالنسبة إلى ما فوقهما وهو فناؤه عن نفسه وبقاؤه بالله. فإن بقاء العارف مع شيء من أوصافه المؤنسة أو المؤلمة حجاب عن مولاه
   
     
     
     
     
81 The gnostics ([aarefeen]), during unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ) are more fearful than during contraction [qabdd] , and only a few remain on the border of proper manners [adab] when in unfolding. الْعَارِفُوْنَ إِذَا بُسِطُوَا – أَخْوَفَ مِنْهُمْ إِذَا قُبِضُوا، وَلَا يَقِفُ عَلَىَ حُدُوْدِ الْأَدَبِ فِيْ الْبَسْطِ إِلَا قَلِيْلٌ

The gnostics ([aarefeen]), during the state of unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ) fear their selves more than when in a state of contraction [qabdd] , because unfolding and relaxation suit the self's preference, and this scares them of following what the self desires of showing off states and wonders, which may result in distancing and dismissal from the high levels. That is why they have to make sure they remain sincere in servitude and proper manners [adab] when in this state, where many have slipped. Contraction [qabdd] , on the other hand, brings closer to safety.
يعني: أن العارفين في مقام البسط أكثر خوفاً من أنفسهم في مقام القبض لأن البسط فيه مناسبة لهوى أنفسهم فيخافون حينئذ من الوقوع فيما تدعوإليه من التحدث بالأحوال والكرامات وربما كان في ذلك الطرد عن أعلي الدرجات ولهذا تأكد عليهم مراعاة الأدب في هذا المقام الذي زلت فيه أقدام كثير من السادة الفخام. وأما القبض فهو أقرب إلى وجود السلامة كما بين ذلك المصنف بقوله
82 The self's share of unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ) is presence of happiness, and there is no share for the self in contraction [qabdd] الْبَسْطُ تَأْخُذُ الْنَّفْسُ  مِنْهُ حَظَّهَا بِوُجُوْدِ الْفَرَحِ، وَالْقَبْضُ لَا حَظَّ لِلْنَّفْسِ فِيْهِ

Once the self enjoys its share of unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ), it will soon misbehave (perform bad [adab]) by boasting reaching statuses and performing extraordinary wonders, and other acts that contradict slavery and servitude. This is to the contrary of contraction [qabdd] that the self does not enjoy and has no fortune in, and that is why the gnostics ([aarefeen]) prefer it to unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ). And as some said: contraction [qabdd] is The Lord's due right from you, and unfolding (relaxation, openness [basstt] ) is your fortune, and to fulfill His dues is better than to reap your fortune and reward.
فإن النفس متى أخذت حظها من البسط لا تتمالك حتى تقع في سوء الأدب من التحدث بإدراك المقامات والحصول على خوارق العادات وغير ذلك مما هو مناف للعبودية بخلاف القبض فإنه لا حظ للنفس فيه بالكلية ولذا آثره العارفون على البسط كما قال بعضهم:القبض حق الحق منك والبسط حظك منه، ولأن تكون بحق ربك خير من أن تكون بحظ نفسك
83 Perhaps He gives you and in so deprives you, and perhaps He deprives you and in so gives you. رُبَمَا أَعْطَاكَ فَمَنَعَكَ، وَرُبّمَا مَنَعَكَ فَأَعْطَاكَ

Perhaps your Lord gives you what you fancy of lusts, and so deprives you of help to great obedience and nearness. And perhaps He denies you your lusts, and gives you His help and support, which is what every [salik] wishes for. The [mureed] should then abandon planning, and delegate and entrust all matters to The All-Knowing, The All-Aware, and should not regard the manifest appearance of a 'giving' before its cover is lifted and the truth behind it becomes known.
أي ربما أعطاك مولاك ما تميل إليه من الشهوات فمنعك التوفيق لعظيم القرب والطاعات. وربما منعك من شهواتك فأعطاك التوفيق الذي هو بغية السالك. وحينئذ فيجب على المريد ترك التدبير وتفويض الأمر إلى العليم الخبير. ولا ينظر لظاهر العطاء قبل أن ينكشف عنه الغطاء
84 As soon as the door to understanding depriving is opened, deprivation becomes the apex of The Lord's giving مَتَىَ فُتِحَ بَابَ الْفَهْمِ فِيْ الْمَنْعِ – عَادَ الْمَنْعُ عَيْنَ الْعَطَاءِ

As soon as The Lord opens to you the door to understanding depriving (The Lord depriving and denying one of your needs and requests) and you understand that by depriving you He demonstrates His overwhelm, and you come to comprehend His wisdom in depriving you, deprivation becomes the apex (summit) of His giving. As the author will state later: When He gives you, He shows you His charity, and when He deprives you, He demonstrates His overwhelm.
أي متى فتح لك مولاك باب الفهم عنه في المنع بأن فهمت أنه بمنعه أشهدك قهره وعرفت حكمته فيه عاد المنع أي صار عين العطاء. كما سيقول المصنف:متى أعطاك أشهدك بره ومتى منعك أشهدك قهره
85 The universes have an external appearance of vanity and an essence full of examples and morals. The self sees their outwardly vanities, and the heart regards the internal examples and moralities. الْأَكْوَانُ ظَاهِرُهَا غِرَّةٌ وَبَاطِنُهَا عِبْرَةٌ، فَالنَّفْسُ  تَنْظُرُ إِلَىَ ظَاهِرِغِرَّتِهَا، وَالْقَلْبُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَىَ بَاطِنِ عِبْرَتِهَا

The universes, with the elements they contain that are among the joys to the self and the conveniences and fruits of this world, have an external appearance of vanity, that attracts and charms because of its delightful appearance, and an essence full of examples and morals that should generate heeding and consideration because of its ugliness and meanness. The self stops at seeing the outwardly delusions that mislead it till it destroys its owner. The heart, or the contemplating brain, regards the internal examples and moralities, and takes heed and considers, and evades the evil behind them. He who regards the external delusions of the world says: a pretty beauty, and who regards the essence says: a filthy corpse.
يعني:أن الأكوان بمعنى المكونات التي فيها حظ للنفس من متاع الدنيا وزهرتها. ظاهرها غرة بكسر الغين المعجمة أي سبب في الاغترار بها لحسنها وبهجتها وباطنها عبرة أي سبب في الاعتبار بها لقبحها وخستها. فالنفس تنظر إلى ظاهر غرتها أي إلى غرتها الظاهرة فتغتر بها حتى تهلك صاحبها. والقلب أي العقل ينظر إلى باطن عبرتها أي إلى عبرتها الباطنة فيعتبر بها ويسلم من شرها. فمن نظر إلى ظاهرها قال:حلوة خضرة ومن نظر إلى باطنها قال:جيفة قذرة
86 If you seek an unending glory, seek it not in a glory that ends. إِنْ أَرَدْتَ أَنْ يَكُوْنَ لَكَ عِزٌّ لَا يَفْنَىَ – فَلَا تَسْتَعِزَّنَّ بِعِزٍّ يَفْنَىَ

The glory that never ends is satisfaction and self-sufficiency beyond all ways and means [asbab], by finding their Creator. Hanging-on to The Almighty [Subhanahu] is a never-ending glory. On the other hand, hanging-on to ways and means, while ignoring their Creator, is the glory that ends. You [mureed] have to choose one, because they are opposites that cannot be combined: If you choose to hang-on to The Creator of the ways and means, you will be in a blessed state while if you choose hanging-on to ways and means, you will be let down and return more needy that you were. And as some said:

Make your Lord the cause for your glory, it settles and remains firm
but if you seek glory in a mortal, indeed your glory will die.
العز الذي لا يفنى هو الغنى عن الأسباب كلها بوجود مسببها فالتعلق به سبحانه عز لا يفنى. وأما التعلق بالأسباب مع الغيبة عن مسببها فهو العز الذي يفنى. وليس لك أيها المريد إلا أحدهما لأنهما ضدان لا يجتمعان. فإن اخترت التعلق بمسبب الأسباب فنعمت الحالة التي تكون عليها. وإن اخترت التعلق بالأسباب خذلتك وأسلمتك أحوج ما تكون إليها. وما ألطف قول بعض العارفين
اجعل بربك شأن عزك يستقر ويثبت
فإن اعتززت بمن يموت فإن عزك ميت
87 The true traversing (speedy quick covering of distance) is to fold the world's distances away, so you see the Hereafter closer to you than yourself. الْطَّيُّ الْحَقِيقِيُّ أَنْ تَطْوِيِ مَسَافَةَ الْدُّنْيَا عَنْكَ؛ حَتَّىَ تَرَىَ الْآَخِرَةَ أَقْرَبَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْكَ

The true traversing is not the speedy quick covering of distances on earth so that you become esteemed and known as gifted (one who performs miracles and wonders), for this might be luring and leading-on. The true traversing is to distance yourself from the world and fold it's distances away from you, so that you do not cozy-up to it, but withdraw from it, till you see the Hereafter closer to you than yourself. When the light of certainty [yaqeen] shines in your heart, the world vanishes from your sight, and you come to see the Hereafter present. Whenever you regard your self as perishable, you come to see the Hereafter closer to you than yourself. Whoever has this insight will never prefer the perishable world for the everlasting Hereafter, and that is why only a feeble certainty [yaqeen] is the foundation for desire for the world and preferring it to the Hereafter.
يعني: أن الطي الحقيقي ليس هو أن تطوي مسافة الأرض حتى تكون من أهل الحظوة فإن ذلك ربما كان استدراجا. وإنما هو أن تطوي أيها المريد مسافة الدنيا عنك بأن لا تركن إليها بل تغيب عنها حتى ترى الآخرة أقرب إليك منك فإنه متى أشرق نور اليقين في قلبك تنعدم الدنيا في نظرك وترى الآخرة حاضرة لديك ومتى شاهدت أن ذاتك فانية فإنك ترى الآخرة أقرب إليك منك بهذا الاعتبار. ومن كانت هذه مشاهدته فلا يتصور منه حب الغائب الفاني وهو الدنيا واستبداله بالحاضر الباقي وهو الآخرة. ولذلك كان أصل الرغبة في الدنيا وإيثارها على الآخرة ضعف اليقين
88 Giving from people is privation, and deprivation from The Lord is beneficence. الْعَطَاءُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ حِرْمَانٌ، وَالْمَنْعُ مِنَ الْلَّهِ إِحْسَانٌ

Giving from people while unmindful of Al-Haqq is privation, as it requires loving them and hanging-on to them, and spending time thanking and rewarding them. This results in inattentiveness of the heart to Al-Haqq, so it misses unmeasurable knowledge. And what deprivation or poverty is greater than this? And some nice verse said:

I don't dress in graces if someone other than You dresses me
and I don't accept the whole world if someone other than You gives it to me.

And deprivation from The Lord is in fact beneficence, as it results in seeking His refuge and help, and that the supplicator continues standing in front of Him. And what favor and beneficence is greater than being aided to that?
يعني: أن العطاء من الخلق مع الغفلة عن الحق حرمان في نفس الأمر لأنه يوجب حبهم والتعلق بهم وصرف الوقت في مكافأتهم وذلك يوجب ذهول القلب عن الحق فيفوته من المعارف ما لا يحصى وأي حرمان أعظم من ذلك. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
فلا ألبس النعما وغيرك ملبسي
ولا أقبل الدنيا وغيرك واهبي
والمنع من الله إحسان في الحقيقة لاقتضائه الالتجاء إليه ودوام وقوف السائل بين يديه وذلك عبودية وأي إحسان أعظم من التوفيق لها
89 Dignified is our Lord beyond rewarding in installments what a worshiper advances in cash. جَلَّ رَبُّنَا أَنْ يُعَامِلَهُ الْعَبْدُ نَقْداً، فَيُجَازِيْهِ نَسِيْئَةً

Dignified is our Lord beyond rewarding a worshiper [abd] in delayed-only rewards for his good deeds done in the present. For reward for deeds is not limited to the Hereafter. He may show some of the reward to His allies [awliyaa] as an example to motivate them to do more of good deeds. And of the greatest immediate rewards for a good deed [hasana] is His allowing to perform another, and His shielding from disobedience and sin (that the worshiper [abd] was about to commit), and protection from illnesses and mishaps.
أي تعالى ربنا عن أن يعامله العبد بالعمل الصالح نقدا أي معاملة ناجزة فيجازيه نسيئة أي مجازاة مؤجلة فإن جزاء المعاملة لا يختص بالدار الآخرة بل ربما أظهر الحق تعالى منه لبعض أولياءه أنموذجا يحملهم على الاجتهاد في الأعمال ومن أعظم المعجل مجازاته على الحسنة بالتوفيق لحسنة أخرى وبالحفظ من معصية يكون العبد بصددها ومن ذلك الحفظ من الآفات والمكاره ومنه ما أشار المصنف بقوله
90 Suffices as His reward to you for obedience that He accepted you as eligible for performing it. كَفَىَ مِنْ جَزَائِهِ إِيَّاكَ عَلَىَ الْطَّاعَةِ – أَنَّ رَضِيَكَ لَهَا أَهْلَا

Suffices as reward to you for obedience that He, The Exalted, accepted you, the menial week slave as eligible for performing it. Serving The King of kings is a status that all long for, so that if He accepts you for it, this becomes one of the greatest blessings that The Most Generous The Creator conferred upon you.
أي كفى من مجازاته سبحانه لك على الطاعة أن رضيك أيها العبد الضعيف أهلا لها فإن خدمة ملك الملوك مما تتطاول إليها الأعناق فكونه رضيك لها من أعظم النعم التي امتن بها عليك الكريم الخلاق. ومن ذلك ما أشار له المصنف أيضا بقوله
91 Suffices as His reward to the workers what He allows their hearts of obedience, and that He allows them finding companionship in Him. كَفَىْ الْعَامِلِيْنَ جَزَاءً – مَا هُوَ فَاتِحُهُ عَلَىَ قُلُوْبِهِمْ فِيْ طَاعَتِهِ، وَمَا هُوَ مُوْرِدُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ مُؤَانَسَتِهِ

Enough reward to the workers (the good doers) is what He allows their hearts of sublime inspirations and Lordly bounties. They come to find the sweetness of confiding [munajah] with The King, The Creator, which is referred to in sufi sects as 'situations', 'presences' and 'sensitivities or tastes'. Enough reward also is their witnessing His brilliant companionship and regarding His attributes of beauty. These are signs of great acceptance, in front of which all other things disappear and trivialize.
أي كفاهم في المجازاة ما هو فاتحه على قلوبهم في حال طاعته من الإلهامات السنية والمواهب اللدنية حتى يجدوا حلاوة المناجاة مع الملك الخلاق التي يعبر عنها أهل الطريقة: بالأحوال والمواجيد والأذواق وكفاهم أيضا ما هو مورده عليهم أي على قلوبهم من وجود مؤانسته البهية وسرور القلب بشهود صفاته الجمالية فإن هذا من علامة الرضوان الأكبر الذي يتلاشى عنده كل شيء ويحقر
92 Whoever worships Him to attain his requests of Him, or to prevent, by obeying Him, His punishment, has not fulfilled the dues for His traits. مَنْ عَبَدَهُ لِشَيْءٍ يَرْجُوْهُ مِنْهُ – أَوْ لِيَدْفَعَ بِطَاعَتِهِ وُرُوْدَ الْعُقُوْبَةِ عَنْهُ – فَمَا قَامَ بِحَقِّ أَوْصَافِهِ

Whoever worships Him in order to obtain a reward he requests of Him, or to prevent, by obeying Him, the befall of His punishment on judgment day, has not fulfilled the dues for His traits. His traits deserve that He is worshiped for His own merit, and not asking for reward or fearing punishment. A slave [abd] is obliged to present everything to his Lord, and is entitled for nothing from The Lord. Abu Hazem Al-Madany used to say: 'I would be ashamed of my Lord to worship Him for fear of punishment, where I would be like a bad slave who does not work unless in fear and would be ashamed to worship him hoping for reward, where I would be like a bad employee, who will not work unless paid but I worship Him out of love for Him.' If the [mureed] works observing and fulfilling this, he becomes true in slavery and servitude. In this state, even if he asks for reward or seeks refuge from punishment, he does so because The Lord's promised answering, and out of following His permission to ask for His favors and graces and generosity. This is the ideology and doctrine of the gnostics ([aarefeen]) who have reached The Lord of Both Worlds.
يعني: أن من عبده تعالى لشيء يرجوه منه كالثواب أوليدفع عن نفسه بطاعته ورود عقوبته يوم الحساب فما قام بحق أوصافه سبحانه لأن حق أوصافه أن يعبد لذاته لا طلبا لثوابه ولا خوفا من عقابه فإن العبد يستحق عليه مولاه كل شيء ولا يستحق هو شيئا على مولاه وكان أبوحازم المدني يقول إني لأستحيي من ربي أن أعبده خوفا من العذاب فأكون مثل عبد السوء أن لم يخف لم يعمل وأستحيي أن أعبده لأجل الثواب فأكون كالأجير السوء أن لم يعط أجر عمله لم يعمل ولكن أعبده محبة له آه. فإذا عمل المريد على ذلك كان عبدا لله حقا فإن طلب منه الثواب أواستعاذ به من العقاب فإنما يكون ذلك انتجازا لوعد ربه واتباعا لما أذن له فيه من طلبه لفضله وإحسانه وكرمه وامتنانه لا أن رجاءه لحصول ذلك هو الباعث له على القيام بطاعته وملازمته لعبادته وهذا مذهب العارفين الواصلين إلى رب العالمين
93 When He gives you, He shows you His charity, and when He deprives you, He demonstrates His overwhelm. In both, He acquaints you to Him, and demonstrates His Gentleness towards you. مَتَىَ أَعْطَاكَ – أَشْهَدَكَ بِرَّهُ، وَمَتَىْ مَنَعَكَ – أَشْهَدَكَ قَهْرَهُ، فَهُوَ فِيْ كُلِّ ذَلِكَ مُتَعَرِّفٌ إِلَيْكَ وَمُقْبِلٌ بِوُجُوْدِ لُطْفِهِ عَلَيْكَ

When your Lord gives you everything you ask for, He shows you His charity, and his charitable traits of generosity and bountifulness and gentleness and compassion and so on. When He deprives you, He demonstrates His overwhelm, and His subduing traits of pride and glory and honor and Self-sufficiency. In both states, He acquaints you to Him, and wants you to get to know Him through His beautiful and dignified traits, and this is a demonstration of His gentleness towards you. Your witnessing His traits of generosity and overwhelm is a great gift and grace He endowed upon you. There is no way to knowing Him except by His acquainting Himself to His slaves [ebad], and this is through His demonstrating His traits, whether it is to their liking as giving, or to their disliking as depriving. Giving and depriving do not differ to the one who truly knows his Lord, because either is a route that at its end delivers to knowing Him. And this Hikma, as the previous ones, explains the reasoning behind depriving, so comprehend.
أي متى أعطاك مولاك أيها المريد ما تريد أشهدك بره أي صفاته البرية التي تقتضي البر: من الجود والكرم واللطف والعطف ونحوذلك. ومتى منعك أشهدك قهره أي صفاته القهرية التي تقتضي القهر: كالكبرياء والعزة والاستغناء. فهو في كل ذلك أي في كلتا الحالتين متعرف إليك أي مريد منك أن تعرفه بأوصافه الجمالية والجلالية ومقبل بوجود لطفه عليك لأن مشاهدتك لصفات بره وقهره لطف عظيم منه سبحانه بك ونعمة منه عليك. فإنه لا سبيل إلى معرفته إلا بتعرفه لعباده ولا يكون ذلك إلا بمقتضى صفاته سواء كان ذلك موافقا لطبعهم وهو الإعطاء أومخالفا له وهو المنع. فمن كان عارفا بربه لم يفرق بين المنع والعطاء لأن كلا منهما له طريق توصله إلى معرفة مولاه. وهذا من جملة فتح باب الفهم في المنع كما مر فافهم
94 Deprivation only torments you because you do not understand The Lord's reason for it. إِنَّمَا يُؤْلِمُكَ الْمَنْعُ؛ لِعَدَمِ فَهْمِكَ عَنِ الْلَّهِ فِيْهِ

You are tormented by deprivation, which in truth is like giving, because you do not understand The Lord's reason for it. For if you understand that The Lord only deprived you to make you of His loved ones whom He protected from the world, you would not have been tormented, but would have enjoyed it. A true [fakir] is not complete until he finds in deprivation a sweetness he does not find in giving.
أي إنما يؤلمك أيها المريد المنع الذي هو في الحقيقة مثل العطاء لعدم فهمك عن الله فيه إذ لوفهمت عن الله أنه إنما منعك ليصيرك من أحبابه الذين حماهم من الدنيا لما تألمت منه بل تلذذت به. فإن الفقير لا يكمل حتى يجد للمنع حلاوة لا يجدها في العطاء
95 Perhaps He opens to you the door of obedience, and does not open the door of acceptance and perhaps He destines you to sin, which becomes a cause for your arriving at or reaching Him. رُبَّمَا فَتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْطَّاعَةِ، وَمَا فَتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْقَبُوْلِ، وَرُبَّمَا قَضَىَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْذَّنْبِ – فَكَانَ سَبَبا فِيْ الْوُصُوْلَ

Maybe an obedience is associated with faults that smear its sincerity, as being pleased with it, or regarding with contempt who does not perform it, so the door to acceptance is closed against it. And maybe a sin is associated with extreme regret, self scorn, and good apologies to The Lord, that it becomes cause for reaching Him.
يعني: أن الطاعة ربما قارنها آفات قادحة في الإخلاص فيها كالإعجاب بها واحتقار من لم يفعلها فلا يفتح لها باب القبول. وربما قارن الذنب شدة الندم واستصغار النفس وحسن الاعتذار إلى الله فيكون سببا في الوصول. كما بين ذلك المصنف بقوله
96 A sin that begot servility, humility and want, is better that an obedience that begot glory and arrogance. مَعْصِيَةٌ أَوْرَثَتْ ذُلّاً وَافْتِقَارَاً – خَيْرٌ مِنْ طَاعَةٍ، أَوْرَثَتْ عِزَّاً وَاسْتِكْبَاراً

Humility and want are characteristics of slavery and servitude and ascertaining them is necessary for nearness to The Lord. On the other hand, glory and arrogance are Lordly characteristics, and attaching to them begets failure and decline from elevated statuses. Abu Madyan said: the dejection of the sinner is better than the attack and charge of the obedient. And Abul Abbas Al Mursy occasionally disregarded and ignored the obedient, and sometimes honored and venerated the sinner. He saw that the obedient was arrogant because of his deeds and was conscious of them, while the sinner was humbled by his disobedience and regarded his sin. The slave [abd] should not see the images but the truth of matter: good deeds and obedience are not legislated and required in themselves or for their appearance, but for what they contains of servility and humility. If obedience is devoid of that, then better for you is a sin that begets submission.
فإن الذل والافتقار من أوصاف العبودية والتحقق بهما موجب للقرب من رب البرية. وأما العز والاستكبار فإنهما من أوصاف الربوبية والتعلق بهما مقتض للخذلان والتباعد عن المراتب العلية. ولذا قال أبومدين:انكسار العاصي خير من صولة المطيع. وكان أبوالعباس المرسي ربما دخل عليه المطيع فلا يعبأ به وربما دخل عليه العاصي فيكرمه لمشاهدته أن الطائع أتى وهو متكبر بعمله ناظر لفعله والعاصي دخل عليه بذلة مخالفته ومشاهدة معصيته. فينبغي أن لا ينظر العبد إلى صور الأشياء بل إلى حقائقها. فإن أعمال البر والطاعة ليست مشروعة لذاتها ولا مطلوبة لصورها بل لما احتوت عليه من التذلل والخشوع فإذا خلت من ذلك فخير منها المعصية التي تورث الخضوع
97 Two blessings are part of everything existing: the blessing of initiation and the blessing of supply. نِعْمَتَانِ مَا خَرَجَ مَوْجُوْدٌ عَنْهُمَا، وَلَا بُدَّ لِكُلِّ مُكَوَّنٍ مِنْهُمَا، نِعْمَةُ الأيجَادِ وَنِعْمَةُ الْإِمْدَادِ

Every thing existing needs two blessings: the first is the blessing of initiation or that The Lord creates and initiates it out of its previous nothingness. The second is supply with graces and benefits that are needed for the persistence and survival of its shape and form till a set timing. He is The Giver, The Benefactor, initially and for ever.
يعني أنه لابد لكل مكون بفتح الواوالمشددة أي موجود من نعمتين لا يخرج عنهما: الأولى نعمة الإيجاد أي نعمة هي إيجاد الله إياه بعد العدم السابق والثانية نعمة هي إمداد بالمنافع التي تقتضي بقاء صورته وهيكله إلى أجل مسمى. فهو المنعم ابتدا ء ودواما. كما قال المصنف
98 He blessed you initially with initiation, and then with the continuation of supply. أَنْعَمَ عَلَيْكَ أَولا بِالْإِيجَادِ، وَثَانِيَا بِتَوَالِيَ الْإِمْدَادِ

Contemplate these blessings, and know that Lordly supply is continuous and un-interrupted, and so know your own need and poverty which is self inherent.
وقد وجه الكلام في هذه الحكمة على طريق الخطاب ليستحضرهما الإنسان في نفسه ويعلم أن الإمداد متواصل لا يتخلله انقطاع فيعرف من نفسه الفاقة الذاتية وهي النتيجة التي قصدها المصنف من هذه المقدمات بقوله
99 Your need and poverty is self inherent, and the occurrence of hardships and calamities are reminders for what you do not perceive, and self need and poverty are not lifted by occurrences فَاقَتُكَ لَكَ ذَاتِيَّةٌ، وَوُرُوُدُ الْأَسْبَابِ مُذَكِّرَاتٌ لَكَ بِمَا خَفِيَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهَا، وَالْفَاقَةُ الْذَّاتِيَّةُ لَا تَرْفَعُهَا الْعَوَارِضُ

If you realize that nothingness preceded your existence, and that your existence is in need of His supply in every moment or else it will cease and perish, you will come to realize that your need is self inherent and autonomous. You will realize that necessity and compulsion are essential for your existence, and that the happening of events [asbab] (as poverty and illness) are reminders to you of what you failed to perceive of you inherent need. Most people fail to remember their inherent need as long as they enjoy good fortune and good health. Some said: what made Pharaoh say: "... ‘I am your most high lord!’ [79:24]" was the persistence of health and richness. He remained four hundred years without an illness or a headache, and had he suffered an hour of migraine, it would have occupied him beyond claiming divinity. And the inherent poverty that is essential for the person [abd] is not lifted by occurrence of affluences as health and wealth, for He Almighty can erase them. This compulsion for need and poverty does not part with the slave [abd] in this world or in the Hereafter. Even if he goes to heaven, he continues needing The Lord Almighty forever. If the slave realized this, he will perform the dues of servitude and worship to His Lord, and fear the warning in His saying: "If misfortune should befall a man, he calls upon Us on his side, or sitting or standing but when We have relieved him of his misfortune, he passes on, as if he had never called upon Us because of a misfortune that befell him!...[10:12)]"
أي إذا علمت أن العدم سابق على وجودك وأن وجودك مفتقر إلى المدد في كل وقت وإلا تلاشى وانعدم علمت أن فاقتك ذاتية لك وأن الاضطرار لازم لوجودك وأن ورود الأسباب كالفقر والمرض مذكرات لك بما خفي عليك من الفاقة الذاتية. فإن غالب الناس يغفلون عن الفاقة الذاتية إذا دامت عليهم صحة أبدانهم وكثرة أموالهم. بل قال بعضهم: إنما حمل فرعون على قوله: {...أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَى (النازعات - ٢٤)}. طول العافية والغنى. فإنه لبث أربعمائة سنة لم يتصدع رأسه ولم يضرب عليه عرق ولوأخذته الشقيقة ساعة واحدة لشغله ذلك عن دعوى الربوبية. والفاقة الذاتية اللازمة للعبد لا ترفعها العوارض كالصحة والغنى فإنه يجوز في حقه تعالى أن يزيل ذلك. ويبدله بضده المقتضي للافتقار والاضطرار ولا يزايل العبد هذا الاضطرار لا في الدنيا ولا في الآخرة ولودخل الجنة فهو محتاج إلى الله تعالى دائما وأبدا وإذا لاحظ العبد ذلك وقف عند حده وقام بعبودية ربه وخاف من تهديد قوله تعالى: {وَإِذَا مَسَّ الإِنسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَآئِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَى ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُ... (يونس - ١٢)}ء
100 The best of your times is the time you witness the presence of your need and poverty, and get referred back to the presence of your humility. خَيْرُ أَوْقَاتِكَ – وَقْتٌ تَشْهَدُ فِيْهِ وُجُوْدَ فَاقَتِكَ، وَتَرُدُّ فِيْهِ إِلَىَ وُجُوْدِ ذِلَّتِكَ

Your best time is the time you witness the presence of your need and poverty to your Lord, and get referred back to the presence of your humility and servility in The Presence of The King, The Most Glorious. The author will say later: "The occurrence of calamities are feasts for the [mureeds] " unlike when he enjoys glory and wealth, which is his worst of times because of the presence of veils preventing reaching The Lord. And of the nicest verse:

The Lord built for His loved ones a house
with skies of worries and sorrow and walls of hardship
and placed them inside and locked the door
and told them the key to your door is patience
أي خير أوقاتك أيها المريد وقت تشهد فيه وجود فقرك إلى مولاك وترد فيه إلى وجود ذلتك بكسر الذال المعجمة أي: تذللك بين يدي الملك المجيد. كما سيقول المصنف: أوقات الفاقات أعياد المريدين. بخلاف الوقت الذي يشهد فيه غناه وعزه فإنه شر الأوقات لوجود الحجب المانعة من الوصول إلى رب البريات. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
بنى الله للأحباب بيتا
سماؤه هموم وأحزان وحيطانه الضر
وأدخلهم فيه وأغلق بابه
وقال لهم مفتاح بابكم الصبر
   
     
     
     
     
101 Whenever He estranges you from people, know that He wants to open to you the door to finding amicability (closeness to and intimacy) with Him. مَتَىَ أَوْحَشَكَ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ – فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ يُرِيْدُ أَنْ يَفْتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْأُنْسِ بِهِ

Whenever The Lord estranges you from people by alienating you heart to finding amiability with them, then know that He wants to open to you the door to finding amicability (closeness to and intimacy) with Him, so that you become His alone. Once He opens this door to you, He makes you of the loved ones. So denounce othernesses for the sake of pleasing The Mighty The Bestower.
أي متى أوحشك الله من خلقه بأن نفر قلبك من الاستئناس بهم فاعلم أنه يريد أن يفتح لك باب الأنس به لتصير له وحده. ومتى فتح لك هذا الباب صيرك من الأحباب وآنسك بالخطاب. فاترك الأغيار في مرضاة العزيز الوهاب
102 Whenever He frees your tongue in requesting from Him, know that He wants to give you. مَتَىَ أَطْلَقَ لِسَانَكَ بِالْطَّلَبِ – فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ يُرِيْدُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَكَ

When you rely on othernesses and do not witness your need and poverty, your tongue becomes tied and unable to ask and request from The Lord. When He frees your tongue by His showing you your poverty and neediness till you are obliged to ask of Him, then know that He wants to give you. He pledged to answer the prayer of the needy, specially prayers around daybreak. And a poet wrote:

If You did not want to grant what I hope for
out of your generosity, You would not have inspired me asking.

And in the Hadith: "whoever was inspired invocation will not be denied answer." And know that answering a prayer can sometimes be by granting the request as is, or with something else in return, and can be either immediate or deferred. ""And your Lord does create as He pleases and chooses. They (the idolaters) do not have the choice...[28:68]"
أي متى حل مولاك عقدة لسانك التي أوجبها الاستغناء بالأغيار وعدم رؤية الفاقة والافتقار بأن أشهدك فقرك وفاقتك حتى دعوته بلسان الاضطرار فاعلم أنه يريد أن يعطيك لصدق الوعد بإجابة دعاء المضطر لا سيما في الأسحار. وما ألطف قول بعض العارفين
لولم ترد نيل ما أرجوه من طلب
من فيض جودك ما ألهمتني الطلبا
 وفي الحديث: "من أعطي الدعاء لم يحرم الإجابة". واعلم أن الإجابة تارة تكون بعين المطلوب وتارة تكون بغيره عاجلا أو آجلا {وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء وَيَخْتَارُ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ ... (القصص - ٦٨)}ء
103 The true gnostic ([aaref]) is continuously and permanently compelled, and his decision is with no other than God. الْعَارِفُ لَا يَزُوْلُ اضْطِرَارُهُ، وَلَا يَكُوْنُ مَعَ غَيْرِ الْلَّهِ قَرَارُهُ

The gnostic ([aaref]) who truly knows The Lord, has a compulsion and poverty to His Lord that never ends He acknowledges knowing himself as humble and poor, and knowing his Lord as Mighty and Glorious. The compulsion of ordinary people, on the other hand, comes about only with the occurrence of events of poverty or illness and the like, because of the dominance of materialism in their view, and when the cause disappears, so will their compelling. If they saw the Lord's comprehensive encircling grip, they would have known that their compulsion to Him is permanent. Another characteristic of a gnostic ([aaref]) is that he does not trust or depend on anyone save The Lord and his decision is only with Him, for he is estranged from all creation, and finds amicability only with The Creator of the earths and heavens.
يعني: أن العارف بالله لا يزول اضطراره وافتقاره إلى مولاه فإنه يقدر معرفته لنفسه بالذل والافتقار يعرف ربه بالعز والعظمة والاقتدار. وأما غير العارف من العامة فإن اضطرارهم إنما يكون عند مثيرات الأسباب من الفقر والمرض ونحو ذلك لغلبة دائرة الحس على مشهدهم ومتى زالت زال اضطرارهم فلوشهدوا قبضة الله الشاملة المحيطة لعلموا أن اضطرارهم إلى الله تعالى دائم. ومن أوصاف العارف أيضا أنه لا يكون مع غير الله قراره لوجود وحشته من المخلوقات فلا يأنس إلا ببارئ الأرض والسماوات
104 He illuminated the appearances by the lights of His signs, and illuminated the souls by the lights of His traits. That is why the lights of appearances set, and the lights of hearts and souls shined on. That is why it is said that the days' sun sets at night, and the hearts' sun never sets. أَنَارَ الْظَّوَاهِرَ بِأَنْوَارِ آَثَارِهِ، وَأَنَارَ الْسَّرَائِرَ بِأَنْوَارِ أَوْصَافِهِ؛ لِأَجْلِ ذَلِكَ أَفَلَتْ أَنْوَارُ الْظَّوَاهِرِ، وَلَمْ تَأْفُلْ أَنْوَارُ الْقُلُوْبِ وَالْسَّرَائِرِ؛ وَلِذَلِكَ قِيَلَ: إِنَّ شَمْسَ الْنَّهَارِ تَغْرُبُ بِالْلَّيْلِ وَشَمْسَ الْقُلُوْبِ لَيْسَتْ تَغِيْبُ

He [Subhanahu] illuminated the appearances or the created components by the celestial light of the planets as the sun and the moon, which are signs of His ability. We see creation through this light, and grasp what is beneficial and guard against what is harmful. He illuminated the souls and inner hearts of the gnostics ([aarefeen]) by the lights of His traits, or the Lordly knowledge and secrets. That is why the lights of appearances set, while the lights of hearts and souls shine on. That is why lasting lights of internal knowledge of hearts and souls should receive more attention and be more cared for than the fading lights of outer appearances. The worshiper [abd] who regards this becomes of the religion of Ibrahim, may The Lord's peace be upon him, who said: "..."I love not those that set." [6:76]" A man asked Sahl Ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, about sustenance, he said: "it is He, The Ever-Living Who Never Dies". He said: "I am asking about nourishment", He said: "knowledge is nourishment". He said: "I mean food", he said: "[zikr] is food". He said: "I mean the food for the body", he said: "what do you care for the body? let Him who cared for it initially care for it in the end". And a gnostic ([aaref]) said:

O servant of the body, how much do you toil in its service
and ask for profit from what begets loss
care for the soul and complement its virtues
for it is with the soul and not the body that you are human.
يعني: أنه سبحانه أنار الظواهر أي المكونات بأنوار الكواكب والشمس والقمر التي هي آثار قدرته فنرى المكونات بذلك النور ونأخذ منها ما ينفع ونحترز عما يضر. وأنار السرائر أي بواطن قلوب العارفين بأنوار أوصافه أي بالعلوم العرفانية والأسرار الربانية لأجل ذلك أفلت أي غابت أنوار الظواهر فيذهب نور الشمس في الليل ونور القمر في النهار لكونها ناشئة عن الحادث. ولم تأ فل بضم الفاء أي لم تغب أنوار القلوب والسرائر لكونها ناشئة عن تنبيه على أن الأمور الباقية هي التي ينبغي أن يعتني بها بخلاف الأمور الفانية الآفلة. فلا يعتني بالعلوم الظاهرية مثل ما يعتني بالعلوم الباطنية فإن الثانية لبقائها أولى بالاعتناء بها. وحينئذ يكون العبد على ملة إبراهيم عليه السلام حيث قال: {...لا أُحِبُّ الآفِلِينَ  (الأنعام - ٧٦)}. ومن اللطائف أن رجلا سأل سهل بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه عن القوت. فقال: هو الحي الذي لا يموت. فقال: إنما سألتك عن القوام. فقال: القوام هو العلم. فقال: سألتك عن الغذاء. فقال: الغذاء هو الذكر. فقال: إنما سألتك عن طعم الجسد. فقال: ما لك وللجسد دع من تولاه أولا يتولاه آخرا. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
يا خادم الجسم كم تشقى بخدمته
وتطلب الربح مما فيه خسران
عليك بالروح فاستكمل فضائلها
فأنت بالروح لا بالجسم إنسان
105 Lessen your feeling of the pain of inflictions and hardships by knowing that it is He [Subhanahu] who inflicted you. The One who set your fates and destiny is The One who accustomed you to every good choice. لِيُخَفِّفَ أَلَمَ الْبَلَاءِ عَنْكَ – عِلْمِكَ بِأَنَّهُ – سُبْحَانَهُ – هُوَ الْمُبْلِيَ لَكَ، فَالَّذِي وَاجَهَتْكَ مِنْهُ الْأَقْدَارُ – هُوَ الَّذِيْ عَوَّدَكَ حُسْنَ الْاخْتِيَارِ

This Hikma is to console the [saliks] so that they get a taste of what the gnostics ([aarefeen]) feel. For he who knows that infliction is from his Lord and Master, Who is more merciful of him than his own mother and father, how can he have any feeling of pain? or how does he not enjoy pain of infliction as others enjoy graces and blessings? As was said in Al-Tanweer:

and lessened from upon me what I suffer of hardship
my knowledge that it is You who destines and inflicts
and no one can evade what The Lord has destined
nor does he have any other choice.

Your knowledge that it is Him Almighty who inflicts you, should lessen your pain of infliction. Indeed, The One who set your fate and destined you to all the hardships that befall you, is The One who accustomed you to every good choice. So accuse yourself if you think otherwise, and submit your affairs in order to reach safety, for your Wise Lord knows better what better suits you. Almighty said: "...Yet it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you God knows, and you know not. [2:216]"
هذه الحكمة تسلية للسالكين حتى يذوقوا منها مذاق العارفين. فإنه من عرف أن البلايا من مولاه وسيده الذي هو أرحم به من والدته ووالده كيف يبقى له بالألم إحساس ؟ أم كيف لا يتلذذ به ؟ كما يتلذذ بالنعمة سائر الناس. كما قال في التنوير
وخفف عني ما ألاقي من العنا
بأنك أنت المبتلي والمقدر
وما لامرئ عما قضى الله معدل
وليس له منه الذي يتخير.
يعني: أن علمك أيها المريد بأنه سبحانه هو المبلي لك يخفف ألم البلاء عنك. فإن الذي واجهتك منه الأقدار أي الأمور المقدرة عليك من مرض ونحوه هو الذي عودك حسن الاختيار أي اختيار الأمر الحسن الذي يلائمك فاتهم نفسك إذا ظننت خلاف ذلك وسلم الأمر تسلم فإن مولاك الحكيم بمصالحك منك أعلم. قال تعالى: {... وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (البقرة - ٢١٦)}ء
106 Whoever thinks His gentleness is not linked to His destiny is short in insight. مَنْ ظَنَّ انْفِكَاكَ لُطْفِهِ عَنْ قَدَرِهِ – فَذَلِكَ لِقُصُوْرِ نَظَرِهِ

Whoever thinks The Almighty's gentleness is not linked to His destiny, and lags behind what befalls him of inflictions and hardships, thinks this only because he is short in insight, and weak in his certitude [yaqeen]. Gnostics ([aarefeen]) see blessing in hardship and giving in infliction, and rejoice in them because of what follows of reward, and their bringing nearer and closer to The Lord. The slave [abd] increases supplication, prayer and pleading when they befall, and appeals to The One who knows his secret and whispering. He comes to find patience and contentment, and trusts Him who chose his destiny. This is Lordly gentleness denied only by who is veiled, for a single grain of good coming from the heart is better than mountains of work of the body. And in the Hadith: "If The Lord loves someone, He inflicts him. If he finds patience, He chooses him, and if he finds acceptance, He selects him."
أي من ظن انفكاك لطفه تعالى وتخلفه عن قدره عليه وما أنزله به من البلايا والمحن فذلك الظن إنما حصل له لقصور نظره الناشئ عن ضعف اليقين. فإن العارفين يشهدون المنن في المحن والعطايا في البلايا بل كثيرا ما يتلذذون بها لما يعقبها من المزايا. فإنها توجب شدة قرب العبد من مولاه لأنه يكثر التضرع عند نزولها به والالتجاء إلى من يعلم سره ونجواه ويستعمل حسن الصبر والرضا والتوكل على من أراد له هذا القضا إلى غير ذلك من طهارة القلوب. وفي هذا من أنواع اللطف ما لا ينكره إلا كل محجوب. فإن ذرة من أعمال القلوب خير من أمثال الجبال من أعمال الجوارح. وفي الحديث: " إذا أحب الله عبدا ابتلاه فإن صبر اجتباه وإن رضي اصطفاه"ء
107 It is not feared that you might get confused and lost on the way (to Him), but it is feared that desire takes hold of you. لَا يُخَافُ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَلْتَبِسَ الْطُّرُقُ عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّمَا يُخَافُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الْهَوَىَ عَلَيْكَ

It is not feared that the paths leading to Him Almighty will confuse you and get mixed up so you will not find the way. He [Subhanahu], has clarified and outlined the paths by delivering His books and sending His messengers. What is feared is that desire and passion overtake you till they blind you beyond seeing the paths. And as Al-Balkhy said: "the path is clear, and The Truth is apparent, and The Caller made Himself heard so confusion after all this can only be out of blindness". And some said: "the disease of wisdom is passion, so who elevates above his passion escapes". And another said: "If you don't disobey passion, passion will lead you to everything that begets you blame".
أي لا يخاف عليك أيها المريد أن تلتبس أي تشتبه الطرق الموصلة إلى الله تعالى عليك لأنه سبحانه بينها بإنزال الكتب وإرسال الرسل وإنما يخاف عليك من غلبة الهوى عليك حتى يعميك عن رؤيتها. كما قال البلخي: الطريق واضح والحق لائح والداعي قد أسمع فما التحير بعد هذا إلا من العمى. وما ألطف قول بعضهم: وآفة العقل الهوى فمن علا على هواه عقله فقد نجا. وقال آخر: إذا أنت لم تعص الهوى قادك الهوى إلى كل ما فيه عليك مقال
108 [Subhanahu] Who concealed the secret of singularity (of His [awleyaa]) by demonstrating the appearance of humanity (in them), and showed His Lordly Might in displaying (their) slavery and servitude. سُبْحَانَ مَنْ سَتَرَ سِرَّ الْخُصُوْصِيَّةِ بِظُهُوْرِ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ ، وَظَهَرَ بِعَظَمَةِ الرُّبُوْبِيَّةِ فِيْ إِظْهَارِ الْعُبُوْدِيَّةِ

Dignified beyond whatever does not befit Him is our Majesty, The Wise. He wisely veiled the secret of singularity, which is the knowledge and secrets He specialized His allies [awliyaa] with, by showing their humanity. The status of singularity of the allies [awliyaa] is mostly veiled by what appears of their human traits, so they are not identified by many, and had it not been for this veiling, their secrets would have been exposed and unprotected. It is said that the sun must have clouds and the belle must have a veil. He appeared by His Mighty Divinity through displaying slavery and servitude of His slaves [ebad], which are the events that occur and oblige them to need Their Lord. Your incapacity makes you realize His Ability, your poverty makes you realize His Richness, and your humility makes you realize His Glory and Magnificence. Thus the Greatness and Majesty of Divinity appears to the people [ebad] from behind the veil of slavery and servitude.
أي تنزه عما لا يليق به مولانا الحكيم الذي ستر بحكمته سر الخصوصية أي سرا هو الخصوصية التي خص بها أولياءه من المعارف والأسرار بظهور البشرية أي الأحوال التي تعرض للبشر فقد يكون بعض الأولياء خواصا مثلا ليستر خصوصيته بهذه الصفة التي يتعاطاها فلا يعرفه كثير من الناس ولولا هذا الستر لكان سر الله مبتذلا غير مصون. وقد قالوا لا بد للشمس من سحاب وللحسناء من نقاب. وقوله: وظهر بعظمة الربوبية أي بربوبيته العظيمة. في إظهار العبودية أي في إظهار آثار العبودية على عباده. وهي الأحوال التي تطرأ عليهم فتقتضي افتقارهم إلى ربهم. فبعجزك تتحقق من قدرة مولاك وبفقرك تتحقق من غناه وبذلك تتحقق من عزه. وهكذا فعظمة الربوبية إنما ظهرت للعباد من وراء حجاب العبودية
109 Don't demand of your Lord to hasten your delayed request, but demand from yourself for the delay in your politeness [adab] لَاتُطَالِبْ رَبَّكَ بِتَأَخُّرِ مَطْلَبِكَ، وَلَكِنْ طَالِبْ نَفْسَكَ بِتَأَخُّرِ أَدَبِكَ

If you pray and ask Him for something and it is not answered, do not demand or object or mistrust Him because of the delay in answering your request for "He shall not be questioned about what He does, ... [21:23]". But demand from your self and object its delay in proper manners [adab], for if you had forwarded [adab], your request would not have been delayed. And of proper manners in requesting is not to demand answering your request, for you should only aim at demonstrating your slavery and servitude by praying. And also of proper manners in requesting is not seeing your deserving or worthy of what you ask for: regarding your worth is as if directing Him, while your aim should be to be humble and humiliate yourself to Him.
أي إذا دعوت ربك وطلبت منه شيئا من الأشياء ولم تظهر لك الإجابة فلا تطالبه أي لا تعترض عليه وتسيء الظن به بسبب تأخر مطلبك أي ما طلبته منه فإنه لا يسأل عما يفعل. ولكن طالب نفسك واعترض عليها بسبب تأخر أدبك فلو تقدم الأدب لما تأخر المطلب. ومن أدبك في الطلب عدم طلب الإجابة فإن الطالب إنما يقصد بدعائه إظهار العبودية فقط. ومنه عدم رؤية الاستحقاق لما تطلب فإن رؤية الاستحقاق توجب إدلالك عليه والواجب إنما هو إذلالك بين يديه. ثم أشار المصنف إلى كمال الأدب الذي يكون به العبد في غاية الاستقامة بقوله
110 Whenever He allowed you apparent and manifest compliance to His orders, and granted you internal self submission to His Overwhelm, then He has greatly bestowed upon you. مَتَىَ جَعَلَكَ فِيْ الْظَّاهِرِ مُمْتَثِلَاً لِأَمْرِهِ، وَرَزَقَكَ فِيْ الْبَاطِنِ الاسْتِسْلامُ لِقَهْرِهِ – فَقَدْ أَعْظَمَ الْمِنَّةَ عَلَيْكَ

Whenever The Lord graces your appearance by piety, which is submission to orders and avoiding prohibitions, and graces your interior by submission or total surrender to His overwhelm while accepting and content with hardships then He has greatly bestowed His graces upon you. There is nothing more sublime than being in external and internal slavery and worship.
أي متى زين الله ظاهرك بالتقوى وهي امتثال المأمورات واجتناب المنهيات وباطنك بالاستسلام أي بالانقياد لقهره مع الرضا والصبر على المصيبات فقد أعظم المنة أي النعمة عليك فإنه لا درجة أعلى من التقلب في عبودية الظاهر والباطن
111 Not everyone who has been specialized has been completely purified لَيْسَ  كُلُّ مَنْ ثَبَتَ تَخْصِيْصُهُ – كَمَلَ تَخْلِيْصُهُ

When you see someone displaying extraordinary wonders [karamat] as flying in the air or walking on water, do not take this as evidence that he has been completely purified of regarding othernesses and of what the self desires of lusts. Miracles [karamat] frequently appear with the novice on the beginning of the path, and frequently do not appear with those who have reached The Lord. The author will write later: Perhaps a person is blessed with miracles ([karamat]) before he is complete in his righteousness and integrity. For integrity is the greatest wonder [karama] that The Lord dignifies the slave with, not the extraordinary visible miracles.

أي ليس كل من ثبت تخصيصه بإظهار أمر خارق للعادة على يده كطي الأرض والطيران في الهواء والمشي على الماء وغير ذلك من الكرامات كمل تخليصه من رؤية الأغيار وآفات النفس وما تدعو إليه من الشهوات. فإنه كثيرا ما تظهر الكرامة على أيدي المبتدئين ولا تظهر على أيدي الواصلين من أهل التمكين. ولذا قيل لبعضهم: أن فلانا جاع في البادية فرأى البادية كلها طعاما. فقال: عبد رفق به ولوبلغ إلى محل التحقيق لكان كمن قال: أبيت عند ربي يطعمني ويسقيني. وسيقول المصنف: ربما رزق الكرامة من لم تكمل له الاستقامة. فالاستقامة هي أعظم الكرامات التي أكرم بها العبد من رب البريات
112 Only an ignorant despises the litany [wird]. The revelation [warid] is in the Next World, and the litany [wird] folds with the folding of this world. The litany [wird] is His demand from you, and the revelation [warid] you request of Him. How does what He demands of you compare to what you request of Him? لَا يَسْتَحْقِرُ الْوِرْدَ إِلَا جَهُوْلٌ: الْوَارِدِ يُوْجَدُ فِيْ الْدَّارِ الْآَخِرَةِ، وَالْوِرْدُ يَنْطَوِيْ بِانْطِوَاءِ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ، وَأَوْلَى مَا يُعْتَنَيَ بِهِ – مَا لَا يُخْلَفُ وُجُوْدُهُ – الْوِرْدُ هُوَ طَالِبُهُ مِنْكَ، وَالْوَارِدُ أَنْتَ تَطْلُبُهُ مِنْهُ، وَأَيْنَ مَا هُوَ طَالِبُهُ مِنْكَ مِمَّا هُوَ مَطْلَبُكَ مِنْهُ؟

Only an ignorant despises the litany [wird] which is a deed of piety that brings closer to The Lord, The Forgiver, and long for a revelation [warid]. A revelation is what is revealed to the heart of knowledge and secrets, and is initiated by the [wird] after the heart is purified by righteous deeds that bring lights from The Presence [Hadra] of The All-Sufficient, The Giver. For a [wird] is what people present to Al-Haqq, and the revelation [warid] is what He grants them. The [wird] should have preference over the [warid] for two reasons: the first is that the revelation [warid] is present in the Hereafter, while the [wird] is folded with the folding of this world, and the Hereafter is not a place for continuation or completion of missed deeds. What should be tended to and cared for most is what cannot be replaced when missed if its time passes. The second is that the [wird] is His demand and stipulation and the revelation [warid] is what you request of Him, and how does what He demands of you compare to what you request of Him? Fulfilling His dues more befits slavery and servitude than requesting your preferred fortunes. Only when you purify of your faults will the doors to the unknown become opened to you. The author uses this to guide and direct the [mureeds] who long for revelations [warid]s and abandon [wird]s, while it is the [wird]s that bring about the revelations [warid]s.
يعني: لا يستحقر الورد الذي هو الأعمال الصالحة التي تقربه إلى العزيز الغفار ويتشوف إلى الوارد وهو ما يرد على الباطن من المعارف والأسرار إلاجهول أي كثير الجهل. فإن الوارد إنما ينشأ عن الورد بعد تصفية الباطن بصالح الأعمال التي تجلب الأنوار من حضرة الغني المفضال. فالورد ما كان من الخلق للحق والوارد ما كان من الحق للخلق. ثم ذكر أن الورد له مزية على الوارد من وجهين: أشار إلى الأول بقوله: الوارد يوجد في الدار الآخرة لأنه ما يرد على باطن العبد من المعارف الربانية واللطائف الرحمانية. وأما الورد: فإنه ينطوي بانطواء هذه الدار لأن الآخرة ليست دار تكليف. وأولى ما يعتني به ما لا يخلف وجوده بفواته. وأشار إلى الوجه الثاني بقوله: الورد هو تعالى طالبه منك. فهو حقه عليك والوارد أنت تطلبه منه فهو حظك منه وأين ما هو طالبه منك مما هو مطلبك منه ؟ أي بعيد ما بينهما فقيامك بحقوقه عليك أليق بالعبودية من طلبك لحظوظك المحبوبة لديك ومتى تطهرت من العيب فتح لك باب الغيب. وأتى المصنف بذلك إرشادا للمريدين الذين يتشوفون إلى الواردات ويتركون الأوراد مع أنها لها من المقدمات. كما قال المصنف
113 Supplies flow according to preparedness, and lights shine according to clarity of souls and spirits. وُرُوْدُ الْإِمْدَادِ بَحَسَبِ الاسْتِعْدَادِ، وَشُرُوقُ الْأَنْوَارِ عَلَىَ حَسَبِ صَفَاءِ الْأَسْرَارِ

Supplies from The Presence [Hadra] of The King, The Munificent, flow according to the slave's [abd]'s readiness by purifying his heart and attending to his litanies [wird]. Lights shine in the gnostic's ([aaref])'s heart according to how much they cleared of the turbidity of attaching to othernesses and impressions. This Hikma confirms the [Shariaa]'s call for seeking and adopting the means. The other Hikma: 'Seldom are Lordly revelations [warid]s except sudden...' states the actual facts of the matter, so in reality they are not incompatible and do not contradict.
يعني: أن ورود الإمداد من حضرة الملك الجواد إنما يكون للعبد بحسب استعداده لذلك بتطهير فؤاده وملازمته لأوراده. وشروق الأنوار في قلب العارف والمراد بها العلوم والمعارف إنما يكون على حسب صفاء الأسرار من كدر التعلق بالأغيار والآثار. وهذه الحكمة إثبات للشريعة من حيث الأخذ بالأسباب. وأما قوله: قلما تكون الواردات الإلهية إلا بغتة فتحقيق للحقيقة فلا تنافي بلا ارتياب
114 The heedless contemplates what he will do when he wakes up. The wise contemplates what The Lord will do with him. الْغَافِلُ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ يَنْظُرُ: مَاذَا يَفْعَلُ؟ وَالْعَاقِلُ يَنْظُرُ: مَاذَا يَفْعَلُ الْلَّهُ بِهِ؟

The first thought that comes to He who is inattentive and heedless of The Lord Almighty when he wakes up is relating actions to his self and his will. He says: what will I do today? and in so deserves that The Lord refers him back to his self. On the other hand, the first thought that comes to the mind of the wise is relating all actions to The Lord, and thinking: what will The Lord do with me? This is due to his continuous alertness, and in so deserves that The Lord supports him to the best deeds and guides him to the best states. The first thought that comes upon the slave shows the extent of his unification. And some said: who is guided to Al-Haqq does not regard his self, and who is guided to his self does not regard The Lord. So contemplate, when an event happens: if your heart refers to your help and power, then you are severed from The Lord, while if your heart is referred to The Lord, then you are among those who reached Him. Sayyidi Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz used to say: "I have come to rejoice only in what destiny and fate brings if it is pleasantness I have thankfulness and if it is hardship I have patience". Whoever reaches this state should pray saying: "O Lord, I have no power to bring upon my self any harm or benefit or life or death or resurrection, and I can only take what You give me and avoid what You shield me O Lord, please aid me towards what You like and accept, for You are The Lord of The Greatest Bounties".
يعني: أن الغافل عن الله تعالى إذا أصبح فأول خاطر يرد عليه نسبة الفعل إلى نفسه فيقول: ماذا أفعل اليوم ؟ فهو جدير بأن يكله الله تعالى إلى نفسه. وأما العاقل فأول خاطر يرد عليه نسبة الفعل إلى الله تعالى فيقول: ماذا يفعل الله بي ؟ وذلك لدوام يقظته فهو جدير بأن يوفقه الله لأحسن الأعمال ويرشده لأصلح الأحوال. فأول خاطر يرد على العبد هو ميزان توحيده ولذا قال بعضهم من اهتدى إلى الحق لم يهتد إلى نفسه ومن اهتدى إلى نفسه لم يهتد إلى الله. فانظر إذا استقبلك شغل فإن عاد قلبك في أول وهلة إلى حولك وقوتك فأنت المنقطع عن الله وإن عاد قلبك في إلى الله سبحانه فأنت الواصل إليه. وقد كان سيدي عمر بن عبد العزيز يقول: أصبحت ومالي سرور إلا في مواضع القضاء والقدر؛ إن تكن السراء فعندي الشكر، وإن تكن الضراء فعندي الصبر. وليكن من دعاء صاحب هذا المقام: اللهم إني أصبحت لا أملك لنفسي ضرا ولا نفعا ولا موتا ولا حياة ولا نشورا ولا أستطيع أن آخذ إلا ما أعطيتني ولا أتقي إلا ما وقيتني اللهم وفقني لما تحبه وترضاه من القول في طاعتك إنك ذو الفضل العظيم
115 Worshipers and ascetics [zahids] are desolated by everything because they miss The Lord's Image in everything. For if they saw Him in everything, they would not have been desolated by anything. إِنَّمَا يَسْتَوْحِشُ الْعُبَّادُ وَالزُّهَّادُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، لِغَيْبَتِهِمْ عَنِ الْلَّهِ فِيْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَلَوْ شَهِدُوهُ فِيْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ – لَمْ يَسْتَوْحِشُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ

Worshipers and ascetics [zahids] are still veiled from Him by seeing their selves and caring for their fortunes, and so they miss The Lord's image in everything. They renounce and averse everything that can distract them on their path to Him, and indeed, renouncing the renounceable is attestation that it exists. They abandon anything they find themselves inclined to or that they find charming in fear that it might distract them. If they saw Him in everything, as the gnostics ([aarefeen]) and lovers do, they would not have been desolated by anything and in that state they would see Him manifest in all things and are guided by His appearance to seeing everything. This is delight and joy to their eyes enough to occupy them beyond regarding their selves. They are not desolated by anything, and would not fear the temptation of any thing, because they are certain that all things other than Him will fade and perish. May The Lord make us fit to loving Him, for He is The Generous The Forgiver.
أي إنما يستوحش العباد بضم العين جمع عابد والزهاد جمع زاهد أي ينفرون من كل شيء يقطعهم عن الله بغيبتهم عن الله في كل شيء لكونهم محجوبين عنه تعالى برؤية أنفسهم ومراعاة حظوظهم. فإن الزهد في المزهود شاهد له بالوجود ولذا فروا من الأشياء واستوحشوا منها مخافة أن تفوت عليهم مقاصدهم لميلهم إليها وافتتانهم بها فلو شهدوه في كل شيء كما شهده العارفون والمحبون لم يستوحشوا من شيء لرؤيتهم له حينئذ ظاهرا في الأشياء كلها لأنهم يستدلون به عليها فيكون في ذلك من قرة أعينهم ما يشغلهم عن رؤيتهم لنفوسهم فلا يكون لهم من الأشياء وحشة ولا يخشون منها فتنة لأنها فانية متلاشية بهذا الاعتبار. جعلنا الله من أهل محبته إنه كريم غفار
116 He commanded you, while in this world, to regard the components of His creations. In the Next World He will reveal the Completeness of His Self. أَمَرَكَ فِيْ هَذِهِ الْدَّارِ بِالْنَّظَرِ فِيْ مُكَوَّنَاتِهِ، وَسَيَكْشِفُ لَكَ فِيْ تِلْكَ الْدَّارِ عَنْ كَمَالِ ذَاتِهِ

Your Lord ordered you while in this world, to regard the components of His creations and his universes, to see Him with the eye of your insight appearing in them from behind their veil. In the Next World He will reveal to you, and all the believers, the Completeness of His Self, where you will be able to see him with your vision. Seeing Him is possible as Al-Laqqany said:

And He can be perceived by vision
but without how and without confinement
for the believers this is probable and conditional
and for the selected one (Sayyidina Mohammed) in this world confirmed
يعني: أمرك مولاك أيها المريد في هذه الدار الدنيا بالنظر في مكوناته بتشديد الواوالمفتوحة أي أكوانه لتراه بنور بصيرتك ظاهرا فيها من وراء حجابها. وسيكشف لك مع عامة المؤمنين في تلك الدار الآخرة عن كمال ذاته فتراه بعين البصر. فإن رؤيته تعالى من الأمر الجائز كما قال اللقاني
 وَمِنْهُ أنْ يُنْظَرَ بالأبْصَارِ
لكِنْ بِلاَ كَيْفٍ ولا انْحِصَارِ
لِلْمْؤِمنينَ إذْ بِجائِزْ عُلِّقَتْ
هّذا ولِلْمُخْتَارِ دُنْيَا ثَبتتْ
117 He knew that you cannot tolerate not being able to see Him, so He showed you what emerged and originated from Him. عِلْمَ مِنْكَ: أَنَّكَ لَا تَصْبِرُ عَنْهُ – فَاشْهَدَكَ مَا بَرَزَ مِنْهُ

He knew that you, O loving one, cannot tolerate not being able to see Him, as a lover cannot stand not seeing his loved one, so He showed you what emerged and originated from Him of creation, so you can see Him in them with the eye of insight, because it is unimaginable that you can see Him unveiled in this world.
أي علم منك أيها المحب أنك لا تصبر عن مشاهدته كما هو شأن المحب مع محبوبه فأشهدك ما برز منه من الأكوان رحمة بك لتراه فيها بعين بصيرتك لكون رؤيتك له في هذه الدار من غير حجاب لا تتصور
118 Al-Haqq knew the boredom in you, so He varied obedience for you. He knew your greed, so He prohibited them in some times, so that your concern be focused on observing and establishing prayers, not on the presence of prayers. For not every one who prays performs. لَمَّا عَلِمَ الْحَقُّ مِنْكَ وُجُوْدُ الْمَلَلِ – لَوَّنَ لَكِ الطَّاعَاتِ، وَعَلِمَ مَا فِيْكَ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ الْشَّرَهِ – فَحَجَرَهَا عَلَيْكَ فِيْ بَعْضِ الْأَوْقَاتِ؛ لِيَكُوْنَ هَمُّكَ إِقَامَةِ الْصَّلاةِ، لَا وُجُوْدَ الْصَّلاةِ فَمَا كُلُّ مُصَلٍّ مُقِيْمٌ

Al-Haqq [Subhanahu] knew that you are prone to boredom which might lead to abandoning deeds, so He varied obedience: praying, fasting, glorification, praise, and others, so that if you find boredom in one kind you can move to another. He also knew your greed and hastiness in performing deeds which might make them defective or incomplete, so He prohibited them in some times. Obligatory deeds are prohibited except in their set times, and additional prayers and duties [nawafel] are not preferred in certain times. He set this so that you focus your concern on observing and establishing prayer and adjusting its fundamentals and fulfilling its conditions and its required external and internal proper manners [adab] as much as you can, not on the mere presence of the image of prayer. Not every one who prays observes, and to perform an obedience is to do it with perfection and without a trace of deficiency or infraction or neglect. Varying obedience and prohibiting them in times are two great blessings for the [mureed] , to alleviate boredom and greed which prevent good obedience for The Mighty The Praiseworthy. The author used prayer as example because this happens in prayer more than in other deeds of worship and obedience.
أي لما علم الحق سبحانه منك أيها المريد وجود الملل أي السآمة المؤدية إلى ترك العمل لون بتشديد الواوأي نوع لك الطاعات: من صلاة وصيام وتسبيح وتهليل ونحوذلك رحمة بك وتسهيلا عليك فإنك إذا سئمت من نوع منها انتقلت إلى غيره. وعلم ما فيك من وجود الشره بتشديد الشين المعجمة المفتوحة وفتح الراء أي مجاوزة الحد في التسارع إلى العمل المؤدي ذلك إلى وقوع النقص والتقصير فيها. فحجرها بتخفيف الجيم أي منعها عليك في بعض الأوقات فإن الفرائض يمتنع فعلها في غير أوقاتها والنوافل لا ينبغي فعلها في وقت الكراهة. وإنما فعل ذلك ليكون همك إقامة الصلاة أي تعديل أركانها وتوفير شروطها وتكميل آدابها ظاهرة وباطنة بقدر الطاقة لا وجود صورة الصلاة فقط فما كل مصل مقيم لأنك قد علمت أن المقيم للشيء هو القائم به على وجه الكمال من غير نقص ولا إخلال. فتلوين العبادة وتحجيرها نعمتان على المريد يزول بهما الملل والشره القاطعان عن حسن طاعة العزيز الحميد. وإنما مثل المصنف بالصلاة دون سائر العبادات لكثرة وقوع ذلك فيها أو لكونه أراد أن يذكر شيئا من فوائدها بقوله
119 Prayer purifies the hearts from the pollution and filth of sins, and calls for unlocking the doors to the hidden and unknown. الصَّلَاةُ طُهْرَةً لِلْقُلُوْبِ مِنْ أَدْنَاسِ الْذُّنُوبِ، وَاسْتِفْتَاحٌ لِبَابِ الْغُيُوْبِ

Prayer that is complete and fulfilling all conditions and proper manners, and which involves humility and submission to the Mighty The Bestower, purifies the hearts from the pollution and filth of sins. The Almighty said: "...truly prayer prohibits lewd acts and indecency...[29:45]" And in the Hadith: 'prayer is like a fresh water river passing by the door of one of you, in which he bathes five times a day do you see this leaves anything of his dirt?' Prayers that fulfill the previous condition of purifying the hearts unlock the doors to the hidden and unknown, for the hearts when pure and cleansed will have their veils and curtains lifted, and come to see what was hidden of knowledge and secrets.
يعني: أن الصلاة التامة المستوفية للشروط والآداب المشتملة على الخشوع والخضوع للعزيز الوهاب طهرة أي مطهرة للقلوب من الذنوب الشبيهة بالأدناس. قال تعالى: {...إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ ... (العنكبوت - ٤٥)}. وفي الحديث: " إنما مثل الصلاة كمثل نهر عذب يمر بباب أحدكم يقتحم فيه كل يوم خمس مرات أترون ذلك يبقي من درنه شيئا " وقوله: واستفتاح أي طلب فتح لباب الغيوب عطف مسبب على سبب لأن القلوب إذا طهرت وتزكت رفعت عنها الحجب والأستار فترى ما كان غائبا عنها من المعارف والأسرار
120 Prayer is the place for confiding [munajah] and is the essence of spirituality, during which the fields of secrets expand and the glimmers of lights dawn. He knew your weakness, so He decreased their numbers, and He knew your need for His Grace, so He increased their rewards. الصَّلَاةَ مَحَلُّ الْمُنَاجَاةِ، وَمَعْدَنُ الْمُصَافَاةِ: تَتَّسِعُ فِيْهَا مَيَادِيْنُ الْأَسْرَارِ وَتُشْرِقُ فِيْهَا شَوَارِقُ الْأَنْوَارِ. عَلِمَ وُجُوْدَ الْضَّعْفُ مِنْكَ – فَقَلَّلَ أَعْدَادَهَا، وَعَلِمَ احْتِيَاجَكَ إِلَىَ فَضْلِهِ – فَكَثَّرَ أَمْدَادَهَا

Prayer is place for the slave [abd] to confide [munajah] in his Lord, by reciting His words, and praising Him. It is the element of cordiality where he totally and completely faces and directs himself towards The Lord. And as much as the slave [abd] approaches The Lord, He approaches him. It results, if performed to perfection, in expanding the fields of secrets, or expanding the hearts by the shining of lights (which are similar to the dawning of glimmering stars and planets) so they delight in the arrival of knowledge. This Hikma, which show the value of prayer, emphasizes what was mentioned previously, that what is required is 'observing' prayers, not 'the presence of' prayers. The prayer that is meant here is the prayer of the submissive, and not the prayer of the inattentive. The Lord Almighty says in His guarded book: "So woe to them who pray, [107:4] those who are heedless of their prayers, [107:5]". He knew your weakness, so He decreased their numbers by decreasing the initial fifty to only five, and He knew your need for His Grace and generosity, so He increased their rewards, and made them five to actually perform but fifty in reward. So magnify and praise Him for what He graced, and thank Him for what He bestowed and granted.
يعني: أن الصلاة هي محل مناجاة العبد لربه بتلاوة كلامه والثناء عليه ومعدن المصافاة معه بتوجهه بكليته إليه وبقدر إقبال العبد يكون إقبال الرب وثمرتها إذا كانت على الوجه الأكمل أنها تتسع فيها ميادين الأسرار أي تتسع فيها القلوب الشبيهة بالميادين للفرسان بمعنى أنها تنشرح بتوارد الأسرار أي العلوم والمعارف التي تتسابق إليها كتسابق الفرسان وهذا يتسبب عن كونها تشرق أي تطلع فيها شوراق الأنوار أي الأنوار الشبيهة بالكواكب الشارقة. فإن الأنوار إذا أشرقت في القلوب انشرحت لما يرد عليها من العلوم والمعارف. وهذه العبارات الست التي هي من فوائد الصلاة معانيها متقاربة أتى بها لتكون كالدليل لما قاله: من أن المأمور به إنما هو إقامة الصلاة لا وجودها. فإن الصلاة المعتبرة هي صلاة الخاشعين لا صلاة الغافلين. فإن الله تعالى يقول في كتابه المكنون: {فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ {٤} الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ {٥} (الماعون)}. ثم قال: علم وجود الضعف منك أيها العبد فقلل أعدادها بجعل الخمسين خمسة وعلم احتياجك إلى فضله وكرمه فكثر أمدادها بفتح الهمزة جمع مدد أي ثوابها وأسرارها فجعلها خمسا في الفعل وخمسين في الأجر. فاحمده على ما أنعم واشكره على ما تفضل وتكرم
   
     
     
     
     
121 If you ask for recompense for a deed done, your truthfulness in it is demanded. The mere presence of safety suffices the suspicious and doubtful [mureeb]. مَتَىَ طَلَبْتَ عَوَضَاً عَلَىَ عَمَلٍ – طُوَلِبْتَ بِوُجُوْدِ الْصِّدْقِ فِيْهِ، وَيَكْفِيْ الْمُرِيبُ – وِجْدَانِ الْسَّلامَةِ

Whenever you ask of your Lord for recompense or reward for a deed done, as is the custom of merchants, your truthfulness in it, or your sincerity by not observing othernesses and observing only Him while performing it, is demanded. Reward is only for complete deeds, and none is complete if you regard and target your fortune and not The Face of The Lord where you become like a bad laborer who does not work unless paid his wage. The suspicious and doubtful [mureeb] who is skeptic that The Lord will reward him, even if reward is not the aim of the deed, is sufficed if he finds safety, or enough for him that God did not punish him for his evil insincerity and doubt.
أي متى طلبت أيها المريد من مولاك عوضا أي ثوابا على عمل عملته كما هو شأن التجار طولبت منه بوجود الصدق أي الإخلاص فيه من شهود الأغيار فإن الجزاء إنما يكون على كامل ولا كمال عندك إذ ذاك فإنك إنما عملت لحظ نفسك لا لوجه مولاك فصرت كأجير السوء أن لم يأخذ الأجرة لم يعمل ويكفي المريب أي المرتاب في كون مولاه يعطيه الأجر وإن لم يقصده بعمله وجدان السلامة من العقاب أي يكفيه أن الله لم يعاقبه على هذا القصد القبيح. وقد كرر المصنف هذا المعنى اهتماما بشأنه فقال
122 Don't ask for reward for a deed that was not done by you. Suffices you of reward that He accepts it. لَاتَطْلُبْ عِوَضا عَلَىَ عَمَلٍ لَسْتَ لَهُ فَاعِلْا. يَكْفِيِ مِنْ الْجَزَاءِ لَكَ عَلَىَ الْعَمَلِ أَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَابِلَاً

Don't ask your Lord for reward for a deed that you did not actually perform, for it is He who allowed you doing it and says in His ever guarded book: "And Allah has created you and all what you do [37:96]". And since it is The Lord who is the actual 'doer' of the deed, and He only made it appear as if you did it out of His beneficence, then how do you ask for reward for something not done by you? Suffices you of reward for a deed that is yours figuratively that He accepts it, and that He does not hold you accountable for your lack of truthfulness and your relating it to your self.
أي لا تطلب أيها المريد جزاء على عمل لست له فاعلا في الحقيقة فإن الله يقول في كتابه المكنون: {وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ  (الصافات - ٩٦)}. وإذا كان مولاك هو الفاعل في الحقيقة وجعلك محلا لظهور فعله تفضلا منه فكيف تطلب جزاء على غير فعلك. يكفي من الجزاء لك على العمل الذي هو لك بطريق المجاز أن كان بفتح الهمزة أي كونه له قابلا ولم يؤاخذك بعدم الصدق فيه من حيث إنه من كسبك
123 If He wants to show His Graces upon you, He creates and relates to you. إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُظْهِرَ فَضْلَهُ عَلَيْكَ – خَلَقَ وَنَسَبَ إِلَيْكَ

If The Lord Almighty wants to show His graces and bounties upon you He creates good deeds in you and relates them to you, so that you appear to people as pious and obedient, which generates praise for you. So you have to admit and observe this great favor, and be ashamed in front of your Lord The Generous. You have to adopt proper manners [adab] as demonstrated by Sahl Ibn Abdullah, may The Lord be pleased with him: 'If the slave [abd] does a deed and says: O Lord, You employed with Your Generosity, and You aided, and You facilitated, The Lord Almighty will thank him and tell him: O My slave, but you obeyed, and you approached. If, on the other hand, the slave says: I did, I obeyed, I approached, The Lord will turn away from him and say: O slave, I aided and I helped and I facilitated. If the slave [abd] sins and says: O Lord, You destined and You decreed and You mandated, The Lord will be angered and say: O slave, but you offended, and you disobeyed. If, however, the slave says: O Lord, I transgressed, and I offended, and I disobeyed, The Lord will approach him and say: O slave [abd], I destined and I mandated, and I have forgiven, and forborne, and concealed.
أي إذا أراد الله سبحانه أن يظهر فضله وإحسانه عليك أيها المريد خلق العمل الصالح فيك ونسبه إليك على ألسنة العبيد بأن يطلق ألسنتهم بأنك مطيع. فينبغي لك أن تشهد هذا الفضل العظيم وتستحي من مولاك الكريم لتتأدب بقول سهل بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه: إذا عمل العبد حسنة وقال: يا رب أنت بفضلك استعملت وأنت أعنت وأنت سهلت. شكر الله تعالى له ذلك وقالله : يا عبدي بل أنت أطعت وأنت تقربت وإذا نظر إلى نفسه وقال: أنا عملت وأنا أطعت وأنا تقربت. أعرض الله تعالى عنه وقال: يا عبدي أنا وفقت وأنا أعنت وأنا سهلت. وإذا عمل سيئة وقال: يا رب أنت قدرت وأنت قضيت وأنت حكمت. غضب المولى عليه وقالله : يا عبدي بل أنت أسأت وأنت جهلت وأنت عصيت. وإذا قال: يا رب أنا ظلمت وأنا أسأت وأنا جهلت. أقبل المولى عليه وقال: يا عبدي أنا قضيت وأنا قدرت وقد غفرت وحلمت وسترت
124 There will be no end to your defamation if He refers you to yourself, and there will be no end to your praise if He displays His munificent bounties upon you. لَانِهَايَة لِمَذَامِّكَ إِنْ أَرْجَعَكَ إِلَيْكَ، وَلَا تَفْرُغُ مَدَائِحُكَ إِنْ أَظْهَرَ جُوْدَهُ عَلَيْكَ

You will be slurred and slandered without end if Your Lord refers you to your self, and sets it loose upon you, for the self indeed incites to evil. If this occurs, it is a sign of dismissal and distancing from Him. And you will be praised without end if He displays His munificent bounties upon you, and victors you over your self, till you become among those He chose and selected, had mercy upon, and aided to what He likes and accepts.
أي لا نهاية لما تذم به أيها المريد من القبائح أن أرجعك مولاك إلى نفسك وخلى بينك وبينها فإن النفس أمارة بالسوء وذلك من علامات الطرد والإبعاد. ولا تفرغ أي لا تنتهي مدائحك أي محاسنك التي تمدح بها أن أظهر جوده عليك ونصرك على نفسك فتكون ممن رحمه واجتباه ووفقه لما يحبه ويرضاه
125 Regard the traits of His Divinity and realize the traits of your slavery. كُنْ بِأَوْصَافِ رُبُوْبِيَّتِهِ – مُتَعَلِّقَاً، وَبِأَوْصَافِ عُبُوْدِيَّتِكَ – مُتَحَقِّقَا

Regard and identify the traits of His Divinity: His Richness, His Magnificence, His Greatness, His Might, His Knowledge and the like, by realizing that these traits and descriptions belong only to Him and are not present in anyone else. You realize this by realizing and identifying your traits of slavery: poverty, humility, incapacity, ignorance and the like. If you realize your characteristics and descriptions, and identify what is His, he will supply you from his traits, so you become rich by Him, great by Him, knowledgeable by Him, and so on. The author writes in a later Hikma: Realize your descriptions and He will enforce you from His traits
أي كن أيها المريد متعلقا بأوصاف ربوبيته تعالى من غنى وعز وقوة وعلم ونحوذلك بأن تشاهد أن هذه الأوصاف إنما هي لمولاك فقط وإذا وجدت في غيره فهي عارية منه تعالى ولا تشهد هذا المشهد إلا إذا تحققت بأوصاف عبوديتك من الفقر والذل والعجز والجهل ونحوذلك. فإذا تحققت بما هو لك وتعلقت آمالك بما هو له أمدك بأوصافه فتكون غنيا بالله عزيزا بالله قادرا بالله عالما بالله إلى غير ذلك. كما سيقول المصنف: تحقق بأوصافك يمدك بأوصافه. ثم ذكر ما هو كالدليل لهذه الحكمة بقوله
126 He forbid you claiming what you are not entitled to of what belongs to His creation. Would He then allow you to claim His traits, and He is The Lord of Both Worlds? مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَدَّعِىَ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ – مِمَّا لِلْمَخْلُوْقِيْنَ، أَفَيُبِيحُ لَكَ أَنْ تَدَّعِىَ وَصْفَهُ، وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ!؟

Your Lord forbid you from alleging and claiming what you are not entitled to of the worldly material and riches that belongs to His creation, would He then allow you to claim His Traits and Descriptions when He is The Lord of Both Worlds, Owner of Might and Majesty? If you claim you are rich or dignified or powerful or great or knowledgeable, this would be of the greatest sins of the heart because of what this entails of the slave partnering with The Lord. For the gnostics ([aarefeen]), nothing is or more despicable than the presence of partnering in the slave's heart by alleging and claiming any of the traits of The Lord. And in the Qodsy Hadith (citing The Lord): "Pride is My Robe, and Grandiosity is My Cover and whoever disputes one of them, I shall throw into hellfire." And in the Hadith: 'none is more jealous than The Lord' and Jealousy in His case is that He does not accept sharing with anyone any of His Traits of Divinity, or His rights to religious deeds. The meaning enclosed in this Hikma is the ultimate aim of the sufis, for all they write aims at directing to this noble cause: the death of the self and denouncing totally all its benefits and only then does the slave [abd] become truthful in his slavery and servitude and his sincerity towards Divinity.
أي حرم عليك مولاك أن تدعي شيئا ليس لك مما هو للمخلوقين من الأموال أفيبيح لك أن تدعي وصفه وهو رب العالمين ذو العزة والجلال. فإذا ادعيت أنك غني أو عزيز أو قوي أو عظيم أو عالم كان ذلك من أكبر معاصي القلب لما في ذلك من مشاركة المربوب للرب ولا شيء عند العارفين أقبح من وجوب الشركة في قلب العبد بادعاء شيء من أوصاف رب العالمين. وفي الحديث القدسي: " الكبرياء ردائي والعظمة إزاري فمن نازعني واحدة منهما ألقيته في النار ". وفي الحديث النبوي: " لا أحد أغير من الله تعالى ". ومعنى الغيرة في حقه سبحانه أن لا يرضى بمشاركة غيره له فيما اختص به من صفات الربوبية وفيما هو حق له من الأعمال الدينية. وهذا المعنى الذي ضمنه المؤلف هذه الحكمة هو الغرض الأقصى للسادة الصوفية فإن كل ما صنفوه وسيلة لهذا المقصد الشريف الذي هو موت النفس وإسقاط حظوظها بالكلية وحينئذ يتصف العبد بصدق العبودية والإخلاص للربوبية
127 How would customs and orders of nature be pierced for you, when you have not pierced your own customs? كَيْفَ تُخْرَقُ لَكَ الْعَوَائِدُ، وَأَنْتَ لَمْ تَخْرِقُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ الْعَوَائِد

Do not aspire that customs and orders of nature be pierced for you to allow you wonders and miracles [karamat], when you have not pierced your own customs of bad states and following lusts. The Lord does not pierce the order of nature and customs except for those who have perished beyond their own fortunes and no longer regard or long for them. If you do not reach this state, you do not deserve it. If a wonder or miracle appears with you, be cautious as this might be luring and leading on, so hide its appearance and make it your custom to distance yourself from it.
أي لا تطمع أيها المريد في خرق العوائد لك بأن تظهر على يدك الكرامات وأنت لم تخرق من نفسك العوائد التي اعتدها من سيئ الأحوال والاسترسال مع الشهوات. فإنه قد جرت عادة الله بأن لا تخرق العوائد إلا لمن فني عن حظوظه ولم يكن لها بقاصد. فإن لم تصل إلى هذا المقام لم تكن من أهلها والسلام. فإن ظهر على يدك صورة كرامة فربما كان ذلك استدراجا فخف من ظهورها على يد واتخذ التباعد عن الركون إليها منهاجا
128 The act of requesting is not the issue. More important is that you are granted proper behavior and manners [adab] مَا الْشَّأْنُ وُجُوْدُ الْطَّلَبِ، إِنَّمَا الْشَّأْنُ أَنْ تُرْزَقَ حُسْنُ الْأَدَبِ

The knowers consider that the important issue is not the presence of requesting your needs from your Lord, but what counts is that you be granted proper behavior and manners [adab] with your Creator. You should delegate all your affairs to Him, and accept everything He destined, and occupy yourself with His  [zikr] and rely on Him in all matters. In the Hadith: "whoever is occupied by My [zikr] beyond asking of Me, I shall give him the best I give to those who ask".
أي ليس الشأن المعتبر عند المحققين وجود الطلب لحوائجك من مولاه وإنما الشأن المعتبر أن ترزق حسن الأدب مع من خلقك وسواك بتفويض الأمر إليه والرضا بما قسم والاشتغال بذكره والاعتماد عليه. لما في الحديث: "من شغله ذكري عن مسألتي أعطيته أفضل ما أعطي السائلين"ء
129 Nothing pleads for your requests like your desperation, and nothing speeds bestowals upon you as your humility and destitution. مَا طَلَبَ لَكَ شَيْءٌ مِثْلُ الاضْطِرَارِ، وَلَا أَسْرَعَ بِالْمَوَاهِبِ إِلَيْكَ مِثْلُ الذُّلِّ وَالافْتِقَارِ

Nothing pleads with The Lord Almighty to grant you your requests like your need and desperation, for this is a cause for His granting requests; for He said: "Or He Who answers the desperate one when he calls to Him ,...[27:62]". And this Hikma can be read to mean that the best thing to ask The Lord to give you is neediness so that you see yourself devoid of any help or power, and have nothing other than Him to depend on. You become like a person drowning at sea or lost in the desert who sees no aid except in his Lord and hopes for no savior from his doom save Him. Humility and destitution speed The Lord's bestowals upon the slave [abd], and He referred to this in His saying: "God already gave you victory at Badr, when you were contemptible.. [3:12 3]" for then their humility begot their glory and victory. And as was said: if necks humble and humiliate to approach nearing You, their glory is in their humility. And comprehend his saying, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam: "Saying "there is no help or power save with Allah" is a treasure from the treasures of heaven."
أي ما طلب لك أيها المريد الحوائج من الله تعالى شيء مثل الاضطرار إليه إذ به تقع الإجابة لقوله سبحانه: {أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ ...(النمل - ٦٢)}. فقوله طلب مبني للفاعل الذي هو شيء فيكون شبه الاضطرار بشخص طالب. ويحتمل بناؤه للمفعول وشيء نائب فاعل على معنى أن أحسن مطلوب يطلبه العبد الاضطرار وهو أن لا يتوهم من نفسه حولا ولا قوة ولا يرى لنفسه سببا من الأسباب يعتمد عليه أويستند إليه بل يكون بمنزلة الغريق في البحر أوالتائه في التيه القفر لا يرى لغياثه إلا مولاه ولا يرجولنجاته من هلكته أحدا سواه. والذلة والافتقار أمران موجبان لإسراع مواهب الحق تعالى إلى العبد المتصف بهما وإلى ذلك الإشارة بقوله تعالى: {وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ...  (آل عمران - ١٢٣)}. فذلتهم أوجبت عزتهم ونصرتهم كما قيل في هذا المعنى: وإذا تذللت الرقاب تقربا منها إليك فعزها في ذلها وما ألطف قول بعضهم: حيث أسلمتني إلى الذال واللام .. تلقيتني بعين وزاي وافهم هاهنا قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لاحول ولا قوة إلا بالله كنز من كنوز الجنة"ء
130 If your reaching Him is conditional on the ending of your wrongdoings and the wiping of your allegations, you would never arrive. If He wants to guide you to Him, He will cover your descriptions by His Descriptions, and your livelihood by His Blessings. You reach Him through what He gives you not through what you submit to Him. لَوْ أَنَّكَ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَا بَعْدَ فَنَاءِ مَسَاوِيْكَ، وَمَحْوِ دَعَاوِيَكَ – لَمْ تَصِلْ إِلَيْهِ أَبَداً، وَلَكِنْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُوَصِّلَكَ إِلَيْهِ – غَطِّى وَصْفَكَ بِوَصْفِهِ، وَنِعْمَتَكَ بِنِعْمَتِهِ، فَوَصَّلَكَ إِلَيْهِ: بِمَا مِنْهُ إِلَيْكَ، لَا بِمَا مِنْكَ إِلَيْهِ

If your reaching The Lord Almighty is conditional on the ending your wrongdoings and faults and the wiping of your allegation of referring deeds to your self, you would never arrive. Wrongdoings, faults and allegations are inherent in you, and your hope to achieve reaching Him through your self is one of them. If you contemplate, you will realize that your virtues are all, in fact, faults even if you are the head of the faithful, and your states all allegations even if you are the most truthful. "...And were it not for God's bounty to you and His mercy not one of you would ever have grown pure...[24:21]". That is why Abul Abbas Al-Morsy said: "the [waleyy] will never reach The Lord till he loses the desire and lust of reaching Him, a loss of servitude and proper manners [adab] and not a loss of boredom". He will cover your descriptions by His Descriptions, or display to you of His sublime Traits what your human traits will disappear in, so you become in the status of the loved ones, whom He said about (in the Qudsi Hadith): "...And if I love him, I become his hearing through which he hears, and his eyesight through which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks." And anyone in this status has no will except with his Lord, because he did not reach The Lord except through what was from The Lord. "...That is God's bounty He gives it to whom He will and God is Embracing, Knowing. [5:54]"
أي لو أنك لا تصل إلى الله تعالى أيها المريد إلا بعد فناء مساويك أي عيوبك ومحودعاويك التي تدعيها من نسبة الأعمال إلى نفسك لم تصل إليه أبدا لأن المساوي والدعاوي طبعك ولولم يكن إلا إرادتك تحصيل هذا الغرض بنفسك لكان كافيا فلو تأملت وجدت محاسنك كلها مساوي ولوكنت رأس المخلصين وأحوالك كلها دعاوي ولوكنت أصدق الصادقين. {...وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا... (النور - ٢١)}. ولذا قال أبوالعباس المرسي: لن يصل الولي إلى الله حتى تنقطع عنه شهوة الوصول إلى الله تعالى يعني انقطاع أدب لا انقطاع ملل. وقوله: غطى وصفك بوصفه أي أظهر لك من صفاته السنية ما تغيب به عن صفاتك البشرية فتكون في مقام الحب الذي قال في صاحبه: " فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ويده التي يبطش به ورجله التي يمشي بها ". وصاحب هذا المقام لا تكون له إرادة مع مولاه لأنه ما وصل إلى الله إلا بما من الله. {...ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ  (المائدة - ٥٤)}ء
131 If it were not for His Beautiful Concealment, no deed would have been worthy of acceptance. لَوْ لَا جَمِيْلِ سَتَرِهِ – لَمْ يَكُنْ عَمَلٌ أَهْلَا لِلْقَبُوْلِ

If it were not for His Beautiful Concealment, no deed would have been worthy of acceptance because of the absence of sincerity and faithfulness. The slave [abd] is always afflicted by regarding his self, by being pleased with his deeds and referring them to his self, and by imagining his own help and power had any role in his doing them. This is a form of hidden [shirk] (joining, polytheism) which smears faithfulness. The [mureed] should always count on The Lord's grace and generosity and not on his own effort and work.
أي لولا ستره تعالى الجميل لم يكن عمل من الأعمال أهلا للقبول لفقد شرطه من الإخلاص. فإن العبد مبتلى بنظره إلى نفسه وفرحه بعمله من حيث نسبته إليه وشهوده حوله وقوته عليه وهذا من الشرك الخفي القادح في الإخلاص. فينبغي للمريد أن يعتمد على فضل الله وكرمه لاعلى اجتهاده وعمله
132 You are more in need of His clemency if you obey Him, than if you disobey Him. أَنْتَ إِلَىَ حِلْمِهِ – إِذَا أَطَعْتَهُ – أَحْوَجُ مِنْكَ أْلَى حِلْمِهِ – إِذَا عَصَيْتَهُ

You are more in need of Almighty's clemency when you are obeying Him, than if you are disobeying Him. Your obedience may be associated with regarding your self and sensing greatness in your deed, and this brings baseness and a fall in status with The Lord. Your disobedience, on the other hand, may result in destitution and need and humility, which leads to honor and elevation with Him, [Subhanahu]. This Hikma also warns against thinking that reaching Him is earned through deeds which is utter ignorance, avoided only by those who are complete.
أي أنت أيها العبد إلى حلمه تعالى في حال عملك بطاعته أحوج منك إلى حلمه في حال تلبسك بمعصيته لأن طاعتك ربما تكون مصحوبة بنظرك إلى نفسك واستعظام عملك وذلك يوجب الخسة وسقوط المنزلة عند ربك. وأما معصيتك فقد تكون مصحوبة باضطرار وافتقار مقرونة بذلة واحتقار وذلك يوجب الشرف والرفعة عنده سبحانه. وفي هذا زيادة تحذير من رؤية استحقاق الوصول بالأعمال فإنه جهل مركب لا يسلم منه إلا كمل الرجال
133 Concealment is two types: concealment 'from' sin and concealment 'in' sin. The common ask God for concealment 'in' sin, so as not to be degraded among people. The select ask God for concealment 'from' sin, so as not to be degraded before Him, The King, Al-Haqq. الْسِّتْرُ عَلَىَ قِسْمَيْنِ: سَتْرٌ عَنْ الْمَعْصِيَةِ، وَسَتْرٌ فِيْهَا: فَالْعَامَّةُ يَطْلُبُوْنَ مِنَ الْلَّهِ تَعَالَىْ الْسَّتْرَ فِيْهَا، خَشْيَةَ سُقُوْطِ مَرْتَبَتِهِمْ عِنْدَ الْخَلْقِ، وَالْخَاصَّةُ يَطْلُبُوْنَ مِنَ الْلَّهِ الْسِّتْرَ عَنْهَا، خَشْيَةَ سُقُوْطِهِمْ مِنْ نَظَرِ الْمَلِكِ الْحَقِّ

Common people ask God for concealment 'in' sin, fearing that people will see them during performing it and fear being degraded among people. "They hide themselves from people, but they do not hide themselves from God for He is with them...[4:108]". Ibn Abbas said about Almighty's saying: "He knows the treachery of the eyes and what the breasts hide. [40:19]": this is the state of the hypocrites who underestimate and trivialize The Mighty's sight and are fearful that the people might regard them while in sin. The select ask God for concealment 'from' sin, by veiling them from it so that it does not even cross their hearts, lest they be degraded before Him, The King, The Truth. And Abul Hasan Al-Shadhuli pointed to this in his supplication: O Lord, we ask You for repentance and ask You that it lasts, and seek refuge with You from sin and its reasons, and that You remind us of our fear of You before we think of it, and help us escape it and escape thinking of it and of ways of doing it.
يعني: أن العامة يطلبون الستر في المعصية خوف اطلاع الناس عليهم فهم {يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ ...(النساء - ١٠٨)}. قال ابن عباس في قوله تعالى: {يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ  (غافر - ١٩)}. هو الرجل يكون في القوم فتمر به المرأة فيريهم أنه يغض بصره عنها فإذا رأى من القوم غفلة لحظ إليها. وهذا شأن المرائين الذين يستخفون بنظر الجبار ويهابون الناس أن يطلعوا عليهم فيما يرتكبونه من الأوزار. وأما الخاصة فهم يطلبون من الله الستر عنها بأن يجعل بينهم وبينها حاجبا حتى لا تخطر بقلوبهم خشية سقوطهم من نظر الملك الحق. وإلى هذا المعنى أشار أبوالحسن الشاذلي في دعائه بقوله: اللهم إنا نسألك التوبة ودوامها ونعوذ بك من المعصية وأسبابها وذكرنا بالخوف منك قبل هجوم خطراتها واحملنا على النجاة منها ومن التفكر في طرائقها
134 Whoever honors and dignifies you, dignifies His beautiful concealment of your flaws. So thanks are due to Him who concealed your flaws, not to who dignified and thanked you. مِنْ أَكْرَمَكَ – فَإِنَّمَا أَكْرَمَ فِيْكَ جَمِيْلَ سَتْرِهِ – فَالْحَمْدُ لِمَنْ سَتَرَكَ، لَيْسَ الْحَمْدُ لِمَنْ أَكْرَمَكَ وَشَكَرَكَ

People who honor and dignify you by giving to you or loving you, in fact dignify His beautiful concealment of your flaws. If it were not for His beautiful concealment no one would have looked at you with acceptance. If they regard your flaws and sins they would have seen your filth and dirt, and would have despised and detested you. Don't let their honoring you because they are unaware of your flaws drive you to be thankful to them without thanking The Lord. Thankfulness should only be to Him who concealed your flaws and sins and not to who honored and dignified you. You thank whoever dignified and praised you for what The Lord permitted  through them, because the real giver is The Lord, who said: "Whatever grace you have, it is from God...[16:53]".
أي من أكرمك من العباد بعطاء أومحبة فإنما أكرم فيك جميل ستره تعالى أي ستره الجميل عليك فإنه لولا جميل ستره ما نظروا بعين الرضا إليك بل لونظروا إلى ما فيك من العيوب لاستقذروك ونفروا منك وطرحوك. فلا تبعثك رؤية إكرام الخلق لك لجهلهم بعيبك على حمدهم على ذلك دون حمد ربك فتضع الحمد في غير موضعه فإن الحمد لا ينبغي أن يكون إلا لمن سترك ليس الحمد لمن أكرمك وشكرك. وإنما تحمده من حيث إجراء الخير على يديه فقط لا من حيث إنه المكرم الحقيقي إذ ليس ذلك إلا الله. قال تعالى: {وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّهِ ... (النحل - ٥٣)}ء
135 A true companion is the one who accompanies you knowing your faults and shortcomings, and this in none but your Generous Lord. Your best choice for company is He who accompanies you expecting nothing in return from you. مَا صَحِبَكَ إِلَا مَنْ صَحِبَكَ وَهُوَ بِعَيْبِكَ عَلِيِّمٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ إِلَا مَوْلَاكَ الْكَرِيْمُ، خَيْرُ مِنْ تَصْحَبْ مَنْ يَطْلُبُكَ لَا لِشَيْئٍ يَعُوْدُ مِنْكَ إِلَيْهِ

Your true companion and true friend is The One who accompanies you and grants you from His encompassing benevolence while knowing your faults and shortcomings, and this in none but your Generous Lord. And your best of friends and the best choice for company is He who accompanies you and cares for you expecting nothing in return, and this is no one but Your Clement Lord, so depend on Him. The author here urges avoiding the company of people and sufficing with the company of The Benevolent Creator. And some said:

Take a side away from people, and accept The Lord as friend
and look at people from any angle, you find they are but scorpions

And of the best company is accompanying who directs you to good deeds that bring the slave closer to his Lord.
يعني: ليس الصاحب الحقيقي إلا من صحبك وأقبل عليك بإحسانه العميم مع علمه بعيبك وليس ذلك إلا مولاك الكريم. وخير صاحب لك من يطلبك ويعتني بك لا لشيء يعود منك إليه وليس ذلك إلا مولاك الحليم فاجعل توكلك عليه. ومقصوده الحث على مجانبة الخلائق والرضا بصحبة المحسن الخالق. كما قال بعضهم
خذ عن الناس جانبا وارض بالله صاحبا
قلب الناس كيف شئت تجدهم عقاربا
نعم صحبة من يدل على أمر محمود من حيث كونه يقرب العبد إلى مولاه
136 If the lights of certainty [yaqeen] were to shine on you, you would see the Hereafter closer to you than to travel to it, and you would see the beauties of this world withering and decaying. لَوْ أَشْرَقَ لَكَ نُوَرُ الْيَقِيْنِ – لَرَأَيْتَ الْآَخِرَةَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَرْحَلَ إِلَيْهَا، وَلَرَأَيْتَ مَحَاسِنَ الْدُّنْيَا – قَدْ ظَهَرَتْ كِسْفَةُ الْفَنَاءِ عَلَيْهَا

If the lights of certainty [yaqeen] were to shine on you, you would see the Hereafter present with you all the time, so it becomes close to you than to travel to it. And you see the beauties of this world withering and decaying, because they are delusionary and worthless. This vision of certainty [yaqeen] results in renouncing the world and striving for the Hereafter.
أي لوأشرق لك أيها المريد نور اليقين الذي به تحق الحق وتبطل الباطل لرأيت الآخرة حاضرة لديك لأنها حق فتكون أقرب إليك من أن ترحل إليها. ولرأيت أي أبصرت محاسن الدنيا الحاضرة لديك قد ظهرت كسفة الفناء عليها أي الفناء الشبيه بالكسفة بكسر الكاف وهي القطعة التي تغطي الشيء أوبفتحها أي الكسوف والتغيير لأنها باطلة فيوجب لك هذا النظر اليقيني الزهد في الدنيا والإقبال على الآخرة
137 You are not veiled from The Lord by the presence of an existent beside Him, but what veils you from Him is your illusion of the presence of an existent besides Him. مَا حَجَبَكَ عَنِ الْلَّهِ وُجُوْدُ مَوْجُوْدٍ مَعَهُ، وَلَكِنْ حَجَبَكَ عَنْهُ تَوَهُّمَ مَوْجُوْدٍ مَعَهُ

You are not veiled from The Lord by the presence of an existent from the universes of this world or the afterworld alongside Him, for nothing other than Him truly exists. Abu Madyan said:

Say Allah, and leave existence and all in contains
if you desire to reach completeness
for everything other than Allah, if you establish its truth,
is a totally void, in its detail and its overall
and know that you and all the worlds,
were it not for Him, would have been in attrition and decay
whatever does not exist because of its self,
then its existence without Him is utterly impossible
and those who know their Lord (the gnostics ([aarefeen])) have seen
nothing other than The Exalted, The Supreme in Greatness
and saw the truth of everything else to be perishing,
now, in the past and in the future to come

But what veil you from Him is your illusion of the presence of an existent besides Him. or your illusion that something else other than Him exists. And the illusions are false and untrue, for nothing in fact veils you from The Lord Almighty. Othernesses are present like shadows: and whoever sees them as shadows will not be veiled from The Lord for the shadows of trees in a river do not block the ships from sailing. And if there were a physical veil, it should have been closer to you than The Lord, while nothing is closer than Him. The presence of a veil, is thus, undoubtedly an imaginary illusion.
أي ما حجبك أيها المريد المحجوب عن الله تعالى وجود موجود من الأكوان الدنيوية أو الأخروية معه إذ لا وجود في الحقيقة لما سواه. كما قال بعض العارفين
الله قل وذر الوجود وما حوى
إن كنت مرتادا بلوغ كمال
فالكل دون الله أن حققته
عدم على التفصيل والإجمال
واعلم بأنك والعوالم كلها
لولاه في محووفي اضمحلال
من لا وجود لذاته من ذاته
فوجوده لولاه عين محال
والعارفون بربهم لم يشهدوا
شيئا سوى المتكبر المتعال
ورأوا سواه على الحقيقة هالكا
في الحال والماضي والاستقبال
ولكن حجبك عنه تعالى توهم موجود معه أي توهمك أن ما سواه له وجود. والتوهمات باطلة لا حقيقة لها فلا حاجب لك عن الله تعالى. فإن وجود الآثار كوجود الظلال فمن شهد ظلية الآثار لم يحصل له عائق عن الله. فإن ظلال الأشجار في الأنهار لا تعوق السفن عن التسيار. ولوكان بينك وبين الله حجاب وجودي للزم أن يكون أقرب إليك منه ولا شيء أقرب من الله. فالحجاب حينئذ أمر توهمي بلا اشتباه
138 Had He not appeared in creations, they would not have become visible. Had His Traits been visible, creations would have been insignificant and invisible. لَوْلَا ظُهُوْرُهُ فِيْ الْمُكَوِّنَاتِ – مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا وُجُوْدُ إِبْصَارِ، لُوَظَهَرّتِ صِفَاتُهُ – اضْمَحَلَّتْ مُكَوَّنَاتُهُ

Had He not appeared from behind the veil of creations, or from behind His veiling by His creations, they would not have existed and would not have become visible. Had He appeared visibly in true appearance, everything would have disappeared, as evident by His saying: "...And when his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain He leveled it to the ground and Moses fell down senseless...[7:143]". The author explains by saying: Had His Traits been visible, creations would have been insignificant and invisible, for it is His appearance from behind their veils that made the creations visible.
أي لولا تجليه سبحانه وتعالى من وراء حجاب المكونات أي من وراء حجابه ما وقع عليها إبصار أي ما وجدت فلا يقع عليها إبصار. ولوتجلى التجلي الحقيقي الذي لا خفاء معه لاضمحلت وتلاشت بدليل قوله تعالى: {فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّى رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ موسَى صَعِقًا... (الأعراف - ١٤٣)}. كما وضح ذلك بقوله: لوظهرت صفاته اضمحلت مكوناته لأنه لا ارتباط بين القديم والحادث. فظهوره سبحانه من وراء حجاب المكونات هو الذي أوجب ظهورها
139 He revealed everything because He is The Hidden, and He folded the existence of everything because He is The Manifest. اظْهِرْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ لِأَنَّهُ الْبَاطِنُ، طَوَىَ وُجُوْدَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ؛ لِأَنَّهُ الْظَّاهِرُ

A requisite of His Name: The Hidden, is that nothing else shares the trait of "Hiddenness" with Him, so He made everything else visible, and nothing hidden save Him. And a requisite of His Name: The Manifest, is that nothing else shares the trait of "Manifestness" with Him, so He folded the existence of everything, so nothing exists and becomes manifest in itself, but that all creations are in essence nothingness, as they only exist through His Existence. The Lord Almighty is The ِEver-Present from all aspects, for He is The Manifest by definition, and The Hidden by state and condition.
يعني: أن مقتضى اسمه تعالى الباطن أن لا يشاركه في البطون شيء فلذا أظهر كل شيء أي جعل الأشياء كلها ظاهرة ولا باطن فيها غيره ومقتضى اسمه تعالى الظاهر أن لا يشاركه في الظهور شيء فلذا طوى وجود كل شيء أي لم يجعل لغيره وجودا من ذاته بل المكونات جمعيها في الحقيقة عدم محض لأنه لا وجود لها إلا من وجوده. فالحق تعالى هو الموجود بكل اعتبار لأنه الظاهر من جهة التعريف الباطن من جهة التكييف
140 He allowed you to observe what is "in" the creations, and did not permit you to contemplate "the essence" of creation. "Say: 'Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth!'...[10:101]" unlocked the door to comprehension for you, and He did not say: behold the heavens and earth, so as not to indicate the mere existence and presence of things. أَبَاحَ لَكَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ مَا فِيْ الْمُكَوَّنَاتِ، وَمَا أَذِنَ لَكَ أَنْ تَقِفَ مَعَ ذَوَاتِ الْمُكَوَّنَاتِ: {قُلّ انْظُرُوْا مَاذَا فِيْ الْسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ... (يُوْنُسَ - ١٠١)}، فَتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْأَفْهَامِ، وَلَمْ يَقُلْ: انْظُرُوْا الْسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، لِئَلَايَدُلُّكَ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ الْأَجْرَامِ

The Lord Almighty ordered you to observe what is "in" creations of signs of His ability and magnificence of His formation, so that you find guidance to comprehending His Traits and Names. He did not permit you to contemplate "the essence" of creation, as He did not create things for you to see, but to see their Lord in them, and as was said:

the worlds were not displayed for you except
to regard by an eye that does not see them
so elevate yourself above them an elevation of he who
does see things without regarding their Lord in them.

His saying: "...'Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth!'...[10:101]" and not saying: behold the heavens and earth, unlocked the door to comprehension for you, to contemplate that they do not exist for their own sake, so you regard the universes to reach knowing The Most Compassionate, The Beneficent.
يعني: أمرك الله تعالى أن تنظر ما في المكونات من آثار قدرته وبدائع صنعته لتستدل بذلك على آثار الأسماء والصفات. وما أذن لك أن تقف مع ذوات المكونات فإنه سبحانه ما نصب لك الكائنات لتراها بل لترى فيها مولاها. كما قيل في ذلك
ما أبينت لك العوالم إلا
لتراها بعين من لا يراها
فارق عنها رقي من ليس يرضى
حالة دون أن يرى مولاها
فقوله سبحانه: {..انظُرُواْ مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ...(يونس - ١٠١)} ب “ في الظرفية “ المشعرة بأن الاعتبار بالمظروف دون الظرف فتح لك أيها المريد باب الأفهام فتفهم أنها موجودة لغيرها لا لذاتها فتنظر في الأكوان لتصل إلى معرفة الرحمن
   
     
     
     
     
141 The universes are present and proven only by His Evidence and Proof, and vanish into nothingness by witnessing the Singleness ([Ahadeyya]) of His Self الْأَكْوَانُ ثَابِتَةٌ بِإِثْبَاتِهِ، وَمَمْحُوَّةٌ بِأَحَدِيَّةِ ذَاتِهِ

The universes are themselves pure nothingness, and would have never occurred or come into existence except by His creation and origination, and His appearance in them. Their coming into existence is a transient event, otherwise they are wiped to nothingness by The Singleness ([Ahadeyya]) of His Self. Whoever regards The Singleness ([Ahadeyya]) of His Self will not see the universes existing, but they appear existing for those who regard The Oneness. Singleness ([Ahadeyya]) for the gnostics ([aarefeen]) is The Pure Self, dignified beyond appearing in appearances and universes and Oneness is The Apparent Self that appears in the universes, which then makes the universes existing and apparent, by His manifestation in them. That is why the gnostics ([aarefeen]) say: Singleness ([Ahadeyya]) is a sea without waves, and Oneness is a sea with waves. The Lord for them is like the sea, and the universes like the waves moved by the sea: in themselves they are not the sea, nor are they anything else, as they are nothing. This is the unification of the gnostics ([aarefeen]). The author repeated the same meaning several times in these Hikam, as did several others elsewhere, so as to show you what is true and the falsehood of what is false.
يعني: أن الأكوان من حيث ذاتها عدم محض ولم تكن ثابتة إلا بإثباته تعالى وإيجاده لها وظهوره فيها. فالثبوت لها أمر عرضي وإلا فهي في الحقيقة ممحوة بأحدية ذاته. فمن نظر إلى أحدية ذاته لم يجد للأكوان ثبوتا وإنما لها ثبوت عند من نظر إلى الواحدية لأن الأحدية عند العارفين هي الذات البحت أي الخالصة عن الظهور في المظاهر وهي الأكوان والواحدية هي الذات الظاهرة في الأكوان فيكون للأكوان حينئذ ثبوت باعتبار ظهور الحق فيها. ولذا يقولون: الأحدية بحر بلا موج والوحدانية بحر مع موج فإن الحق سبحانه عندهم كالبحر والأكوان كالأمواج التي يحركها ذلك البحر فهي ليست عينه ولا غيره. هذا هو توحيد العارفين. وقد كرر المصنف الكلام عليه في هذا الكتاب وأبرزه في عبارات مختلفة محاولة على أن يحق عندك الحق ويبطل الباطل وقد أفرده بعضهم بالتأليف وتكلم على وحدة الوجود بما لا مزيد عليه
142 People praise you for what they think you are, so you criticize yourself for what you know of it. الْنَّاسُ يَمْدَحُونَكَ؛ لِمَا يَظُنُّوْنَهُ فِيْكَ، فَكُنْ أَنْتَ ذَاماً لِنَفْسِكَ؛ لِمَا تَعْلَمَهُ مِنْهَا

People only praise you because of what they think you possess of good traits, so you should criticize and slight yourself for what you know of its flaws and many atrocities, and don't be flattered by praise from those who praise you, for this is the lethal poison. Whoever is pleased by praise will become arrogant and conceited, and begets his self all sorts of evil. If someone praises you, you should say:

O Lord, please make me better than they think I am,
and do not punish me for what they say,
and forgive me what they don't know.
يعني أن الناس إنما يمدحونك أيها المريد لما يظنونه فيك من الأوصاف الحميدة فكن أنت ذاما لنفسك لما تعلمه منها من العيوب والقبائح العديدة ولا تغتر على كل حال من الأحوال بمدح المادح فإنه السم القتال لأن من فرح بمدح نفسه أوقعها في الغرور وساق إليها ما لا يطاق من أنواع الشرور. بل قل إذا مدحك المادحون
اللهم اجعلنا خيرا مما يظنون
ولا تؤاخذنا بما يقولون
واغفر لنا ما لا يعلمون
143 If a believer is praised, he would be ashamed and embarrassed that The Lord sees him praised for what is not in him and is not deserved. الْمُؤْمِنُ إِذَا مُدِحَ – اسْتَحْيَا مِنْ الْلَّهِ أَنْ يُثْنَىَ عَلَيْهِ بِوَصْفٍ لَا يَشْهَدُهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ

When a true believer is praised for what is not in him, he should count this as a blessing from The Lord, and should be ashamed and embarrassed that The Lord sees the people praising him for a good trait that is not in him and is not deserved. He should loathe and despise his self, and increase thanking his Lord for showing virtues that are not present in him. This way he will benefit from thanking Him and be safe from finding solace in praise from the slaves.
أي: المؤمن الحقيقي إذا مدحه الناس بوصف ليس فيه عد ذلك من إحسان الله عليه واستحيا منه تعالى أن يثني الناس عليه بوصف محمود لا يشهده من نفسه فيرجع على نفسه بالمقت والاستحقار ويكثر الشكر لربه الذي أظهر له محاسن عند الناس لم يكن له عليها اشتهار فينال بذلك الشكر المزيد مع سلامته من السكون إلى ثناء العبيد
144 He is most ignorant who abandons what he certainly knows of himself, for what people suspect he is. أجْهَلُ الْنَّاسِ مَنْ تَرَكَ يَقِيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ؛ لِظَنِّ مَا عِنْدَ الْنَّاسِ

He who abandons what he certainly knows of himself and his self's flaws and ills, in exchange for what other people suspect he is of piety and righteousness, then he is the most ignorant, He preferred suspicion for certainty [yaqeen], and preferred what others think of him over what he knows of his self, and this is clear falsehood. It is said that a wise man was praised by an ordinary man, so he cried. His apprentice asked him why do you cry while he has praised you? He said: he only praised me when some of my character agreed with his character, and for this I cried. So look with the eye of your insight, for of this The Wise The Knower has warned you.
يعني: أن من ترك يقين ما عنده من عيوب نفسه لظن ما عند الناس أي للظن الذي عند الناس من صلاح حاله فهو أكثر الناس جهلا لأنه قدم الظن على اليقين وقدم ما عند غيره على ما يعلمه من نفسه وهذا من الضلال المبين. وقد حكي أن بعض الحكماء مدحه بعض العوام فبكى فقال تلميذه: أتبكي وقد مدحك فقالله : إنه لم يمدحني حتى وافق بعض خلقي خلقه فلذلك بكيت. فانظر بعين بصيرتك فقد نبهك الحكيم العليم
145 If He permits praise for you that is not duly deserved, you praise Him with what He merits. إِذَا أَطْلَقَ الْثَّنَاءَ عَلَيْكَ، وَلَسْتُ بِأَهْلٍ – فَأَثْنِ عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلَهُ

If your Lord sets people's tongues loose by praise for you that is not duly deserved for what you know of your own defects and shortcomings (as a true believer should know), you praise Him with what He merits in thanks for His blessing of bringing about praise for you. He veiled your ugliness and displayed your good. And do not be misled by the praise, lest you perish with the doomed.
أي إذا أطلق مولاك ألسنة الناس بالثناء عليك ولست بأهل للثناء لعلمك بعيوب نفسك وتقصيرها كما هو شأن المؤمن فأثن عليه سبحانه بما هو أهله شكرا لنعمة إطلاق الألسن بالثناء عليك حيث ستر القبيح وأظهر المليح. ولا تغتر بمدح المادحين فتهلك مع الهالكين
146 The ascetics [zahids] when praised will restrict (fold, tighten [qabdd]) because they witness praise from the people, while the gnostics ([aarefeen]) if praised will relax (extend [basstt]) because they witness praise from The Lord, The Truth. الزُّهَّادُ إِذَا مُدِحُوُا – انْقَبَضُوا، لِشُهُوْدِهِمُ الْثَّنَاءَ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ، وَالْعَارِفُوْنَ إِذَا مُدِحُوا – انْبَسَطُوا، لِشُهُوْدِهِمْ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْمَلِكِ الْحَقِّ

The ascetics [zahids] who have not reached Him, when praised by anyone, will restrict (fold, tighten [qabdd] ) because they fear, that by witnessing praise from people, they will be misled by vanity and flattering, which might hinder their way to reaching The Lord. The gnostics ([aarefeen]) who are present in The Presence [Hadra] of their Lord, on the other hand, if praised will relax (extend [basstt] ) because they witness praise as coming from The Lord, Al-Haqq. They do not witness any other save Him or anyone besides Him, and they say: people's tongues are the pens of the truth. And this is why Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: If a believer is praised to his face, belief grows in his heart. That is why if you are insulted by anyone, you should not be offended or harm him, because you should not see the insult coming from him.
يعني: أن الزهاد الذين هم في غيبة عنه تعالى إذا مدحهم المادح انقبضوا خوفا من الاغترار القاطع لهم عن الله لشهودهم الثناء صادرا من الخلق. والعارفون الحاضرون مع ربهم إذا مدحوا انبسطوا لشهودهم ذلك من الملك الحق لأنهم لا يشاهدون معه غيره بل يقولون ألسنة الخلق أقلام الحق وهذا محمل قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " إذا مدح المؤمن في وجهه ربا الإيمان في قلبه ". ولذا كان المصنف يمدح شيخه المرسي فيقع عند المدح موقعا عظيما. وصاحب هذا المقام إذا ذمه أحد لا يجد في نفسه عليه ولا يؤذيه لعدم شهوده الذم صادرا منه
147 When, if given, giving relaxes (extends [basstt] ) and pleases you, and if denied, denying restricts (fold, tighten [qabdd] ) and grieves you, take this as evidence of pretense and of untruthfulness in your slavery and servitude. مَتَىَ كُنْتَ إِذَا أُعْطِيْتَ – بَسَطَكَ الْعَطَاءُ، وَإِذَا مُنِعْتَ – قَبَضَكَ الْمَنْعُ، فَاسْتَدِلَّ بِذَلِكَ عَلَىَ ثُبُوْتِ طُفُوُلِيَّتِكَ، وَعَدَمِ صِدْقِكَ فِيْ عُبُوْدِيَّتِكَ

When you find yourself, if given any of your demands, giving relaxes (extends [basstt] ) and pleases you, and if denied, denying restricts (fold, tighten [qabdd] ) and grieves you, take this as evidence of your pretending to be among the accepted, and claiming the statuses they reached while you are not one of them. Then you become like a parasite who hangs on to the guests and does not deserve entry with them. Take this also as your untruth in slavery and servitude. Relaxation (extending [basstt] ) at bestowal and restriction (folding, tighten [qabdd] ) at denial is a sign of persistence of self want, and attempting to achieve it, which contradicts slavery and servitude for the gnostics ([aarefeen]). Whatever his Lord chooses is agreeable for the gnostic ([aaref]), whether it pleases or displeases him.
أي: متى كنت أيها المريد تجد من نفسك أنك إذا أعطيت شيئا مرادا لك بسطك العطاء وإذا منعت منه قبضك المنع فاستدل بذلك على تطفلك على أهل الله وادعاء ما لهم من المقامات ولست منهم فتكون كالطفيلي الذي يدخل مع الأضياف في ضيافتهم ولا يستحق الدخول معهم واستدل بذلك أيضا على عدم صدقك في عبوديتك. فإن البسط عند العطاء والقبض عند المنع من علامات بقاء الحظ للنفس والعمل على نيله وهو مناقض للعبودية عند العارفين. فإن العارف يستوي عنده كل ما فعله سيده ساءه أم سره
148 If you commit a sin, don't let it cause your despair of achieving righteousness and integrity with The Lord, for this might be the last sin destined for you. إِذَا وَقَعَ مِنْكَ ذَنْبٌ – فَلَا يَكُنْ سَبَبا لِيَأْسِكَ، مِنْ حُصُوْلِ الاسْتِقَامَةِ مَعَ رَبِّكَ؛ فَقَدْ يَكُوْنُ ذَلِكَ آَخِرُ ذَنْبٍ قُدِرَ عَلَيْكَ

If you commit a sin, don't let it cause your despair of achieving righteousness and integrity, and truthfulness in servitude with The Lord. Integrity is not contradictory to committing an occasional sin if ordained by destiny, but what contradicts it is persistence in sin and determination and intention to repeat it. You should hurry and repent it, for this might be the last sin destined for you, to be followed by lasting integrity.
أي إذا وقع منك أيها المريد ذنب على حسب مقامك فلا يكن سببا مقتضيا ليأسك من حصول الاستقامة أي اعتدال الأحوال في العبودية مع ربك لأن الاستقامة لا يناقضها فعل الذنب فلتة إذا جرى القدر بذلك وإنما يناقضها الإصرار عليه والعزم على فعله ثانيا. فالواجب عليك حينئذ أن تبادر بالتوبة منه فإنه قد يكون آخر ذنب قدر عليك فتستديم بعده الاستقامة
149 If you want Him to unlock the door of hope for you, witness what He gives you, and if you want Him to unlock the door of fear, regard what you submit to Him. إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ يَفْتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْرَّجَاءِ – فَاشْهَدْ مَا مِنْهُ إِلَيْكَ، وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ يَفْتَحَ لَكَ بَابَ الْخَوْفِ – فَاشْهَدْ مَّامِنَكَ إِلَيْهِ

If you want The Lord to unlock the door of hope for you so that you ask and request of Him, recall in your heart the graciousness and generosity and extra beneficence He delivers to you which is beyond counting and recording. If you want Him to unlock the door of fear, regard, or recall what you submit to Him of great disobedience and committing sins. If this state overtakes you, your grief will intensify and you will present forth righteousness and good deeds. Hope and fear are states emanating of these states of witnessing, so observe them both to drink from both cups.
أي إذا أردت أيها المريد أن يفتح الله لك باب الرجاء حتى ترجوه فاستحضر بقلبك ما هو واصل منه تعالى إليك من الفضل والكرم ومزيد الإحسان الذي لا يحصيه القلم. وإذا أردت أن يفتح لك باب الخوف فاشهد أي استحضر ما هو واصل منك إليه من عظيم المخالفات وارتكاب السيئات. فإذا غلب عليك هذا الحال. اشتد بك الحزن وبادرت بصالح الأعمال. فالرجاء والخوف حالان ناشئان عن هاتين المشاهدتين فاعمل بهما أيها المريد لتشرب بالكأسين
150 Perhaps He graces you during the darkness of the night of restriction (folding, tightening [qabdd] ) more than you were graced with during the lights of the days of relaxation (extension [basstt] ). "...you know not which of them is nearer in benefit to you,...[4:11]" رُبَّمَا أَفَادَكَ فِيْ لَيْلِ الْقَبْضِ – مَا لَمْ تَسْتَفِدْهُ فِيْ إِشْرَاقِ نَهَارِ الْبَسْطِ {لَاتَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعا (الْنِّسَاءِ - ١١)}ء

Perhaps your Lord graces you with knowledge and secrets during times of restriction (folding, tightening [qabdd] ), which resemble the darkness of the night in its quietness, more than you were graced by during relaxation (extension [basstt] ) which is similar to daylight in its diffusion. Whoever is extended would like to display and diffuse what he knew of knowledge and secrets, and this may result in veiling him from The Lord, unlike who is restricted. And this is why gnostics ([aarefeen]) prefer restriction. What is more befitting is to refer all matter to The Lord, and prefer what your Master chooses and prefers for you, for you do not know which is of nearer benefit, as in the [aya]: "...you know not which of them is nearer in benefit to you,...[4:11]".
أي ربما أفادك مولاك أيها العارف من المعارف والأسرار في حال القبض الشبيه بالليل بجامع السكون في كل ما لم تستفده في إشراق البسط الشبيه بالنهار بجامع الانتشار. فإن صاحب البسط يحب نشر ما عنده من الأسرار والمعارف وربما حصل له الحجب بذلك بخلاف صاحب القبض. ولذا آثره العارف. ولكن الأولى له أن يكل الأمر إلى مولاه ويختار ما يختاره له سيده ويرضاه. فإنه لا يدري أيهما أقرب إليه نفعا كما أشارت إلى ذلك الآية الكريمة التي وردت في الآباء والأبناء جمعًا
151 Lights dawn from the hearts and the secrets. مَطَالِعُ الْأَنْوَارِ – الْقُلُوْبُ وَالْأَسْرَارُ

Spiritual lights, which include the stars of science and information and the moons of knowledge and the suns of unification, emanate from the hearts and secrets of the gnostics ([aarefeen]). They are like the sky where the planets dawn and shine. In fact, these spiritual lights are more shiny than the actual planets. And a gnostic ([aaref]) said: If The Lord guarded the skies with planets and flaming comets so that no one gains a hearing by stealth, then the believing heart merits more to be guarded, because it is the seat for the display of The Truth as The Lord says in the Qodsiyy Hadith: "My earths and skies did not encompass Me, but My believing slave's [abd]'s heart encompassed Me." Contemplate this supreme matter granted to the heart so it deserved this status. Abul Hasan Al-Shadhuli said: if the light of the disobedient believer is displayed, it will illuminate all that is between the earth and the sky, so what do you think of the light of the obedient believer?
يعني: أن مواضع طلوع الأنوار المعنوية وهي نجوم العلم وأقمار المعرفة وشموس التوحيد إنما هي قلوب العارفين وأسرارهم فهي كالسماء التي تشرق فيها الكواكب بل تلك الأنوار المعنوية أشد إشراقا في الحقيقة من الكواكب الحسية. وقد قال بعض العارفين: إذا كان الله تعالى قد حرس السماء بالكواكب والشهب كي لا يسترق السمع منها فقلب المؤمن أولى بذلك أي لأنه عرش تجلي الحق كما يشير إليه قوله سبحانه في الحديث القدسي: "ما وسعني أرضي ولا سمائي وإنما وسعني قلب عبدي المؤمن" فتأمل هذا الأمر الأعلى الذي أعطيه هذا القلب حتى صار لهذه الرتبة أهلا ومن هنا قال أبوالحسن الشاذلي: لوكشف عن نور المؤمن العاصي لطبق ما بين السماء والأرض فما ظنك بنور المؤمن المطيع؟
152 The light that is enclosed in the hearts is supplied by the lights radiating from the coffers of the unseen. نُوَرٌ مُسْتَوْدَعٌ فِيْ الْقُلُوُبِ – مَدَدُهُ مِنَ الْنُّوْرِ الْوَارِدِ مِنْ خَزَائِنِ الْغُيُوْبِ

Lights are two types: a light through which The Lord displays His signs as the sun light, and a light enclosed and deposited in the hearts, which is the light of certainty [yaqeen] which The Lord deposited in the hearts of His gnostic ([aarefeen]) slaves. The supply to increase its brilliance comes from the lights radiating from the coffers of the unseen, which is the light of the Eternal Traits. As the author said earlier (in Hikma 104): He illuminated the appearances by the lights of His signs, and illuminated the souls by the lights of His traits.
يعني أن النور على قسمين: نور يكشف الله به عن آثاره كنور الشمس وسيأتي في الحكمة بعد هذه ونور مستودع في القلوب وهو نور اليقين الذي أودعه الله في قلوب عباده العارفين ومدده الذي يستمد ويتزايد منه ضياء إنما هو من النور الوارد من خزائن الغيوب وهو نور الأوصاف الأزلية. كقوله فيما تقدم: أنار الظواهر بأنوار آثاره وأنار السرائر بأنور أوصافه. وكقوله هنا
153 Through one light He displays His signs and creations to you, and through one light He displays His Traits to you. نُوَرٌ يَكْشِفُ لَكَ بِهِ عَنْ آَثَارِهِ، وَنُوْرٌ يَكْشِفُ لَكَ بِهِ عَنْ أَوْصَافِهِ

The light that the senses perceive, as the light of the sun and the moon, displays His signs, which are the universes, and so you find guidance through the effect to The Effector. The light through which He displays to you His traits is the light deposited in the hearts that comes from the light of certainty [yaqeen] through which He displays His eternal traits of Beauty, Dignity and Majesty, till you see them visibly and do not require evidence, so through Him you see The Effector. What a difference between the two lights. I ask Allah to grant us the light of certainty [yaqeen] by the grace of the master of both universes (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam). A gnostic ([aaref]) said:

This is the sun meeting us with its light
and indeed the sun of certainty [yaqeen] is more luminous
We saw the lights with this one but
with that we saw The Ever-Luminous
فالنور المدرك بالحواس كنور الشمس والقمر يكشف لك به عن آثاره وهي الأكوان فتستدل بالأثر على المؤثر وأما النور الذي يكشف لك به عن أوصافه فهو المستودع في القلوب من نور اليقين الذي يكشف لك به عن أوصافه الأزلية الجمالية والجلالية حتى تراها عيانا ولا تحتاج معه إلى دليل فإنك تشهد به المؤثر. وشتان بين النورين أسأل الله تعالى أن يرزقنا نور اليقين بجاه سيد الكونين. وما ألطف قول بعض العارفين
هذه الشمس قابلتنا بنور
ولشمس اليقين أبهر نورا
فرأينا بهذه النور لكن
بهاتيك قد رأينا المنيرا
154 Perhaps hearts stop at the lights, as the selfs were veiled by the densities and multitudes of otherness [al-aghyar] رُبَّمَا وَقَفَتْ الْقُلُوْبُ مَعَ الْأَنْوَارِ – كَمَا حُجِبَتِ الْنُّفُوْسُ بِكَثَائِفِ الْأَغْيَارِ

Perhaps hearts (which are luminescent by nature) are stopped on the path by the lights, which are the finest of othernesses [al-aghyar] of Lordly knowledge and secrets, so they veil them, as the selfs (which are darknesses by nature) were veiled by multitudes of otherness [al-aghyar] of human habits and lusts. Lights are luminous veils and habits and lusts are dark veils, and The Lord is behind all these.
أي ربما وقفت عن سيرها القلوب وهي نورانية مع الأنوار التي هي لطائف الأغيار من العلوم والأسرار الربانية فتحجب بها كما حجبت النفوس وهي ظلمانية بكثائف الأغيار أي بالأغيار الكثيفة كالشهوات والعادات الإنسانية. فالأنوار حجاب نوراني والعادات والشهوات حجاب ظلماني والحق وراء ذلك كله. كما قال بعض العارفين
تقيدت بالأوهام لما تداخلت
عليك ونور العقل أورثك السجنا
وهمت بأنوار فهمنا أصولها
ومنبعها من أين كان فما همنا
وقد تحجب الأنوار للعبد مثل ما
يبعد من إظلام نفس حوت ضعنا
155 He concealed the lights of the souls by densities and multitudes of appearances, to venerate them beyond being degraded by visibility, and beyond becoming commonplace by fame. سَتَرَ أَنْوَارَ الْسَّرَائِرِ بِكَثَائِفِ الْظَّوَاهِرِ، إِجْلَالَا لَهَا أَنْ تُبْتَذَلَ بِوُجُوْدِ الْإِظْهَارِ، وَأَنْ يُنَادَىْ عَلَيْهَا بِلِسَانِ الاشْتِهَارِ

The Lord concealed his allies' [awliyaa]'s hearts' lights (which is what they were specialized by of knowledge), by densities and multitudes of appearances, which are the states that they pass through, as was stated previously (in Hikma 108): "[Subhanahu] Who concealed the secret of singularity (of His [awleyaa]) by demonstrating the appearance of humanity (in them), and showed His Lordly Might in displaying (their) slavery and servitude. He concealed these lights, though they deserve to be displayed, to venerate them beyond being degraded by visibility, and beyond becoming commonplace by fame. This would have been a sort of trivialization and underestimation for them. And that is why those blessed with these lights are usually reluctant to displaying them except through symbols and reference out of politeness [adab] with their Lord, and out of protection to the preciousness of what He gifted and granted them.
يعني: أن الله سبحانه ستر أنوار قلوب أوليائه وهي ما تحققوا به من العلوم والمعارف بالظواهر الكثيفة أي الأحوال التي يتعاطونها كالصنائع كما تقدم في قوله: سبحان من ستر سر الخصوصية بظهور البشرية. وإنما ستر هذه الأنوار مع أن من حقها الظهور التام لأجل صونها عن أن تبتذل بسبب وجود الإظهار لها أوينادى عليها بلسان الاشتهار فإن في ذلك نوعا من الاستخفاف بها. ولذلك ترى أهلها يبخلون بها إلا بالرمز والإشارة أدبا مع مولاهم وصونا لنفيس ما خولهم وأعطاهم
156 [Subhanahu] Who did not make the evidence to His allies [awliyaa] other that the evidence to Him, and did not allow anyone to reach them other than those He Wants to reach Him. سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَمْ يَجْعَلِ الْدَّلِيلَ عَلَىَ أَوْلِيَائِهِ إِلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ الْدَّلِيلَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَمْ يُوَصِّلْ إِلَيْهِمْ إِلَا مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُوَصِّلَهُ إِلَيْهِ

As He, [Subhanahu], was veiled by universes from minds and visions, He veiled His allies [awliyaa] by the densities and multitudes of appearances of mean deeds to protect them from othernesses. There is no evidence of their knowledge except Lordly care, through which Divinity got to be known. And as some said: I got to know my Lord through my Lord, and if it were not for my Lord, I would not have known my Lord. If The Lord loves you and wants to acquaint you to one of His allies [awliyaa] He will fold from you your humanity and let you perceive his singularity. He did not allow reaching them except to those He wants to reach Him, because they are His loved ones, and He does not want to gather around them except those whose hearts gather around Him.
يعني: أنه سبحانه كما احتجب بالأكوان عن العقول والأبصار ستر أوليائه بكثائف الظواهر من الصنائع الخسيسة صيانة لهم عن الأغيار ولا دليل على معرفتهم إلا العناية الإلهية التي بها عرفت الربوبية. كما قال بعض الأكابر: عرفت ربي بربي ولولا ربي ما عرفت ربي.فإذا أحبك الله وأراد أن يعرفك بولي من أوليائه طوى عنك وجود بشريته وأشهدك وجود خصوصيته. فإنه لم يوصل إليهم إلا من أراد أن يوصله إليه لأنهم أحبابه فلا يحب أن يجمع عليهم إلامن جمع قلبه عليه
157 Perhaps He shows you the unknown of His Kingdom, and conceals from you observing people's secrets. رُبَّمَا أَطْلَعَكَ عَلَىَ غَيْبِ مَلَكُوْتِهِ، وَحَجَبَ عَنْكَ الاسْتِشْرَافَ عَلَىَ أَسْرَارِ الْعِبَادِ

Perhaps your Lord shows you His kingdom that was concealed from you as the heavens and the hell-fire, and the Throne, and the Chair and others, but conceals you from observing and regarding people's secrets and the good and evil in their hearts. This is His mercy towards you, for the reason in the next Hikma:
أي ربما أطلعك مولاك أيها المريد على ملكوته الغائب عنك كالجنة والنار والعرش والكرسي وغير ذلك وحجب عنك الاستشراف أي الاطلاع على أسرار العباد وما في قلوبهم من خير أوشر لطفا منه تعالى بك فإنك ربما اطلعت على معصية فبادرت بمعاقبة صاحبها وعدم رحمته فتقع في الفتنة أي العجب على الناس بعملك فيكون ذلك سببا لجر الوبال أي الهلاك إليك. كما قال المصنف
158 Observing people's secrets without possessing traits of Lordly Mercy, would bring about tribulation, and become a reason for misery and distress. مِنَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَىَ أَسْرَارِ الْعِبَادِ وَلَمْ يَتَخَلَّقْ بِالْرَّحْمَةِ الْإِلَهِيَّةِ – كَانَ اطِّلَاعُهُ فِتْنَةً عَلَيْهِ، وَسَبَبا لِجَرِّ الْوَبَالِ إِلَيْهِ

In the Hadith: The Lord, The Most Merciful, Dignified is He, will have mercy on the merciful. So have mercy on whoever is on earth, and The Lord Who is In The Sky will have mercy on you. وفي الحديث المسلسل بالأولية: " الراحمون يرحمهم الرحمن تبارك وتعالى. ارحموا من في الأرض يرحمكم من في السماء"ء
159 The share of the self in disobedience is apparent and obvious, and its share in obedience is hidden and inapparent, and healing the inapparent is a very difficult task. حَظُّ الْنَفَسِ فِيْ الْمَعْصِيَةِ – ظَاهِرٌ جَلِيٌّ، وَحَظُّهَا فِيْ الْطَّاعَةِ بَاطِنٌ خَفِيٌّ، وَمُدَاوَاةِ مَا خَفِىَ صَعْبٌ عِلَاجُهُ

The self has a share of lust in everything, and  prefers what it finds its fortune in. Its share in disobedience as adultery and alcohol is apparent and obvious, while its share in obedience is hidden and inapparent. Obediences have the outer appearance of being means of going closer to The Lord, while their innate share for the self is what they beget it of popularity and fame by becoming known as being religious and pious. A person cannot perceive this essence except after searching for and uncovering his self's plotting and scheming, which is the gravest hidden inapparent illness. Healing the inapparent is a very difficult task, because it first needs accurate identification, realization and understanding. That is why an insightful accuses his self if he finds it sticking to a certain obedience, and if he finds out it has a hidden share of benefit in it, he quits performing it. Once a gnostic ([aaref]), when his self talked him into going to jihad, and convinced him that this was for the cause of Allah [fi sabeel Allah], asked The Lord: O God, please enlighten me as to its real motive, for I am doubting it. When he searched thoroughly, he found that the real motive was that it wanted to rest from the tiredom of his continuous struggle against its wishes, and his continuous suppression and killing of its lusts, so it wanted to be killed in battle once and for all so it comes to rest. On discovering this he decided against leaving to jihad, and continued his usual striving. يعني: أن النفس من شأنها أن تطلب ما فيه حظ لها غير أن حظها في المعصية كالزنا وشرب الخمر ظاهر جلي وحظها في الطاعة باطن خفي لأن ظاهرها في الطاعة التقرب إلى الله وفي الباطن ليس لها حظ إلا إقبال الناس والاشتهار بالصلاح بينهم ولا يظهر ذلك إلا بعد التفتيش على دسائسها وهذا هو الداء العضال الخفي. ومداواة ما يخفى صعب علاجه لأنه يحتاج إلى دقة إدراك. ولذا كانت أهل البصائر يتهمون نفوسهم إذا مالت إلى عبادة من العبادات فإذا رأوا فيها حظا لها تركوها. كما وقع لبعضهم: أنه حدثته نفسه بالخروج إلى الغزو وأظهرت له أن ذلك لله تعالى. فقال: يا رب نبهني لمقصدها فإني متهم لها. وفتش فإذا هو لأجل أن تستريح من تعب مجاهدته لها فإنه كل يوم يقتلها مرات عديدة بمنعها من شهواتها فأرادت أن تقتل مرة واحدة فتستريح فترك الخروج إلى الغزو واشتغل بما هو فيه
160 Perhaps hypocrisy and pretense [riyaa'] afflict you through where people do not regard you. رُبَمَا دَخَلَ الْرِّيَاءُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَنْظُرُ الْخَلْقُ إِلَيْكَ

As hypocrisy and pretense [riyaa'] might touch a deed done publicly in view of people, which is the evident hypocrisy, it can affect your deed if done in solitude. This becomes the case if your aim from your deed is that people dignify you and attend to your needs and requests, and it makes you angry if you see them neglecting and denying what you see its your deserved and earned right, to the extent that you may hope The Lord's punishment befall them. Whoever sees any of these signs from his self should know that his deed was full of pretense and hypocrisy [riyaa'] even if hidden from everyone else. This is the hidden hypocrisy and pretense [riyaa'], which is more obscure than the sound of ants creeping. Only the gnostics ([aarefeen]) whom The Lord absented their visions and sights from noticing and regarding the people are saved from this with what He deposited in their hearts of lights of certainty [yaqeen]. They expect no benefit and fear no harm from all creation. Their deeds are pure, even if done in front of everyone. A gnostic ([aaref]) said: the rarest thing in this world is sincerity and the harder I strive to purify my heart of hypocrisy and pretense [riyaa'], as if it grows again in a different form. Be alert to this, and may The Lord guide you. يعني: أن الرياء كما يدخل في عملك أيها المريد إذا عملته بحضرة الناس وهو الرياء الجلي يدخل عليك إذا عملته وحدك. وعلامته أن تقصد بعملك توقير الناس لك والمسارعة إلى قضاء حوائجك وأن تغضب على من قصر في حقك الذي تستحقه عند نفسك وربما تتوعده بمعاجلة العقوبة له من الله تعالى. فمن شاهد من نفسه شيئا من هذه العلامات فليعلم أنه مراء بعمله وإن أخفاه على سائر المخلوقات. وهذا هو الرياء الخفي الذي هو أخفى من دبيب النمل ولا يسلم منه إلا العارفون الذين غيب الله نظرهم عن رؤية الخلق بما أودعه في قلوبهم من نور اليقين فلا يرجون من الخلق منفعة ولا يخشون منهم مضرة. فأعمال هؤلاء خالصة وإن كانت بين أظهر الناس قال بعض العارفين: أعز شيء في الدنيا الإخلاص وكم أجتهد في إسقاط الرياء عن قلبي فكأنه ينبت فيه على لون آخر. فتنبه لذلك والله يتولى هداك
   
     
     
     
     
161 Your vanity that people know your singularity is proof of your insincerity in your slavery and servitude. اسْتِشْرَافُكَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ الْخَلْقُ بِخُصُوْصِيَّتِكَ – دَلِيْلٌ عَلَىَ عَدَمِ صِدْقِكَ فِيْ عُبُوْدِيَّتِكَ

Your longing and your inclination that people get to know your state of singularity that The Lord singled you with, is proof of your insincerity in your slavery and servitude. Truth in slavery requires denouncing all othernesses and finding suffice in knowing The Most Gracious, The Forgiver. A gnostic ([aaref]) said: whoever likes people to see his deeds is a hypocrite, and whoever likes people to see his state is a liar. The slave [abd] should hide his state and exert his utmost effort to conceal it. For the [mureeds] , the initiation on the right track of the path requires escaping all creation, and singly regarding The King, Al-Haqq, and hiding deeds, and concealing statuses, to achieve safety for their hearts and faithfulness in their love for their Lord. If certainty and certitude [yaqeen] takes them over, and they become supported and rooted and verified by the truth, and get referred back to the presence, it may be appropriate to display deeds and good states so that others be guided with their guidance and follow their lead. The author then explains truthfulness in slavery by writing: أي تطلعك أيها المريد وميلك إلى أن يعلم الخلق بخصوصيتك التي خصك الله بها من الأعمال الصالحة ونحوها دليل على عدم صدقك في عبوديتك لأن صدق العبودية طرح الأغيار اكتفاء بعلم العزيز الغفار قال بعض العارفين: من أحب أن يطلع الناس على عمله فهو مراء ومن أحب أن يطلع الناس على حاله فهو كذاب. فعلى العبد إخفاء حاله جهده وأن يبلغ في كتمانه أقصى ما عنده. وهذه بالنسبة للمريدين فإن مبنى أمرهم في بدايتهم على الفرار من الخلق والانفراد بشهود الملك الحق وإخفاء الأعمال وكتمان الأحوال تحقيقا لسلامة قلوبهم وحبا في إخلاصهم لمعبودهم. وأما إذا تمكن اليقين وأيدوا بالرسوخ والتمكين وتحققوا بحقيقة الفناء وردوا إلى وجود البقاء فلا بأس بإظهار الأعمال ومحاسن الأحوال للاهتداء بهديهم والاقتداء بفعلهم ثم بين الصدق مع الله في العبودية بقوله
162 Dismiss and downplay people's regarding you by being certain that The Lord regards you, and absent yourself form their approaching you by witnessing that He approaches you. غَيِّبْ نَظَرَ الْخَلْقِ إِلَيْكَ بِنَظَرِ الْلَّهُ إِلَيْكَ، وَغِبْ عَنْ إِقْبَالِهِمْ عَلَيْكَ بِشُهُوْدِ إِقْبَالِهِ عَلَيْكَ

If you wish to be truthful in your slavery and servitude, then dismiss and downplay people's regarding you, till you no longer feel that they see you, and suffice yourself by being certain that The Lord regards you and approaches you. This way you dismiss the lower state by the more sublime state. People's viewing is falsehood and illusionary, and The Lord's viewing and approaching is the ultimate aim of every sane person. People cannot benefit or harm or lower or elevate. If you become misled by their approaching you and their commending you before your completion, this will bring about in you hypocrisy and flattery to them. يعني: إذا أردت أن تكون أيها المريد صادقا في العبودية فغيب نظر الخلق إليك بأن لا يكون لك شعور بنظرهم إليك اكتفاء منك بنظر الله إليك وإقباله عليك فتغيب أدنى الحالين بأعلاهما. فإن نظر الخلق أمر وهمي باطل ونظر الله وإقباله بغية كل عاقل حيث إنهم لا يملكون ضرا ولا نفعا ولا خفضا ولا رفعا وأما إذا اغتررت بإقبالهم عليك قبل كمالك فإنه يوجب لك التصنع لهم ومداهنتهم ومعاشرتهم بالنفاق ونحوه ذلك
163 He who knows Al-Haqq, sees Him in everything, and he who perishes in Him will be masked from everything, and he who loves Him prefers nothing to Him. مَنْ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ – شَهِدَهُ فِيْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَمَنْ فَنِىَ بِهِ، غَابَ عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُ لَمْ يُؤَثِّرْ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئ

He who is verified in the status of knowing Him The Almighty, will see Him in everything. When the gnostic ([aaref]) is in the status of being, he sees the creations and Al-Haqq, and sees The Truth apparent in everything, while he is mindful of his presence and his self and senses. This is contrary to who has perished in Him, or who has been verified in the status of perishing, where he sees nothing in existence save The Lord Almighty, and is absent from and unaware of everything else even his own presence and self and senses. He depends on nothing and relies on nothing of the othernesses. Whoever loves The Lord will prefer nothing to Him, not his own likes and lusts, and certainly not other people. The truth of loving is that the heart is overtaken completely by the beauty of The Loved One so it has no space left for any else in any state. These are signs of these states. And anyone who claims any of these states has to fulfill these conditions.
أي من تحقق في مقام المعرفة بالله تعالى شهده في كل شيء لأن العارف إذا كان في مقام البقاء يرى الخلق والحق ويرى الحق ظاهرا في كل الأشياء وقائما بها مع عدم غيبته عن نفسه وحسه. بخلاف من فني به أي من تحقق في مقام الفناء فإنه لا يرى في الوجود ظاهرا إلا الله تعالى ويغيب عن كل شيء سواه حتى عن نفسه وحسه فلا يكون منه على الأشياء اعتماد ولا له إليها استناد ومن أحبه تعالى لم يؤثر أي لم يقدم عليه سبحانه في المحبة شيئا من مراداته وشهواته فضلا عن غيرهما من الخلق لأن حقيقة المحبة أخذ جمال المحبوب بحبة القلب حتى لا يدعه لغيره في حال من الأحوال. فهذه الأمور علامات هذه المقامات. فلا تقبل ممن يدعيها إلا بهذه الشهادات
164 What veiled Al-Haqq from you is His extreme proximity to you. إِنَّمَا حُجِبَ الْحَقَّ عَنْكَ – لَشُدِةِ قُرْبِهِ مِنْكَ

As Al-Haqq is closer to the slave [abd] than his jugular vein, the extreme proximity becomes a veil, for as the veil may be due to extreme distancing, it can be due to extreme closeness. The hand if comes very close to the eye and touches it will not be seen. The Lord is not seen by us due to His encompassing us and His extreme proximity and closeness to us a spiritual closeness. The author then writes evidence to this: يعني: أنه لما كان الحق أقرب إلى العبد من حبل الوريد كانت شدة القرب حجابا لأن الحجاب كما يكون بشدة البعد يكون بشدة القرب. فإن اليد إذا قربت من البصر والتصقت به لم يرها. وكذلك الرب لم نره لإحاطته بنا إحاطة تامة وقربه منا قربا معنويا ثم أكد ذلك بقوله
165 He veiled Himself because of His Mighty Appearance, and concealed Himself from sights because of the extreme Brilliance of His Lights. إِنَّمَااحْتَجَبَ لِشِدَّةِ ظُهُوْرِهِ، وَخَفِىَ عَنِ الْأَبْصَارِ لِعِظَمِ نُوْرِهِ

His Extreme Mighty Appearance through His signs is the essence of His invisibility to people in His Self, as the sun, was veiled from vision by its light. He is The Hidden [Al-Batin] The Manifest [Al-Zahir] as He is The First The Last and the veil is actually from the people, for a feeble sight is unable to stand the flood of light. The Manifest by Himself will not be veiled by His Self. And it was said:

Indeed You have Appeared and are not hidden from anyone,
except from a blind who cannot see the moon
but You have Hidden and was veiled with what You Have Manifested,
and how is He known who is Known by His Glory.
يعني: أن شدة ظهوره بآياته عين خفائه عن الأنام بذاته. كالشمس حجبت بالأنوار عن أن تدركها الأبصار. فهو الباطن الظاهر كما أنه الأول الآخر والحجاب في الحقيقة إنما هو من الخلق كضعف البصر عن مقاومة فيضان النور. فإن الظاهر لذاته لا يحجب من ذاته وأنشدوا في هذا المعنى
لقد ظهرت فلا تخفى على أحد
إلا على أكمة لا يدرك القمرا
لكن بطنت بما أظهرت محتجبا
وكيف يعرف من بالعزة اشتهرا
166 Don't expect your request to be a cause for His giving, which shows your limited knowledge of Him. Let your request be a show of your slavery and servitude, and a performance of the dues of His Divinity. لَا يَكُنْ طَلَبُكَ سَبَبَا إِلَىَ الْعَطَاءِ مِنْهُ، فَيَقِلُّ فَهْمُكَ عَنْهُ، وَلْيَكُنْ طَلَبُكَ لَإِظْهَارِ الْعُبُوْدِيَّةِ وَقِيَاماً بِحَقِّ الرُّبُوْبِيَّةِ

Don't intend your request from Him to be a reason or be a cause for bringing along His giving to you, which would mean a limitation in your knowledge of Him. He did not make the purpose behind requesting and asking the bringing along of His bestowals, but the purpose and wisdom in asking and pleading is to demonstrate slavery and servitude, or to show that you are a poor destitute slave [abd] who cannot part or dispense with his Lord even if He gives you all your requests, and to perform the dues of Divinity by submission and humility. Al-Shadhuli said: let not your concern during prayer and requesting be achieving and fulfilling your need, else you be veiled, and let your concern be confiding [munajah] with your Lord. The author then gave three reasons why requests are not cause for giving, each in a following Hikma: أي لا تقصد بطلبك من الله أن يكون تسببا أي سببا موصلا إلى العطاء منه تعالى فيقل فهمك عنه سبحانه. فإنه ما جعل الحكمة في الطلب ذلك وإنما الحكمة إظهار العبودية أي إظهار كونك عبدا فقيرا لا غنى لك عن سيدك وإن أعطاك كل مطلب. والقيام بحقوق الربوبية من التذلل والخضوع. ولذا قال الشاذلي: لا يكن همك في دعائك الظفر بقضاء حاجتك فتكون محجوبا وليكن همك مناجاة مولاك. ثم علل كون الطلب لا يكون سببا للعطاء بثلاث علل ينبغي عد كل واحدة حكمة في نفسها. فقال
167 How can your subsequent request be a reason for His preceding giving? كَيْفَ يَكُوْنُ طَلَبُكَ اللَّاحِقُ – سَبَباً فِيْ عَطَائِهِ الْسَّابِقِ!؟

How can your current request be a reason for His giving since eternity? The Will and Destiny since eternity cannot be caused by a present request coming at a later time, for the cause has to be antecedent to the effect. أي كيف يكون طلبك فيما لا يزال سببا في عطائه في الأزل ؟ فإن تعلق الإرادة في الأزل تعلقا تنجيزيا قديما لا يكون الطلب سببا فيه لتأخره عنه والسبب لا بد من تقدمه على المسبب
168 Exalted is a resolution since eternity beyond being related to reasons. جَلَّ حُكْمُ الْأَزَلِ – أَنْ يَنْضَافَ إِلَىَ الْعِلَلِ

Exalted is The Lord's resolution and destiny that was set since eternity which fulfills and answer a person's prayer [duaa] and request to be related to or explained by a reason or cause as a request. Indeed He has the utmost absolute Will and complete Determination. A giving conditional on request comes in reality because the Will and Destiny since eternity destined that you will request and pray in the present, and was not subsequent to and did not follow the present request. أي جل حكم الله بحصول ما طلبه الداعي في الأزل أن ينضاف أي ينسب إلى العلل كالطلب. لأنه له الإرادة المطلقة والمشيئة النافذة وأما العطاء المعلق على الطلب فالسبب في الحقيقة هو تعلق الإرادة في الأزل بأنك تدعوه فيما لا يزال لا نفس الطلب المتأخر
169 His caring for you is not because of what you provide. Where were you when you were faced with His Care and Kindness? Since His Eternity, faithfulness in deeds had not existed, neither had statuses been present, and even then, there was nothing except His Graces and Generosity. عِنَايَتُهُ فِيْكَ لَا لِشَيْءٍ مِنْكَ، وَأَيْنَ كُنْتَ حِيْنَ وَاجَهَتْكَ عِنَايَتُهُ، وَقَابَلَتْكَ رِعَايَتُهُ!؟ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيْ أَزَلِهَ إِخْلاصُ أَعْمَالٍ، وَلَا وُجُوْدُ أَحْوَالٍ، بَلْ لَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ إِلَا مَحْضِ الْإِفْضَالِ، وَعَظِيْمِ الْنَّوَالِ

His caring for you since eternity, which is His Destining since eternity to grant you what you ask for, was not in response to something you did that earned you this caring. You had not even existed when you were faced with His Caring and Kindness by Destining since eternity all the good that befall you. Since His Eternity, faithfulness in deeds had not existed, neither had statuses of the heart been present. Then, there was nothing except great Graces and Generosity from The Graceful Generous Bestower. Prayer [duaa] is not an effective cause to bring forth what is requested, but the issue is the antecedent resolve and destiny of The Knower of All Unknowns. Al-Wasty said: Shares that were divided and resolutions that were passed, how would they have been brought about with motions or attained by striving? يعني: أن عنايته سبحانه بك في الأزل بمعنى تعلق إرادته في الأزل بإعطائك ما تطلبه كانت لا لشيء حصل منك يقتضي حصوله تلك العناية كالدعاء لأنك لم تكن حين واجهتك عنايته وقابلتك رعايته. ولم يكن في أزله إخلاص أعمال بدنية ولا وجود أحوال قلبية. بل لم يكن هناك إلا محض أي خالص الإفضال وعظيم النوال أي العطاء العظيم من المحسن المفضال. فليس الدعاء سببا مؤثرا في المطلوب وإنما العبرة بما سبقت به إرادة علام الغيوب ولذا قال الواسطي: أقسام قسمت وأحكام أجريت كيف تستجلب بحركات أوتنال بسعايات؟
170 He knew that worshipers long to the appearance of the secret of Caring, so He said: "He singles out for His mercy whom He will...[3:74]", and He knew that if He left them at that, they will abandon performing deeds because of dependence on what was destined since eternity, so He said: "...surely the mercy of God is near to the virtuous. [7:56]" عَلِمَ أَنْ الْعِبَادَ يَتَشَوَّفُونَ إِلَىَ ظُهُوْرِ سِرِّ الْعِنَايَةِ، فَقَالَ: {يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ... (البقرة - ١٠٥)} وَعَلِمَ أَنَّهُ لَوْ خَلَّاهُمْ وَذَلِكَ – لَتَرَكُوا الْعَمَلَ اعْتِمَادا عَلَىَ الْأَزَلِ، فَقَالَ: {.. إِنَّ رَحْمَةَ الْلَّهِ قَرِيْبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ (الْأَعْرَافِ - ٥٦)}ء

He knew that worshipers long to the appearance of the secret of Caring, which brings mercy and sainthood [wilaya], so they ask for it through prayer [duaa] and good deeds thinking this will have an effect in bringing it about. He said: "He singles out for His mercy whom He will...[3:74]", to stop them and put an end to their greed, as He said: "...God knows best where to place His Message...[6:124]", so the slaves [ebad] have no say in this. He knew that if He left them at that, or that their realizing that it is specialized for a select few and not for everyone, they will abandon performing deeds, which is what is the requirement of slavery and servitude, because they would depend on what was destined since eternity, so He said: "...surely the mercy of God is near to the virtuous. [7:56]" He made good deeds a sign of Lordly care since eternity, although they are not reasons the bring them about. So you do what The Lord set you up into, and if you are unaware, pay attention. أي علم سبحانه أن العباد يتشوفون بالفاء أي يتطلعون إلى ظهور سر العناية التي مقتضاها الرحمة والولاية فيطلبون ذلك بالدعاء والأعمال الصالحة ويعتقدون تأثير ذلك فيه. فقال: {يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاء... (البقرة - ٧٤)} زجرا لهم وقطعا لطماعيتهم على حد قوله تعالى: {... اللّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ... (الأنعام - ١٢٤)} فلا علة لذلك من العباد. وعلم سبحانه أن لوخلاهم أي لوتركهم وذلك أي وملاحظتهم أنها خاصة ببعض الناس وليست عامة لتركوا العمل الذي هو مقتضى العبودية اعتمادا منهم على السابق في الأزل فقال:{...إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ  (الأعراف - ٥٦)}. فجعل الإحسان بالأعمال الصالحة علامة على العناية الأزلية وإن لم يكن علة موجبة لها عند تحقيق القضية. فقم بما أدبك الله به وإن كنت في رقدة فانتبه
171 On The Will, everything is based, and It is based on nothing إِلَىَ الْمَشِيْئَةِ – يَسْتَنِدُ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ – وَلاتَسْتَنِدُ هِيَ إِلَىَ شَيْءٍ

The proper manners [adab] of unification necessitate that the person believes that everything is based to The Will. Nothing is or becomes except through The Lord Almighty's Will and Decree since eternity, and they do not depend on anything existing. It is impossible for what is perfect and complete to have an imperfection or a defect. If the [mureed] realizes this, he will hold fast to the resolutions of eternity and reject reasons and causes, and will abide by slavery and poverty and abandon planning and choice. يعني: أن أدب التوحيد أن يعتقد الإنسان أن كل شيء يستند إلى المشيئة فلا يكون شيء إلا بمشيئة الله تعالى وإرادته أزلا. وليست تستند هي إلى شيء من الموجودات لاستحالة وجود النقص فيما يجب له الكمال فإذا تحقق المريد بذلك تعلق بأحكام الأزل وطرح الأسباب والعلل ولزم العبودية والافتقار وترك التدبير والاختيار
172 Perhaps proper manners [adab] guides them to abandon requesting, counting on His destiny, and being more occupied with His [zikr] beyond asking Him. رُبَّمَا دَلَّهُمُ الْأَدَبُ عَلَىَ تَرْكِ الْطَّلَبِ اعْتِمَاداً عَلَىَ قِسْمَتِهِ وَاشْتِغَالَاً بِذِكْرِهِ عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِهِ

It might be proper manners [adab] on the part of he who is occupied by [zikr] to abandon requesting and to be content with what was destined to come upon him, because of what is related to The Lord in the Qudsi Hadith: "whoever is occupied by My [zikr] beyond asking of Me, I shall give him the best I give to those who ask". On the other hand, it might be good manners and politeness [adab] to ask and request, for what is in the Hadith: prayer [duaa] is the brain of worship. This, in reality, differs with different people and different states.
أي قد يكون من الأدب ترك السؤال والطلب لمن هو مستغرق في الأذكار راض بما يجري عليه من تصاريف الأقدار لما في الحديث القدسي: " من شغله ذكري عن مسألتي أعطيته أفضل ما أعطي السائلين" كما أنه قد يكون من الأدب السؤال والطلب لما في الحديث النبوي: " الدعاء مخ العبادة " فالتحقيق أن ذلك يختلف باختلاف الأشخاص والأحوال ثم علل ما ذكره من كون الأدب قد يكون في ترك الطلب فقال
173 Reminding is only for he who can possibly forget, and alerting is only for he who can possibly neglect. إِنَّمَا يُذَكَّرُ مَنْ يَجُوْزُ عَلَيْهِ الْإِغْفَالُ، وَإِنَّمَا يُنَبَّهُ مَنْ يُمْكِنُ مِنْهُ الْإِهْمَالُ

Reminding of a request is only for he who can possibly forget and fail to remember, and alerting about what is required is only for he who can possibly neglect. To either forget or neglect is impossible for The Possessor of Dignity and Might. That is why abandoning request is proper manners [adab] for a gnostic ([aaref]). Al-Wasty when asked to pray [duaa] said: I am afraid that if I ask and pray [duaa] I will be told: If you ask from Us what We have in store for you, then you accuse Us, and if you ask from Us what is not yours, then you have wronged Us by not being satisfied and not thanking Us enough, but if you become content, We will furnish you with what We have destined you since eternity. أي إنما يحصل التذكير بالطلب لمن يجوز عليه الإغفال أي السهو وإنما ينبه على المراد منه من يمكن منه الإهمال. وكل من الإغفال والإهمال مستحيل على ذي العزة والجلال فلذا كان ترك الطلب عند بعض العارفين أدبا وقد سئل الواسطي رضي الله عنه أن يدعو فقال: أخشى أن دعوت أن يقال لي: أن سألتنا مالك عندنا فقد اتهمتنا وإن سألتنا ما ليس لك عندنا فقد أسأت الثناء علينا وإن رضيت أجرينا لك من الأمور ما قضينا لك في الدهور
174 The occurrence of calamities are feasts for the [mureeds] . وُرُوْدُ الْفَاقَاتِ – أَعْيَادُ الْمُرِيَّدِينَ

Days of occurrence of calamities, trials and tribulations, are days of feasts, pleasure, and happiness for the [mureeds] . They find happiness in calamities because of what they bring of self humility that bring closer to The Lord as the public find happiness in feast days for what they contain of enjoyments that satisfy the self's lusts and needs. Abul Hussein Al-Noory said:

They said tomorrow is a feast, what will you be wearing
I said the rags of a server who gulped down His love
my dress is poverty and patience and beneath them
is a heart that sees The Lord to be its feasts and Fridays
the dress that deserves best to meet The Loved One in
on visiting days is this dress I wear
forever is a funeral if I cannot find You, my Hope
and my feast is whenever You are in my sight and hearing
يعني:أن أيام موارد الفاقات أي البلايا والمحن هي أعياد المريدين أي الأيام العائدة عليهم بالمسرات والأفراح. فإنهم يفرحون بالفاقات لما فيها من ذل النفس الموصل إلى رب البريات كما تفرح العوام بأيام الأعياد لما فيها من الشهوات التي توصل نفوسهم إلى بلوغ المراد. وما ألطف قول بعض العارفين
قالوا غدا العيد ماذا أنت لابسه
فقلت خلعة ساق حبه جرعا
فقر وصبر هما ثوباي تحتهما
قلب يرى ربه الأعياد والجمعا
أحرى الملابس أن تلقى الحبيب به
يوم التزاور في الثوب الذي خلعا
الدهر لي مأتم أن غبت يا أملي
والعيد ما كنت لي مرأى ومستمعا
175 Perhaps you derive out of increasing calamities what you do not out of fasting and prayers. رُبَّمَا وَجَدْتَ مِنَ الْمَزِيْدِ مِنَ الْفَاقَاتِ – مَا لَا تَجِدْهُ فِيْ الْصَّوْمِ وَالصَّلَاةِ

Perhaps you find clarity of the heart and purity of the soul in calamities, to an extent you don't find in fasting and prayer. Calamities are always unpleasant and contradictory to the self's preference and lust in all occasions, while fasting and prayer might cause the self to find happiness and reward in performing, whereby they may become flawed.
أي ربما وجدت أيها المريد في الفاقات من مزيد صفاء القلب وطهارة السريرة ما لا تجده في الصوم والصلاة. فإن الفاقات مباينة للهوى والشهوة على كل حال بخلاف الصوم والصلاة فإن حظ النفس قد يعتريهما فيحصل فيهما إخلال
176 Hardships and privation are the carpets of His endowments. الْفَاقَاتُ بُسُطُ الْمَوَاهِبِ

Hardships and privation bring the [mureed] into the barn of sacredness and seat him on the carpets of companionship, so Lordly endowments and gifts of mercy befall him. The author explained this by saying: يعني: أن الفاقات تدخل المريد حظيرة القدس وتجلسه على بساط الأنس فتحصل له المواهب الربانية والنفحات الرحمانية. كما وضح ذلك بقوله
177 So if you want endowments to flow your way, be true in your poverty and need "The voluntary almsgivings are only for the poor...[9:60]". فَإِنْ أَرَدْتَ وُرُوْدَ الْمَوَاهِبِ عَلَيْكَ – صَحِّحِ الْفَقْرَ وَالْفَاقَةَ لَدَيْكَ: {إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاء...  (التوبة - ٦٠)}ء

If you want Lordly endowments from The Almighty to flow your way, be true in your poverty and need by being truthful in verifying them, so that absolutely nothing makes you dispense with Him, for He said: "The voluntary almsgivings are only for the poor...[9:60]". And you say in supplication:

As long as breaths transpire I am in need for You,
even if the coronet or the crown are on my forehead.

And a sign of truthfulness in poverty is taking charity from their real Giver, who is The Lord Almighty, for He has sent them to him. If he accepts them from on this base then he is truthful in his poverty, while if he takes and accepts from intermediaries, then his poverty is only a description, while his intention is base and mean. The author then explains more:
أي أن أردت ورود المواهب الربانية من الله تعالى عليك صحح الفقر والفاقة لديك بأن تتحقق بهما تحققا تاما فلا يكون عندك استغناء بغيره بوجه من الوجوه لقوله تعالى: {إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاء... (التوبة - ٦٠)}. وتقول في تضرعك
إني إليك مدى الأنفاس محتاج
لوكان في مفرقي الإكليل والتاج
ومن صدق الفقير أخذه الصدقة ممن يعطيه على الحقيقة وهو الله تعالى لأنه جعلها له فإن قبلها منه فهو الصادق في فقره لعلو همته وإن قبلها من الوسائط فهو المتوسم بالفقر مع دناءة همته. ثم زاد ذلك وضوحا بقوله
178 Realize your descriptions and He will supply you from His traits. Realize your humility and He will supply you from His Might. Realize your incapacity and He will supply you from His Ability. Realize your weakness and He will supply you from His Power and Utmost Strength. تَحَقَّقْ بِأَوْصَافِكَ – يَمُدُّكَ بِأَوْصَافِهِ، تَحَقَّقْ بِذُلِّكَ يَمُدُّكَ بِعِزِّهِ، تَحَقَّقْ بِعَجْزِكَ يَمُدُّكَ بِقُدْرَتِهِ، تَحَقَّقْ بِضَعْفِك يَمُدُّكَ بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ

Realize the descriptions of your slavery and He will supply you from His Lordly traits. If you sit on a carpet of humility and ask in prayer: O Mighty, who aids the humble save You? And on the carpet of incapacity and say: O Most Able, who aids the incapacitated save You? And on the carpet of weakness and say: O Most Powerful, who aids the weak save You? And on the carpet of need and poverty and say: O Most Wealthy, who aids the poor save You? You will find the reply in the palm of your hand: you become dignified by Him, able by The Lord, powerful by The Lord, rich by The Lord, and so on. He supplies and enforces you from the traits of Divinity once you realize your traits of slavery. أي تحقق أيها المريد بأوصاف عبوديتك يمدك بأوصاف ربوبيته. ثم فصل هذا المجمل بما بعده: فإذا جلست على بساط الذل وقلت: يا عزيز من للذليل سواك وعلى بساط العجز وقلت: يا قادر من للعاجز سواك وعلى بساط الضعف وقلت: يا قوي من للضعيف سواك وعلى بساط الفقر والفاقة وقلت: يا غني من للفقير سواك وجدت الإجابة كأنها طوع يدك فتصير عزيزا بالله قادرا بالله قويا بالله غنيا بالله إلى غير ذلك. فيمدك بأوصاف الربوبية حيث تحققت بأوصاف العبودية
179 Perhaps a person is blessed with wonders and miracles [karamat]) before he is complete in his righteousness and integrity. رُبَّمَا رُزِقَ الْكَرَامَةَ – مَنْ لَمْ تَكْمُلْ لَهُ الاسْتِقَامَة

Do not be impressed by apparent wonders and miracles [karamat]. Indeed the true miracle [karama] is righteousness and integrity. It evolves out of two issues: true belief in The Lord, Dignified is His Majesty, and following what was revealed by His messenger (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam), both outwardly and inwardly. That is why Abu Yazeed said: don't be deceived if a man sets his prayer rug on the water, and sits on the air, till you regard how he is with His orders and prohibitions. He was told that someone passes to Mecca in a single night, he said: the Shaitan passes in an instant from the east to the west. He was told that someone walks on the water, and he said: fish in the water and birds in the sky are more of a wonder than this. وإنما الكرامة الحقيقية هي الاستقامة. ومرجعها إلى أمرين: صحة الإيمان بالله عز وجل واتباع ما جاء به رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم ظاهرا وباطنا. ولذا قال أبويزيد: لوأن رجلا بسط مصلاه على الماء وتربع في الهواء فلا تغتروا به حتى تنظروا كيف تجدونه في الأمر والنهي وقيل له: أن فلانا يمر في ليلة إلى مكة فقال: أن الشيطان يمر في لحظة من المشرق إلى المغرب وقيل له: أن فلانا يمشي على الماء فقال: الحيتان في الماء والطير في الهواء أعجب من ذلك
180 Of the signs that it is Al-Haqq who set you up in something is that He allows you persistence in it, while its results happen and occur مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ إِقَامَةِ الْحَقِّ لَكَ فِيْ الْشَّيْءِ –إِدَامَتَهُ إِيّاكَ فِيْهِ، مَعَ حُصُوْلِ الْنَّتَائِجِ

Of the signs that it is Al-Haqq who set you up in something as in gaining or in dispossession, is that He allows you persistence in it, while its results happen and occur as the occurrence of safety of religion or profit and gain.
يعني: أن من علامة إقامة الله تعالى لك في الشيء كالاكتساب أوالتجريد إقامته أي إدامته إياك فيه مع حصول النتائج أي الثمرات كسلامة الدين ووجود الربح من الكسب
   
     
     
     
     
181 Whoever talks and expresses out of the carpet of his own beneficence is silenced with the occurrence of any wrongdoing, whereas whoever talks and expresses out of the carpet of The Lord's Beneficence towards him will not be silenced by his transgression مِنْ عَبَّرَ مِنْ بِسَاطِ إِحْسَانِهِ أَصْمَتَتْهُ الْإِسَاءَةُ، وَمَنْ عَبَّرَ مِنْ بِسَاطِ إِحْسَانِ الْلَّهِ إِلَيْهِ – لَمْ يَصْمُتْ إِذَا أَسَاءَ

Whoever finds his tongue untied, preaching and relaying the knowledge he begot on the carpet of his own beneficence, will become silenced with the occurrence of any wrongdoing. On committing any sin, he will be shamed and disgraced into speechlessness because of his embarrassment in front of The Lord. This is the manner of the those entrusted with duty [ahl al-takleef] who regard what they present to The Lord. On the other hand, whoever finds his tongue untied, preaching and relaying the knowledge that were delivered to him on the carpet of The Lord's beneficence towards him, will not be silenced by wrongdoing or sin. He is emboldened by his absence from his self, and regards only the Unification of his Lord. This is the manner of those entrusted with knowledge (gnostics ([aarefeen])) who regard what The Lord provides them. يعني: أن من انبسط لسانه بالنصيحة والموعظة والتكلم في علوم القوم وعبر من بساط إحسانه أي من إحسانه للطاعة الشبيه بالبساط أصمتته أي أسكتته الإساءة فينقبض عن ذلك التعبير عند صدور المعصية منه لما يعتريه من الخجل والحياء من ربه وهذه طريقة أهل التكليف الذين ينظرون إلى ما منهم إلى الله. وأما من عبر من بساط إحسان الله إليه فإنه لم يصمت إذا أساء أي لم يسكت عن التعبير إذا صدرت منه معصية لأن غيبته عن نفسه ومشاهدته لوحدانية ربه أوجبت جراءته على ذلك وهذه طريقة أهل التعريف الذين ينظرون إلى ما من الله تعالى إليهم
182 The lights of the wise precede their words. Wherever the light reaches and enlightens, words will reach. تَسْبِقُ أَنْوَارُ الْحُكَمَاءِ أَقْوَالَهُمْ؛ فَحَيْثُ صَارَ الْتَّنْوِيْرُ – وَصَلَ الْتَّعْبِيْرُ

When the gnostics ([aarefeen]) (here referred to as the "wise") who truly "know" The Lord Almighty want to guide people, they will direct their hearts to Him seeking His assistance in guiding people, and in making them accept their guidance. He will answer them to that, whereupon a light shines out of their hearts coming from the light of their souls that precede their words. Wherever light reaches and enlightens the hearts of the listeners, speech and words reach, so they come to benefit from their talk. يعني:أن العارفين بالله تعالى المعبر عنهم بالحكماء إذا أرادوا إرشاد عباد الله توجهوا إلى الله بقلوبهم في هدايتهم واستعدادهم لقبول ما يرد عليهم من أقوالهم فيجيبهم لذلك فيخرج حينئذ من قلوبهم أنوار ناشئة من نور سرائرهم تسبق أقوالهم. فحيث صار أي حصل التنوير في قلوب السامعين وصل التعبير فينتفعون بأقوالهم أتم انتفاع. ثم علل ذلك بقوله
183 Every talk comes out clothed in the fabric of the heart it came out from. كُلَّ كَلَامٍ يَبْرُزُ وَعَلَيْهِ كِسْوَةُ الْقَلْبِ الَّذِيْ مِنْهُ بَرَزَ

The tongue is a translator and mirror to the heart. If the heart purifies of othernesses, and the lights come to shine on it, words will be covered in lights, and will appeal to and benefit listeners and listeners. To the contrary, if the heart is tarnished with sin, its words will bring upon hardening of listeners' hearts. يعني: أن اللسان ترجمان القلب. فإذا تطهر القلب من الأغيار وأشرقت عليه الأنوار اكتسى الكلام نورا وانتفعت به السامعون وازدادوا سرورا. وأما إذا تدنس القلب بالذنوب فإن كلام صاحبه يوجب قسوة القلوب
184 Whoever has been granted permission to express, will have his phrases explained to people's hearing, and to them his expressions will be clarified. مَنْ أُذِنَ لَهُ فِيْ الْتَّعْبِيرِ – فُهِّمَتْ فِيْ مَسَامِعِ الْخَلْقِ عِبَارَتَهُ، وَجُلِّيَتْ إِلَيْهِمْ إِشَارَتَهُ

The gnostics ([aarefeen]) whom The Lord Almighty granted permission to express truth and knowledge, will have his phrases simplified and explained to people's hearing, so they will be comprehensible without need for repetition or reiteration, and his expressions will be clarified without needing increase or augmentation. This is unlike those who have not been permitted to express, as will be stated in what follows:
أي من أذن الله تعالى له من العارفين في التعبير عن الحقائق وهي العلوم الوهبية فهمت في مسامع الخلق عبارته فلم يفتقروا إلى معاودة ولا تكرار. وجليت بضم الجيم وشد اللام أي ظهرت إشارته إليهم فلم يحتاجوا إلى إطناب ولا إكثار. بخلاف غير المأذون له في ذلك كما قال
185 Perhaps truths will appear with their lights dimmed if you are not permitted to demonstrate them. رُبَّمَا بَرَزَتِ الْحَقَائِقُ مَكْسُوْفَةَ الْأَنْوَارِ، إِذَا لَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَكَ فِيْهَا بِالْإِظْهَارِ

Perhaps truths and knowledge will appear with their lights dimmed if you are not permitted to demonstrate them, so listeners will not like them and will not be enlightened by them. Abul Abbas Al-Mursy used to say: the talk of whoever is given permission to talk comes out clothed, shiny and embroidered; and the talk of who has not been permitted comes out with its lights dimmed. Two may talk with the same truth and knowledge, where it may be accepted from one and rebutted for the other. He also used to say: the [waleyy] may be full of knowledge and seeing all the truths, but only when he is gifted with the expression, it is as if The Lord permitted him to talk. أي ربما برزت الحقائق التي هي العلوم الوهبية مكسوفة الأنوار إذا لم يؤذن لك في إظهارها فتمجها الأسماع ولا يحصل بها للسامعين استبصار وقد كان أبوالعباس المرسي يقول: كلام المأذون له يخرج وعليه كسوة وطلاوة وكلام الذي لم يؤذن له يخرج مكسوف الأنوار. حتى أن الرجلين ليتكلمان بالحقيقة الواحدة فتقبل من أحدهما وترد على الآخر وكان يقول: الولي يكون مشحونا بالعلوم والمعارف والحقائق لديه مشهودة حتى إذا أعطي العبارة كان كالإذن من الله له في الكلام
186 Their words are either from an overflowing passion, or aiming at guiding a [mureed] . The first is the state of the 'saliks', and the second is the state of the versed and the accomplished [muhaqqiqeen]. عِبَارَاتُهُمْ إِمَّا لِفَيَضَانِ وَجْدٍ، أَوْ لِقَصْدِ هِدَايَةِ مُرِيْدٍ: فَالأَوَّلُ: حَالُ الْسَّالِكِيْنَ، وَالْثَّانِيْ حَالُ أَرْبَابِ الْمُكْنَةِ وَالْمُحَقِّقِيْنَ

Words to express and relay the knowledge in their hearts come out because of one of two reasons: either from an overflowing passion of what they find in their hearts that comes out involuntarily, which is the state of the guided [salik]s, or aiming at guiding a [mureed] , which is the state of the skilled and the accomplished [muhaqqiqeen], who express to guide to the straight path. If a [salik] expresses because of other than overflowing passion, this would be pretense, and if a versed or an accomplished expresses aiming at other than guiding a [mureed] this would be divulging and exposing a secret he was not permitted to.
أي عباراتهم التي يعبرون بها عن العلوم والمعارف التي يجدونها في باطنهم لا تكون إلا لأحد أمرين: إما لفيضان وجد بضم الواوأي لفيضان ما يجدونه في قلوبهم من ذلك فيخرج قهرا عنهم وهذا حال السالكين المهديين. وإما لقصد هداية مريد وهم أرباب المكنة أي التمكين فيلزمهم ذلك لما فيه من الإرشاد إلى سلوك سبيل الرشاد فإن عبر السالك لا عن غلبة وجد كان في ذلك نوع من الدعوى. وإن عبر المتمكن لغير قصد هداية مريد كان من إفشاء السر الذي لم يؤذن له فيه
187 Expressions are sustenance to the listeners, and you will not have except what you can eat. الْعِبَارَاتُ قُوْتٌ لِعَائِلَةِ الْمُسْتَمِعِيْنَ، وَلَيْسَ لَكَ إِلَا مَا أَنْتَ لَهُ آَكِلٌ

Words they use to express their knowledge are sustenance to the listeners as food is sustenance to bodies. Perception of spiritual sustenance, similar to physical sustenance, differs with differing nature and character. Some foods suit some people and not others due to differences in nature and preference and liking, and similarly spiritual sustenance can suit a person but not the other. You will not have except what you can eat, or only what you understand and comprehend of the words and expressions said, because people differ in ideologies, doctrines and demands. An expression may be heard by a group, and each understands a different meaning. Some may understand a meaning that was not intended by the speaker, and some may even understand what is totally opposite to what the speaker meant. And to this refers His saying: "...each people came to know their drinking-place,... [2:60]". يعني: أن العبارات التي يعبر بها أهل هذه الطائفة عن العلوم والمعارف هي من حيث معناها قوت لأرواح جماعة المستمعين كما أن الأطعمة الحسية قوت لأبدان المحتاجين لها وهذه الأقوات المعنوية كالأقوات الحسية من حيث إنها تختلف باختلاف الطبائع فكما أن بعض الأطعمة قد يصلح لشخص دون آخر للاختلاف في الطبيعة والمزاج فكذلك الأقوات المعنوية منها ما يصلح لواحد دون آخر. وليس لك إلا ما أنت له آكل أي إلا ما فهمته عنهم لاختلاف المذاهب وتباين المطالب. فقد تلقى العبارة على جماعة فيفهم كل واحد منهم ما لا يفهمه الآخر وقد يفهم بعضهم من الكلام معنى لم يقصده المتكلم ويتأثر باطنه بذلك تأثرا عجيبا وربما فهم منه ضد ما قصده المتكلم كما اتفق أن بعضهم سمع قائلا يقول: إذا العشرون من شعبان ولت فواصل شرب ليلك بالنهار...ولا تشرب بأقداح صغار فإن الوقت ضاق عن الصغار. فخرج هائما على وجهه حتى أتى مكة ولم يزل مجاورا بها حتى مات وإلى ذلك الإشارة بقوله تعالى: {...قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ... (البقرة - ٦٠)}ء
188 Perhaps a status is described by who almost got there, and perhaps by who reached it. This will be obscure except to an insightful (who has vision). رُبَّمَا عَبَّرَ عَنِ الْمَقَامِ مَنِ اسْتَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِ، وَرُبَّمَا عَبَّرَ عَنْهُ مَنْ وَصَلَ إِلَيْهِ، وَذَلِكَ مُلْتَبِسٌ إِلَا عَلَىَ صَاحِبِ بَصِيْرَةٍ

As a status of certainty [yaqeen] (as asceticism [zuhd] or piety [waraa3] or dependence [tawakkol]) is described by he who has reached it and was verified in it, it can be described and expressed by who approached and regarded it and almost got there (pretty near or nigh) but did not reach it and was not verified in it. This talk will be obscure and muddled for whoever hears it, except for the insightful: for he sees the inner image of the speaker in his talk, whether of completion or of deficiency. And that is way it is said: speak and you will be known. يعني: أنه كما يعبر عن أي مقام من مقامات اليقين كمقام الزهد ومقام الورع ومقام التوكل من وصل إليه وتحقق فيه يعبر عنه من استشرف أي اطلع عليه وقارب الوصول إليه ولم يتحقق فيه. وذلك التعبير ملتبس على من بسمعه منهما إلا على صاحب بصيرة فإنه يرى في الكلام صورة المتكلم الباطنة من كمال أونقص. ولذا قيل: تكلموا تعرفوا
189 The [salik] should not reveal his revelations ([warid]), for this lessens their effects in His heart, and prevent the presence of truthfulness with His Lord. لَا يَنْبَغِيْ لِلْسَّالِكِ أَنْ يُعَبِّرَ عَنْ وَارِدَاتِهِ؛ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُقِلُّ عَمَلَهَا فِيْ قَلْبِهِ، وَيَمْنَعُهُ وُجُوْدُ الْصِّدْقِ مَعَ رَبِّهِ

The [salik] should not reveal the revelations ([warid]) that are revealed to him of given knowledge and secrets of unification out of his own will. He should safeguard them of everyone except his sheikh. Divulging and exposing them to others will lessen their beneficial effects in his heart, which will prevent his full benefit and profit from them. This will also prevent his truthfulness with The Lord, because his self finds joy and happiness by displaying them, where he becomes overtaken by its fortune. يعني: أنه لا ينبغي للسالك أن يعبر عن الواردات التي ترد عليه من العلوم الوهبية والأسرار التوحيدية اختيارا منه. بل يصونها عن كل أحد إلا عن شيخه. فإن إفشاءها للغير يقل عملها في قلبه من التأثير المحمود فلا يحصل له كمال الانتفاع بها ويمنعه وجود الصدق مع ربه لأن النفس تجد عند التعبير بها لذة وانشراحا فيغلب عليه حظ نفسه
190 Don't hold out your hand to ask from people, unless you see that The Giver is your Majesty. If you do, then take what is in line with knowledge. لَا تَمُدَّنَّ يَدَكَ إِلَىَ الْأَخْذِ مِنَ الْخَلَائِقِ – إِلَا أَنْ تَرَىَ أَنَّ الْمُعْطِىَ فِيْهِمْ مَوْلَاكَ، فَإِذَا كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ – فَخُذْ مَا يُوَافِقُ الْعِلْمِ

Don't hold out your hand to ask from people, except under two conditions: the first is that you see that The Giver is your Majesty, and you see that any giving that reaches you is only through Him, and that people are only reasons and intermediaries, so you do not attach your heart to them, otherwise you become their slave. The second is: to take what is in line with knowledge: outwardly knowledge by not taking except from who is responsible [mukallaf], rational [rasheed] and pious [taqy], and inwardly knowledge by not taking except as much as you need, without noticing or observing your self. أي لا تمدن يدك أيها أيها المريد المتجرد إلى الأخذ من الخلائق إلا بشرطين: أشار إلى الأول بقوله: إلا أن ترى أن المعطي فيهم مولاك فلا ترى العطاء الذي يصل إليك إلا منه وأن الخلق أسباب ووسائط فلا تعلق قلبك بهم وإلا كنت عبدا لهم. وأشار إلى الثاني بقوله: فخذ ما وافقك العلم أي على أخذه. والمراد: علم الظاهر بأن لا تأخذ إلا من يد مكلف رشيد تقي وعلم الباطن بأن لا تأخذ إلا ما كان على قدر حاجتك بغير استشراف نفس
191 Sometimes the gnostic ([aaref]) is ashamed to raise his need to The Lord, and is sufficed by His Will. So how could he not be more ashamed to raise it to one of His creatures? رُبَّمَا اسْتَحْيَا الْعَارِفُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ حَاجَتَهُ إِلَىَ مَوْلَاهُ؛ لَا كَتِفَائِهِ بِمَشِيْئَتِهِ، فَكَيْفَ لَا يَسْتَحِيَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا إِلَىَ خَلِيْقَتِهِ ؟

Elevating the resolve of those on the path to the Hereafter above creation brings them closer to The Lord of Both Worlds. Sometimes the gnostic ([aaref]) is ashamed to raise his need to The Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He, and is sufficed by what He destined for him since eternity. So how could he not be more ashamed to raise it to some of His slaves who are impoverished to the Lord, while The Lord is The Most Wealthy The Most Gracious? Abu Ali Al-Daqqaq said: A sign of knowledge is that you do not ask your needs, no matter how little or how big, except form The Lord Almighty just like Moses: he longed to see Him, so he said: "...he said, 'My Lord! Show me that I may behold You!'...[7:143]" and he needed food once so he said: "...and said ‘My Lord, indeed I am in utter need of whatever good You send down to me’. [28:24]". Al-Shadhuli when asked about chemistry said: force people out of your heart, and despair that The Lord will give you other than what He has destined for you. And he said: It is not evidence of his understanding that you find the slave performing lots of deeds or is persistent in his [wird]. What is evidence to his light and understanding is that he is sufficed by The Lord beyond needing any else, and his freedom from slavery to greed, and his adornment with the ornament of righteousness. This will better the deeds and repair the states. Almighty said: "Truly We have made all that is on the earth as an adornment for it, that We may try them which of them is best in conduct. [18:7]". Good conduct comes from understanding by Him, and this is through finding richness in Him, depending on Him, sufficing by Him, and referring all needs to Him. يعني: أن رفع الهمة لسالكي طريق الآخرة عن المخلوقين مما يوجب قربهم من رب العالمين. فإن العارف ربما استحيا من سؤال المولى عز وجل اكتفاء بما قضاه له في الأزل فكيف لا يستحيي من رفع حاجته إلى بعض من العبيد وهم الفقراء إلى الله والله هو الغني الحميد. ولذا قال أبوعلي الدقاق: من علامة المعرفة أن لا تسأل حوائجك قلت أوكثرت إلا من الله تعالى مثل موسى عليه السلام فإنه اشتاق إلى الرؤية فقال: {قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ... (الأعراف - ١٤٣)}. واحتاج مرة إلى رغيف فقال: {... رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ  (القصص - ٢٤)}. وسئل الشاذلي عن الكيمياء فقال: أخرج الخلق من قلبك واقطع يأسك من ربك أن يعطيك غير ما قسم لك وقال: ليس يدلك على فهم العبد كثرة عمله ومداومة ورده. وإنما يدل على نوره وفهمه غناه بربه وتحرره من رق الطمع وتحليه بحلية الورع. وبذلك تحسن الأعمال وتصلح الأحوال قال الله تعالى: {إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا (الكهف - ٧)} فحسن الأعمال إنما هو بالفهم عن الله. والفهم هو ما ذكرناه من الغنى بالله والاعتماد عليه والاكتفاء به ورفع الحوائج إليه
192 If you question two issues, see which is heavier on the heart, for the truth is always heavier. إِذَا الْتَبَسَ عَلَيْكَ أَمْرَانِ – فَانْظُرْ أَثْقَلَهُمَا عَلَىَ الْنَّفْسِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَثْقُلُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَا مَا كَانَ حَقا

If you are confused about the priority of performing two obligatory issues, as acquiring essential knowledge or striving to achieve sustenance for your family or two extra optional issues as acquiring additional knowledge or performing extra elective welfares [nawafel], then see which is heavier on the heart and follow performing it. Always what is the truth and has priority is heavier to the self. The self always inclines to what benefits it and prefers to steer clear of its obligations. This is the case with other than the self that is at rest and content. What deserves priority may occasionally be obscured for the content self, but then its owner should always be regarding what carries more benefit and advantage. Others have suggested another scale to see which deed should have more priority when confused: assume death befalls you at the time, and see which deed you prefer to be doing when it comes. This is always the truth and others are falsehood, for the slave at the instant of death, only performs the better deed purified of hypocrisy, as necessitated by shortness of hope. This shows you that whoever occupies himself with acquiring unessential knowledge that will only yield later benefits while able in the present to perform required obedience of higher yield, is far from being complete. We ask Allah for safety from inattention in our time duration, for it is the base of every foul deed and is the initiation of delusion and ignorance in knowers and worshipers. يعني: إذا التبس عليك أيها المريد أمران واجبان كطلب ما لابد منه من العلم والسعي على العيال أومندوبان كطلب علم زائد على ما لا بد منه والاشتغال بالنوافل فانظر أثقلهما على النفس فاتبعه فإنه لا يثقل عليها إلا ما كان حقا أي أولى. فإن شأنها أن تميل إلى الحظوظ وتفر من الحقوق. وهذا بالنسبة لغير النفس المطمئنة وأما هي فقد يخف عليها عمل ما هو أولى فليكن نظر صاحبها حينئذ إلى ما هو أكثر فائدة وأعظم مزية. وقد ذكر بعضهم ميزانا آخر تعرف به ما هو أولى بالتقديم من غيره عند الالتباس عليك وهو: أن تقدر نزول الموت بك في الوقت فأي عمل سرك أن تكون مشغولا به إذ ذاك فهو حق وما سواه باطل لأن العبد لا يصدر منه في هذه الحالة إلا العمل الصالح الخالص من شوائب الرياء كما هو مقتضى قصر الأمل الذي هو أصل حسن العمل. إذا علمت ذلك علمت أن من يأخذ في علم غير متعين عليه ولا يجني ثمرته إلا في ثاني حال مع تمكنه في الحالة الراهنة من إيقاع طاعة تزيد مصلحتها عليه بعيد عن درجات الكمال. نسأل الله السلامة من الغفلة في زمان المهلة فإنها مبدأ كل عمل فاسد ومنشأ وجود الغرة والجهالة لكل عالم وعابد
193 Of the signs of being led by passion and whim is speediness to performing the extra welfares of charities [nawafel]  while lazing in performing the obligatory duties. مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ اتِّبَاعِ الْهَوَىَ – الْمُسَارَعَةِ إِلَىَ نَوَافِلِ الْخَيْرَاتِ، وَالتَّكَاسُلِ عَنْ الْقِيَامِ بِالْوَاجِبَاتِ

Of the signs of following your self's passion and whim is that when you intend repentance, you speed to performing extra elective welfares [nawafel] of charities as fasting and night prayer [qiyam] while lazing to performing the obligatory duties you have to do as praying a missed prayer or seeking pardon from a person for your have wronged. This is in surrendering to your self in performing the easiest and leaving the difficult of the chores. The self finds a share of fame in performing the extra elective welfares [nawafel], which may deny it reaching Him because of missing on performing the obligatory required deeds. It is said that whoever prefer optional charities to obligatory duties are misled, so beware of becoming one of those who did not tame their deceiving selfs, and did not overcome the imprisonment of their whims and inclinations. May The Lord guide you. يعني: أن من علامة اتباع هوى نفسك أيها المريد المسارعة عند عقد التوبة إلى نوافل الخيرات من صيام وقيام ونحوذلك والتكاسل عن القيام بحقوق الواجبات التي عليك كقضاء فائتة واستحلال من ظلامة اتباعا لما خف على النفس وتركا لما ثقل عليها فإن حظها في النوافل أن تذكر بها عند الناس بخلاف الفرائض فتحرم الوصول بتضييع الأصول. وقد قالوا: من كانت الفضائل أهم إليه من أداء الفرائض فهو مخدوع فاحذر يا أخي أن تكون ممن لم يشتغلوا برياضة نفوسهم التي خدعتهم ولم يعتنوا بمجاهدة أهوائهم التي أسرتهم والله يتولى هداك
194 He set specified times for obedience lest procrastination prevent you performing them, and He widened their set times so you still have a choice. قَيَّدَ الطَّاعَاتِ بِأَعْيَانِ الْأَوْقَاتِ، كَيْ لَا يَمْنَعُكَ عَنْهَا وُجُوْدُ التُسَوُّفِ، وَوَسَّعَ عَلَيْكَ الْوَقْتَ كَيْ تَبْقَىَ لَكَ حِصَّةُ الاخْتِيَارِ

He blessed you with two great blessings. The first: He set specified times for obligatory obedience you have to perform, and did not stretch their time lest procrastination would prevent you performing them, so you miss their reward. The second: He widened the set times and did not tighten them, in clemency to you, so you will have a share in choice, and perform the obedience in serenity and at ease in the beginning of the set time, or in its middle or towards its end. So thank your Lord for the blessings He blessed you with. يعني: أنه سبحانه أنعم عليك بنعمتين عظيمتين الأولى: أنه قيد لك الطاعات الواجبة عليك بأعيان الأوقات المعينة لوقوعها فيها ولم يطلق وقتها كي لا يمنعك عنها وجود التسويف منك فيفوتك ثوابها. والثانية: أنه وسع عليك الوقت رأفة بك ولم يضيقه عليك كي تبقى حصة الاختيار فتأتي بالطاعة في حال سكون وتمهل في أول الوقت أوفي وسطه أوفي آخره فقم بشكر مولاك على ما أولاك
195 He knew that people will mostly not come voluntarily to Him, so He mandated obedience, and thus led them to Him in the chains of obligation. The Lord wonders about people, driven into heaven through chains. عَلِمَ قِلَّةَ نُّهُوْضِ الْعِبَادِ إِلَىَ مُعَامَلَتِهِ، فَأَوْجَبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وُجُوْدُ طَاعَتِهِ، فَسَاقَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ بِسَلَاسِلِ الْإِيجَابِ، عَجِبَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ يُسَاقُوْنَ إِلَىَ الْجَنَّةِ بِالْسَّلاسِلِ

The Lord Almighty, [Subhanahu], knew that people will mostly not come voluntarily to Him to perform obedience of their own will, so He mandated obedience compulsorily, by threatening them punishment if they do not, and thus led them to Him in the chains of obligation and intimidation. He thus gradually led them to what guides them to eternal pleasure and elevates them to high levels. This is like the parent who disciplines a child and obliges him to unpleasant difficult tasks that are to his disliking, and only when he grows up does he discover their value. And this is similar to the Hadith: "The Lord wonders about people, driven into heaven through chains." This Hadith refers to the prisoners of Badr, who were captured and then converted to Islam. Using the word "wonders" is to show people how strange this issue is so as to make them wonder for "wonder' does not really refer to The Lord, for He is Dignified beyond not knowing any thing, and it is impossible that anything will make Him wonder. And know that the special do not need warning or threatening because their insights are enlightened and because of their love for Then Most Gentle The All Aware. They did not suffice with what people perform of obligatory obedience, but added extra elective welfares [nawafel] and all their efforts are in approach to Him. And to this refers the saying of "how excellent a slave is Sohayb. Even if he does not fear The Lord he will not disobey Him", meaning that even if he does not fear The Lord, his heart will be full of love and glorification for Him enough to prevent him disobeying Him.
أي علم الله سبحانه وتعالى قلة نهوض عامة عباده إلى معاملته من إقامة العبودية طوعا منهم فأوجب عليهم وجود طاعته كرها لأجل ما خوفهم به أن لم يفعلوا فساقهم إليه بسلاسل الإيجاب والتخويف واستدرجهم بذلك إلى ما فيه نعيمهم ورفعهم إلى المقام المنيف كما يفعل ولي الصبي عند إرادة تأديبه فإنه لا يتركه إلى طبيعته وأهوائه تجري به بل يلزمه أمورا يشق عليه فعلها فإذا بلغ مبلغ الرجال تبين له نفعها. فيكونون كأسارى الكفار الذين يراد بهم الدخول في الإسلام وهم يكرهون ذلك مع أنه موصل إلى الجنة دار السلام كما أشار إلى ذلك بالحديث الشريف الذي رواه بالمعنى ولفظه: "عجب الله من أقوام يقادون إلى الجنة بالسلاسل". وهذا الحديث في أسارى بدر الذين أسروا ثم أسلموا والمراد من قوله: "عجب ربك.. الخ " إظهار غرابة ذلك الأمر لخلقه فيتعجبون منه لأن العجب الذي هو استعظام أمر خفي سببه مستحيل على الله تعالى. واعلم أن الخاصة لا يحتاجون إلى الإيجاب والتخويف والتحذير لتنوير بصائرهم وحبهم لطاعة اللطيف الخبير فلم يقتصروا على ما اقتصر عليه العامة من الواجبات بل أضافوا إليها نوافل الخيرات وصارت أعمالهم كلها قربات. وإلى ذلك الإشارة بقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " نعم العبد صهيب لو لم يخف الله لم يعصه" يعني أنه لو لم يخف من الله لكان في قلبه من محبة الله وإجلاله ما يمنعه من معصيته
196 He obliged you to serve Him, and thus only obliged you to enter His heaven. أَوْجَبَ عَلَيْكَ وُجُوْدَ خِدْمَتِهِ، وَمَا أَوْجَبَ عَلَيْكَ إِلَا دُخُوْلَ جَنَّتِهِ

The Lord Almighty apparently obliged you to serve Him, and in reality is only obliging you to enter His heavens, for he made deeds cause for entry to heaven. What is meant here and in the previous Hikma is stating that The Lord Almighty is rich beyond His creation: their obedience do not benefit Him, and their disobedience do not harm Him. All orders and mandates in reality bring benefit to them, and He is the Most Wealthy The Most Gracious. أي أوجب الحق تعالى عليك في الظاهر وجود خدمته وفي الحقيقة ونفس الأمر ما أوجب عليك إلا دخول جنته فإنه سبحانه جعل الأعمال سببا لدخول الجنة والمقصود بهذه الحكمة وما قبلها الإعلام بأن الله تعالى غني عن خلقه لا تنفعه طاعتهم ولا تضره معصيتهم بل التكاليف كلها ترجع إلى ما فيه منفعتهم والله هو الغني الحميد
197 Who finds it strange that The Lord saves him from lusts, and extracts him from inattention, has doubted the Majestic Power and Might: "... And God is Omnipotent over all things. [18:45]" مِنْ اسْتَغْرَبَ أَنْ يُنْقِذَهُ الْلَّهُ مِنْ شَهْوَتِهِ، وَأَنْ يُخْرِجَهُ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ غَفْلَتِهِ – فَقَدْ اسْتَعْجَزَ الْقُدْرَةَ الْإِلَهِيَّةَ: {.. وَكَانَ الْلَّهُ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِراً (الْكَهْفِ - ٤٥)}ء

Who finds it strange that The Lord saves him from lusts that imprisoned him, and extracts him from inattention that tempted him, has doubted the Majestic Power and Might and accused It as incapable, while He is described by Ability over everything possible, including saving from lusts and extracting from inattention as He said: "...And God is Omnipotent over all things. [18:45]". The disobedient slave should approach his Majesty through humility and poverty, where He eases for him what is difficult, and elevates him to the levels of the pious. Indeed if The Lord approaches the sinners, He will change theirs sins into goods. أي من استغرب أن يخلصه الله من شهوته التي أسرته وأن يخرجه من وجود غفلته التي استهوته فقد استعجز: أي نسب القدرة الإلهية إلى العجز والله تعالى متصف بالاقتدار على كل شيء ممكن ومنه الإنقاذ من الشهوات والإخراج من الغفلات كما قال سبحانه: {...وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا (الكهف - ٤٥)}. فعلى العبد المسيء أن يلزم باب مولاه بالذلة والافتقار فإنه يسهل عليه ما استصعبه ويرفعه إلى منازل الأبرار فإن الله تعالى إذا أقبل على أهل الخطيئات بدل سيآتهم حسنات
198 Perhaps darknesses will come by you, so that He acquaints you with the extent He has Graced you. رُبِّمَا وَرَدتُ الْظُّلَمُ عَلَيْكَ؛ لِيُعَرِّفَكَ قَدْرَ مَا مَنَّ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ

Perhaps lusts and lapses (which are similar to darkness) will come upon you so that He acquaints you with the lights He Graced you with on encounter in The Presence. This will make you increase your thanks when you are referred back to the light which was distanced by lusts, and will make you keen on performing the dues of His blessings in all times. Indeed, there is not a time where he does not have a blessing that you owe thanks for.
أي وربما وردت عليك الشهوات والغفلات الشبيهة بالظلم بفتح اللام جمع ظلمة ليعرفك سبحانه قدر ما من به عليك من أنوار التجلي في حضرة القرب فيزداد شكرك عند الرجوع لتلك الحالة التي أبعدتها الشهوات وتحرص على القيام بحق النعمة في جميع الأوقات فما منهما إلا له فيه نعمة عليك له في مثلها يجب الشكر وقد علل ذلك بقوله
199 Whoever does not feel the value of His Blessings while they are present, will feel their value when they are gone. مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ قَدْرَ الْنِّعَمِ بِوِجْدَانِهَا – عَرَفَهَا بِوُجُوْدِ فُقْدَانِهَا

Whoever does not feel the value of the blessings The Lord blessed him with by noticing them while they are present due to inattention overtaking him, will feel their value when they are gone. Only the blind appreciates the value of vision, and things appear clear when their opposites are seen. يعني: أن من لم يعرف قدر النعم التي أنعم الله بها عليه بوجدانها عنده لغلبة الغفلة عليه عرفها بوجود فقدانها فإنه لا يعرف قدر نعمة البصر إلا من وصل العمى إليه وبضدها تتبين الأشياء
200 Don't let the coming of blessings daze you from performing your due thanks, for this abases your status. لَا تُدْهِشُكَ وَارِدَاتُ الْنِّعَمِ عَنِ الْقِيَامِ بِحُقُوْقِ شُكْرِكَ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَحُطُّ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ قَدْرِكَ

Don't let the continuous flow of blessings coming your way daze you from performing your due thanks to your Lord, which may show you your inability so you completely abandon thanks. This abases your status, while The Lord has exalted it. He magnified what little you do, and promised huge rewards for it. He said: "Whoever brings a good deed, shall receive tenfold the like of it ...[6:160]", so do not abase your self. Abandoning thanks because of the abundance of graces is utter ignorance about the dues of The Graceful Bountiful Giver. And abandoning thanks for a grace because of seeing it as trivial or insignificant brings upon the wrath of The Most Great The Mist Exalted.
أي لا تدهشك النعم المترادفة عليك عن القيام بحقوق شكرك لمولاك أن ترى عجز نفسك عن توفية ذلك فتترك الشكر فإن ذلك يحط من وجود قدرك وقد رفع الله قدرك حيث جعل القليل منك كثيرا وادخر لك عليه جزا ء كبيرا. قال تعالى: {مَن جَاء بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ... (الأنعام - ١٦٠)} فلا تبخس نفسك حقها ولا تحطها عن قدرها فإن ترك الشكر بسبب كثرة النعم جهل بحق المنعم المفضال كما أن ترك الشكر على النعمة لاستقلالها موجب لغضب الكبير المتعال
   
     
     
     
     
201 The pleasure of desire taking over the heart is the incurable ailment. تَمَكُّنُ حَلَاوَةَ الْهَوَىَ مِنَ الْقَلْبِ – هُوَ الْدَّاءُ الْعِضَالِ

The pleasure of what the self desires of worldly lusts taking over the heart is the incurable ailment for which there is no remedy. The heart is the place for faith and knowledge and certainty [yaqeen], and these are the cures for its illnesses, unless the illness is the irremediable illness of being taken over by pleasures of desire. This is not cured except with a Lordly revelation ([warid]). The author also referred to this by: يعني: أن تمكن حلاوة ما تهواه النفس من الشهوات الدنيوية من القلب هو الداء العضال الذي يتعذر برؤه فإن القلب محل الإيمان والمعرفة واليقين وهذه هي الأدوية لأمراضه ما لم يكن الداء معضلا كتمكن الهوى فلا يفيد فيه إلا وارد إلهي كما أشار إلى ذلك بقوله
202 Lust is not expelled from the heart except through annoying fear, or distressing yearning ([shawq]). لَا يُخْرِجُ الْشَّهْوَةَ مِنَ الْقَلْبِ إَلَا خَوْفٌ مُزْعِجٌ، أَوْ شَوْقٌ مُقْلِقٌ

Nothing can expel the lust entrenched in the heart except annoying fear of The Lord that overtakes the heart through witnessing the Traits of Majesty brought about by regarding the [ayas] containing what He prepared as painful punishment for the disobedient sinners or a distressing yearning ([shawq]) to The Lords that overtakes the heart through witnessing the Traits of Beauty brought about by regarding the [ayas] containing what He prepared as lasting blessedness for the obedient righteous. أي لا يكون سببا في إخراج الشهوة المتمكنة من القلب إلا خوف من الله مزعج يرد على القلب من شهود صفات الجلال ومنشؤه النظر في الآيات المحتوية على ما أعد للعصاة من العذاب الأليم. أو شوق إلى الله مقلق يرد على القلب من شهود صفات الجمال ومنشؤه النظر في الآيات المحتوية على ما أعد للطائعين من النعيم المقيم
203 As He does not like shared work, He dislikes a shared heart. Shared work He does not accept, and a shared heart He does not approach. كَمَا لَايُحِبُّ الْعَمَلَ الْمُشْتَرَكِ – كَذَلِكَ لَايُحِبُّ الْقَلْبَ الْمُشْتَرَكِ: الْعَمَلُ الْمُشْتَرَكُ لَا يَقْبَلُهُ، وَالْقَلْبُ الْمُشْتَرَكُ لَا يُقْبِلُ عَلَيْهِ

He does not like shared work that is contaminated with hypocrisy and noticing people, and similarly He dislikes a shared heart that contains love for any other. And since "liking" in the sense of inclining or fondness is impossible for The Lord Almighty, he explained what is meant by saying: shared work He does not accept or reward for because of the absence of sincerity in it, and a shared heart He does not approach or accept its owner because of his untruthfulness in his love. يعني: أنه سبحانه كما لا يحب العمل المشوب بالرياء وملاحظة الخلق كذلك لا يحب القلب الذي فيه محبة غيره. ولما كانت المحبة بمعنى ميل القلب مستحيلة على الله تعالى بين المراد منها بقوله: العمل المشترك لا يقبله أي لا يثيب عليه لفقد الإخلاص منه والقلب المشترك لا يقبل عليه أي لا يرضى عن صاحب لعدم صدقه في محبته
204 Some lights were permitted arrival, and some lights were permitted entrance. أَنْوَارٌ أَذِنَ لَهَا فِيْ الْوُصُوْلِ، وَأَنْوَارٌ أَذِنَ لَهَا فِيْ الْدُّخُوْلِ

Lights falling on the hearts from the coffers of the unknown Godly secrets and the Lordly knowledge are of two types: lights that were permitted reaching illuminating the outside of the heart, which permit it to see and care for its self, its Lord, its world and its Hereafter and lights that were permitted entry to shine inside the heart, with which the slave [abd] feels love only for his Lord, and does only what his Master likes and wishes and accepts. يعني: أن الأنوار الواردة على القلوب من خزائن الغيوب وهي الأسرار الإلهية والمعارف الربانية تنقسم إلى قسمين: أنوار أذن لها في الوصول إلى ظاهر القلب فقط فيشاهد معها نفسه وربه ودنياه وآخرته. وأنوا ر أذن لها في الدخول إلى صميم القلب وسويدائه فلا يحب العبد عند ذلك سوى مولاه ولا يفعل إلا ما يحبه سيده ويرضاه
205 Perhaps the lights fell upon you and found your heart filled with images of the signs, so they went back where they came from. رُبَمَا وَرَدَتْ عَلَيْكَ الْأَنْوَارُ – فَوَجَدَتْ قَلْبَكَ مَحْشُوَّا بِصُوَرِ الْآَثَارِ – فَارْتَحَلَتْ مِنْ حَيْثُ نَزَلَتْ

Perhaps the Lordly lights fell upon you and found your heart filled with images of worldly signs: of money and children and others, so they went back where they came from. They are sacred beyond falling into a heart tarnished with othernesses. The author then stated what is meant by emptying the heart and said: أي ربما وردت عليك أيها المريد الأنوار الإلهية فوجدت قلبك محشوا بصور الآثار الكونية: من أموال وأولاد وغيرهما فارتحلت من حيث نزلت لأنها مقدسة عن حلولها في القلب المدنس بالأغيار. وقد ذكر المصنف ما هو في معنى التفريغ فقال
206 Empty your heart of otherness [al-aghyar], He fills it with knowledge and secrets. فَرِّغَ قَلْبَكَ مِنَ الْأَغْيَارِ – يَمْلَأْهُ بِالْمَعَارِفِ وَالْأَسْرَارِ

If you want the lights to fall into your heart and shine the Lordly secrets and knowledge in it, empty and clear it of all images of othernesses, He fills it with knowledge and secrets.
أي إذا أردت أيها المريد حلول الأنوار في قلبك وتجلي الأسرار والمعارف عليه من ربك ففرغه من صور الأغيار يملأه بالمعارف والأسرار
207 Don't sense slowness in His giving, but sense your own delay in your moving nearer to and approaching Him. لَا تَسْتَبْطِئْ مِنْهُ الْنَّوَالَ – وَلَكِنْ اسْتَبْطِئْ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وُجُوْدُ الْإِقْبَالِ

Don't sense slowness in your Lord's giving and say: I want and asked for revelation and none was shown to me, but sense your own delay in your approaching Him, by departing everything else and submitting all your matter to Him. Whoever clings to othernesses does not merit being among the outstanding. Be true in your intention, He gives you good and plenty more. أي لا تستبطئ أيها المريد من ربك العطاء فتقول: أردت الفتح فلم يفتح لي ولكن استبطئ من نفسك وجود الإقبال عليه بترك ما عداه وتسليم الأمر إليه فإن من تعلق بالأغيار لا يصلح أن يكون من الأخيار. فاصدق في الإرادة تنل منه الحسنى وزيادة
208 There are the rights and dues 'IN' the times that, if missed, can be fulfilled later, and there are the rights and dues 'OF' the times which cannot. For there is not a time that comes except where He has a new right and due, and a sure order. So how can you settle the rights and dues of someone else while you have not settled The Lord's rights and dues? حُقُوْقٌ فِيْ الْأَوْقَاتِ يُمْكِنُ قَضَاؤُهَا، وَحُقُوْقُ الْأَوْقَاتِ لَا يُمْكِنُ قَضَاؤُهَا: إِذْ مَا مِنْ وَقْتٍ يَرِدُ إِلَا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَيْكَ فِيْهِ حَقٌّ جَدِيْدٌ، وَأَمْرٌ أَكِيْدٌ، فَكَيْفَ تَقْضِىَ فِيْهِ حَقَّ غَيْرِهِ، وَأَنْتَ لَمْ تَقْضِ حَقَّ الْلَّهِ فِيْهِ؟

The Lord Almighty mandated from you rights and dues 'IN' the times, and rights and dues 'OF' the times. The rights and dues 'IN' the specified times, as prayer and fasting, can be fulfilled later if missed during their specified time. On the other hand, the rights and dues 'OF' the times which are the internal hidden actions that are required by the different states the slave [abd] may be in, as being graced or in infliction or in obedience or disobedience, cannot be performed at a later time if missed, for there is not a time that does not in itself require a right and due, and all the time of every slave [abd] is occupied by different states he is in. Abul Abbas Al-Mursy said of the times and their dues: the times of the slave [abd] are four without a fifth: grace, infliction, obedience and disobedience, and The Lord has due rights mandated by your slavery and His Divinity in each of them. Whoever in is obedience has to regard and witness The Lord's bounties upon him that he guided and supported him to doing them. Whoever is in disobedience is mandated by The Lord to be in repentance and regret. Whose time is in graces and blessings should be appreciative and thankful, and whose time is in infliction should accept destiny and present forbearance and patience. And in the Hadith: "who was thankful when given, and patient when inflicted, and forgiving when wronged, and repentant when transgressing, these will have peace and are the guided ones." or they are the guided ones in this world, and will have peace in the Hereafter. And you have to be watchful of the times and present in every time its dues, for it cannot be repaid once passed. يعني: أن الله تعالى جعل عليك أيها المريد حقوقا في الأوقات وحقوقا للأوقات فالحقوق التي في الأوقات المعينة لها كالصلاة والصوم يمكن قضاؤها في وقت آخر لمن فاتته. وأما حقوق الأوقات وهي المعاملات الباطنية التي تقتضيها أحوال العبد التي يكون عليها من نعمة وبلية وطاعة ومعصية فلا يمكن قضاؤها لكون الوقت لا يخلو من حال منها فوقت كل عبد ما هو عليه من تلك الأحوال قال سيدي أبو العباس المرسي: أوقات العبد أربعة لا خامس لها النعمة والبلية والطاعة والمعصية ولله عليك في كل وقت منها سهم من العبودية يقتضيه الحق منك بحكم الربوبية. فمن كان وقته الطاعة فسبيله شهود المنة من الله عليه أن هداه لها ووفقه للقيام بها ومن كان وقته للمعصية فمقتضى الحق منه وجود الاستغفار والندم ومن كان وقته النعمة فسبيله الشكر وهو فرح القلب بالله ومن كان وقته البلية فسبيله الرضا بالقضاء والصبر. وفي الحديث: "من أعطي فشكر وابتلي فصبر وظلم فغفر وظلم فاستغفر أولئك لهم الأمن وهم مهتدون ". أي لهم الأمن في الآخرة وهم المهتدون في الدنيا ومن كلامهم: الفقير ابن وقته أي يتأدب معه ويعطيه حقه كما يتأدب الولد مع أبيه فيجب عليك أيها المريد مراقبة الأوقات وإعطاء كل ذي حق حقه فإنه لا يقضي متى فات
209 What has passed of your life can never be replaced, and what you have collected during it is irreplaceable and priceless مَا فَاتَ مِنْ عُمْرِكَ لَا عَوَضَ  لَهُ، وَمَا حَصَلَ لَكَ مِنْهُ لَا قِيْمَةَ لَهُ

What has passed of your life can never come back. If it is devoid of good deeds then you would have missed on a lot of good. If you contemplate His saying: "And that man shall have only what he [himself] strives for. [53:39]", you would hasten and speed in performing good as quickly as you can. What you have collected during what has passed of your life is irreplaceable and priceless because of the value of good deeds collected in it. Imam Ali used to say: what remains of a man's life is priceless, there he can catch up with what was missed, and revive what died. And some said:

What remains of life is priceless,
and tomorrow is not counted in time,
where one catches up with everything missed
in time and wipes evil with good.
أي ما فات من عمرك أيها المريد لا عودة له فإذا أخليته من العمل الصالح فاتك خير كثير وإذا تأملت قوله تعالى: {وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَى  (النجم - ٣٩)} شمرت عن ساعد الجد كل التشمير. وما حصل لك منه لا قيمة له أي لا يقاوم بشيء لنفاسته كما قال الإمام علي كرم الله وجهه: بقية عمر المرء مالها ثمن يدرك فيها ما فات ويحي ما أمات وأخذ بعضهم هذا المعنى فقال
بقية العمر عندي ما لها ثمن
و إن غدا غير محسوب من الزمن
يستدرك المرء فيها كل فائتة
من الزمان ويمحو السوء بالحسن
210 You are enslaved by whatever you love, and He does not like you to be a slave for anyone else. مَا أَحْبَبْتَ شَيْئاً إِلَا كُنْتَ لَهُ عَبْداً، وَهُوَ لَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ تَكُوْنَ لِغَيْرِهِ عَبْدا

You become a slave to anything you love, or become subjugated to it, and as some said: if men control everything, you will find love controlling men. The Lord Almighty does not like or accept that you become a slave for anything else. And in the Hadith: Miserable is he who is a slave to the dinar, miserable is he who is slave to the dirham, or to the fleece or to the velvet (the rich clothes made of silk and velvet and the like) or to the wife. Al-Gonaid said: "You will not be a true slave [abd] to Him while you find anything other than Him is to your liking, and you will not reach true freedom while you owe any of the dues of your slavery, for the person is a slave as long as he owes a dirham". Loving something begets slavery to it, so direct your love towards Whom you need to be enslaved to, and Whose caring will bring upon you utmost benefit, and This is Your Lord Majesty. If you love anything else out of the context of its relation to Him, you anger Him because He does not accept partnering. But if you love because of relation to Him, as loving prophets and messengers and knowers and righteous people, this is loving them in His cause and Love, which is appreciated without doubt. أي ما أحببت أيها المريد شيئا من الأشياء إلا كنت له عبدا أي منقادا كما قال بعضهم: إذا لعب الرجال بكل شيء رأيت الحب يلعب بالرجال وهو تعالى لا يحب أن تكون لغيره عبدا أي لا يرضى بذلك. وفي الحديث: "تعس عبد الدينار تعس عبد الدرهم والخميصة والقطيفة والزوجة" وقال الجنيد: إنك لن تكون على الحقيقة له عبدا وشيء مما دونه لك مسترق وإنك لن تصل إلى صريح الحرية وعليك من حقوق عبوديتك بقية فإن المكاتب عبد ما بقي عليه درهم والحاصل: أن محبة الشيء ملزمة للعبودية له فاجعل محبتك لمن تلزمك عبوديته وتعود عليك بغاية النفع عنايته وليس ذلك إلا مولاك. فإن أحببت غيره لا من حيث النسبة له أغضبته لأنه لا يرضى الشركة. وأما إذا أحببت غيره من حيث النسبة له كالأنبياء والمرسلين والعلماء والصالحين فهو من باب الحب في الله وهو محمود بلا اشتباه
211 Your obedience do not benefit Him, and your sins do not harm Him. He ordered you to this and forbid you from this only for what benefits you. لَا تَنْفَعُهُ طَاعَتُكَ، وَلَا تَضُرُّهُ مَعْصِيَتُكَ، وَإِنَّمَا أَمَرَكَ بِهَذِهِ، وَنَهَاكَ عَنْ هَذِهِ، لِمَا يَعُوْدُ عَلَيْكَ

The Truth Almighty does not benefit from your obedience, for He is The Most Wealthy The Gracious. Your sins do not harm Him neither do the sins of all people, for He is dignified beyond any harm from anyone reaching Him because of His unreachable Glory. He ordered obedience and forbade sin for reasons that only bring you benefit and profit. Always be thankful for this blessing and always be mindful of it. The author then explains further: يعني: أن الحق سبحانه لا تنفعه طاعتك أيها المريد فإنه هو الغني الحميد ولا تضره معصيتك ولا معصية جميع الأنام فإنه منزه عن أن يصل إليه مكروه من خلقه لعزته التي لا ترام. وإنما أمرك بالطاعة ونهاك عن المعصية لحكمة يرجع نفعها عليك فاشكر هذه النعمة واستحضرها على الدوام بين عينيك. ثم علل ذلك بقوله
212 His Glory does not increase by the nearing of those who approach Him, and His Glory does not decrease by the distancing of those who turn away from Him. لَا يَزِيْدُ فِيْ عِزِّهِ إِقْبَالُ مَنْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَايَنْقُصُ  مِنْ عِزِّهِ إِدْبَارُ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ عَنْهُ

The Lord Almighty's slaves cannot benefit Him, and their harm cannot reach Him for His Might, which is one of His collective Traits as His Extreme Glory and Incomparable Greatness, is exceptionally complete, and cannot be lessened by disobedience or increased by obedience or approach.
يعني: أنه سبحانه لا يعود عليه نفع من عبيده ولا يلحقه ضرر منهم لكون عزه الذي هو صفة من صفاته الجامعة كالكبرياء والعظمة في غاية الكمال. لا يعتريه نقص من المعصية ولا زيادة من الطاعة والإقبال
213 Your reaching God is only reaching knowing Him, otherwise glorified is He beyond anything to reach Him or His reaching anything. وَصَوْلُكَ إِلَىَ الْلَّهِ – وُصُوْلُكَ إِلَىَ الْعِلْمِ بِهِ – وَإِلَا فَجَلَّ رَبُّنَا أَنْ يَتَّصِلَ بِهِ شَيْءٌ، أَوْ يَتَّصِلُ هُوَ بِشَيْءٍ

Reaching The Lord, as a term used by people on the path, where they say that someone has reached Him, is only reaching true knowledge of The Lord Almighty. This is the ultimate goal of the [saliks] and the final destination of the path. To think of reaching in its physical sense is utterly incorrect and improper, because He is Exalted beyond it. He who is The One Who nothing bears any likeness or similarity to Him cannot be reached or connected with anything that has likes and similars. يعني: أن الوصول إلى الله تعالى الذي يشير إليه أهل هذه الطريق فيقولون: فلان واصل أو من أهل الوصول. إنما هو الوصول إلى العلم الحقيقي بالله تعالى وهذا هو غاية السالكين ومنتهى سير السائرين. وإلا نرد ذلك بل أردنا الوصول المفهوم بين الذوات فلا يصح لأنه تعالى منزه عنه إذ لا يتصل من لا شبيه له بمن له شبيه ونظير
214 Your closeness to Him is to be conscious of His closeness to you, or else, where are you from the presence of His closeness? قُرْبِكَ مِنْهُ – أَنْ تَكُوْنَ مُشَاهِداً لِقُرْبِهِ، وَإِلَّا فَمِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ وَوُجُوْدُ قُرْبِهِ؟

The state of closeness, as a term used by people on the path, is your regarding His closeness to you a spiritual closeness, as He The Almighty said: "...and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. [50:16]". Regarding this will make you avid in self-watching, and become overwhelmed by Glory and mannered by the politeness of The Presence [Hadra], whereupon He will not find you where He prohibited you to go, and will not miss you where He ordered you to be. To think of closeness in its physical sense is utterly incorrect and improper. You should only regard and describe being distanced as coming from you in a spiritual sense, and not coming from Him, for it is you who is distant.
يعني: أن مقام القرب الذي يشير إليه أهل هذه الطريق إنما هو مشاهدتك لقربه تعالى منك قربا معنويا لقوله سبحانه: {وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (ق - ١٦)} فتستفيد بهذه المشاهدة شدة المراقبة وغلبة الهيبة والتأدب بآداب الحضرة بحيث لا يراك حيث نهاك ولا يفقدك حيث أمرك. وإلا نرد القرب المعنوي بل أردنا القرب الحسي فلا يصح لأنه لا مناسبة بين القديم والحادث فلا يليق بك إلا وصف البعد وشهوده من نفسك. كما سيقول المؤلف: إلهي ما أقربك مني وما أبعدني عنك
215 Truths are revealed in clusters and groups during revelation, and later, on consciousness, they become clarified. "So, when We recite it, follow its recitation. [75:18] Then, it is for Us to explain it. [75:19]" الْحَقَّائِقُ تَرِدُ فِيْ حَالِ الْتَّجَلِّي مُجْمَلَةً، وَبَعْدَ الْوَعْيِ يَكُوْنُ الْبَيَانُ: {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآَنَهُ {١٨} ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ {١٩} (الْقِيَامَةِ)}ء

Lordly knowledge that Al-Haqq reveals to the pious when they denounce allegations and become free from slavery to othernesses, do not require learning or study. They are heavenly gifts sent in clusters and groups upon their hearts at times of Lordly revelation. At the time of revelation, they cannot appreciate the meanings because of His extreme Manifestation. Comprehension comes on consciousness after this revelation, so they come to understand the meaning, and find that they are always in agreement with the worldly knowledge. Truth always agrees with [Shariaa], and they say: truth without [Shariaa] is falsehood, and [Shariaa] without truth is idle. Truths revealed to the gnostic ([aaref]) hearts have some similarities to the [wahy] that was revealed to the heart of the master of both worlds, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, as evidenced in the [aya]: ""So, when We recite it,.." to you through Gabriel, "... follow its recitation. [75:18] " or listen to it read then read it later "Then, it is for Us to explain it. [75:19]" or to explain it to you. Or if We send upon your heart, O gnostic ([aaref]), some Lordly truths and inspirational knowledge, do not attempt to explain them, but refer to us to clarify the vague and detail the clustered.
يعني: أن العلوم اللدنية التي يقذفها الحق تعالى في أسرار الأبرار عند براءتهم من الدعوى وتحررهم من رق الأغيار لا تتوقف على تعلم ولا دراسة بل هي منح إلهية في غاية النفاسة ترد في حال التجلي من الله على قلوبهم مجملة لا تتبين لهم معانيها لعظم تجلي الرحمن. وبعد الوعي بزوال ذلك التجلي يكون البيان فيتبين لهم معناها وموافقتها لما في أيديهم من العلوم النقلية والعقلية فإن الحقيقة موافقة للشريعة لقولهم: حقيقة بلا شريعة باطلة وشريعة بلا حقيقة عاطلة. فالحقائق الواردة على قلوب العارفين فيها نوع شبه بالوحي المنزل على سيد العالمين ولذلك استدل بقوله تعالى: {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ..} أي: أقرأناه لك على لسان جبريل: {...فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ {١٨}} أي: فاستمع لقراءته ثم اقرأه بعد ذلك. {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ (القيامة - ١٩)}. أي: بيان معانيه لك والمراد هنا: فإذا ألقينا عليك أيها العارف شيئا من الحقائق اللدنية والعلوم الإلهامية فلا تعمل فكرك وراجع إلينا في تبيين المبهم وتفصيل المجمل فإن ذلك علينا. وصدق الالتجاء منك أجمل
216 Once the Lordly revelations ([warid]) come upon you, they will tear down your customary usual practices. "'Indeed kings, when they enter a town, ruin it ... [27:34]" مَتَىَ وَرَدَتِ الْوَارِدَاتُ الْإِلَهِيَّةُ عَلَيْكَ – هَدَمَتْ الْعَوَائِدَ عَلَيْكَ: {إِنَّ الْمُلُوْكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوْا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوْهَا (الْنَّمْلِ - ٣٤)}ء 

Once Lordly revelations ([warid]) come upon your heart and you come to appreciate knowledges and states, the customary usual practices of your evil self will be torn down, and the pleasant befitting traits will become closer to you. Lordly revelations ([warid]) have majestic powers, like kings, and if they land in a heart full of evil, they will clear it till it becomes fitting the path. He used as evidence the [aya]: "Indeed kings," or their troops, ""... when they enter a town, ruin it ... [27:34]" or destroy the blessedness enjoyed by its people. And so are Lordly revelations ([warid]) similar to troops of the kings, they overwhelm the heart into leaving attachment to lusts, and keep at it till it is set straight.
أي متى وصلت التجليات الإلهية إلى قلبك أيها المريد وحصل لك من المعارف والأحوال ما تميز به بين ما للشقي والسعيد هدمت العوائد التي اعتادتها نفسك الخبيثة عليك وقربت الأحوال السنية التي يحسن التخلق بها إليك. فإن الواردات الإلهية لها سلطنة عظيمة كالملوك فإذا وردت على قلب مشحون بالخبائث أزالتها عنه حتى يصلح للسلوك ولذا استدل بقوله تعالى: {إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ} أي: جنودهم. {إِذَا دَخَلُوا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا...(النمل - ٣٤)} أي: أزالوا ما تلبس به أهلها من النعيم. وكذلك الواردات الإلهية شبيهة بجنود الملك فتقهر القلب على ترك تعلقه بالشهوات ولا تتركه حتى يستقيم. ثم وضح ذلك بقوله
217 The revelation ([warid]) comes from a Mighty Subduer. That is why it overcomes anything it faces. "Nay, but We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it obliterates it, ...[21:18]" الْوَارِدُ يَأْتِي مِنْ حَضْرَةِ قَهَّارٍ؛ لِأَجْلِ ذَلِكَ – لايُصَادِمِهُ شَيْءٌ إِلَا دَمَغَهُ {بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَىَ الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ... (الْأَنْبِيَاءِ -١٨)}ء

The Lordly revelation ([warid]) that comes over the slave's heart that The Lord wants to free from being enslaved to othernesses, comes from The Presence of His Name: The Mighty Subduer. That is why it overcomes anything it faces of human feebleness. It is also a truth coming upon falsehood, and He said:  "Nay, but We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it obliterates it, ...[21:18]" If Lordly revelation ([warid]) come, they wipe ordinary traits, and so the miserly becomes generous, the coward becomes a brave, the avid an ascetic [zahid], the lazy energetic, the inattentive alert, the grumbler content, the reliant on reasons dependent on Him, the insistent on sin a repenter, and so on of changing foul habits to good ones, till only good emanates from the [mureed] . This is only for whom The Lord wants to extract from othernesses, and is not contradictory with the previous Hikma: "Perhaps the lights fell upon you and found your heart filled with images of the signs, so they went back where they came from." I ask Allah The Almighty to grace us with His beautiful bounties, and to mend the evil of our hearts with the troops of His revelations. يعني أن الوارد الإلهي الذي يرد على قلب العبد الذي أراد الله تخليصه من رق الأغيار يأتي من حضرة اسمه تعالى قهار ومعناه الغالب لأجل ذلك لا يصادمه شيء من رعونات البشرية إلا دمغه أي أصاب دماغه وفي ذلك إتلافه. وهو أيضا حق ورد على باطل وقد قال تعالى: {بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ...(الأنبياء - ١٨)} أي ذاهب. فإذا وردت الواردات الربانية ذهبت بالطبائع العادية فيصير البخيل كريما والجبان شجاعا والحريص زاهدا والكسلان مجتهدا والغافل متيقظا والمتسخط راضيا والمعتمد على الأسباب متوكلا والمصر على المعاصي مستغفرا إلى غير ذلك من تبديل الخصلة السيئة بالحسنة حتى لا تصدر من المريد إلا الأمور المستحسنة وقد علمت أن هذا إنما يكون لمن أراد الله استخلاصه من الأغيار فلا ينافي قوله فيما تقدم: "ربما وردت عليك الأنوار فوجدت القلب محشوا بصور الآثار فارتحلت من حيث نزلت" أسأل الله تعالى أن يمن علينا بجميل الهبات ويصلح فساد قلوبنا بجنود الواردات
218 How can Al-Haqq, be veiled by anything, while He is manifest and present in everything that can be used as a veil? كَيْفَ يَحْتَجِبُ الْحَقُّ بِشَيْءٍ، وَالَّذِي يُحْتَجَبُ بِهِ هُوَ فِيْهِ ظَاهِرٌ، وَمَوْجُودٌ حَاضِرٌ !؟

This is similar to what was stated previously: "How is it imaginable that anything can conceal Him, while He has appeared in everything?". He is apparent in everything because everything exists through Him The Almighty. The enlightened see that He is present in everything in existence, so how can what He is present in be a veil for Him? This only comes from blinding of the insight and not reaching Him trough the lights of His knowledge. هذا كقوله فيما تقدم "كيف يتصور أن يحجبه شيء وهو الظاهر في كل شيء" يعني: أنه سبحانه في كل شيء ظاهر لأن به تعالى قام كل شيء فأهل البصائر يشاهدون أنه في كل موجود حاضر فكيف يكون ما هو ظاهر فيه حجابا له حتى يستدل به عليه ؟ وما ذاك إلا من عمى البصيرة وعدم الوصول بأنوار معرفته إليه
219 Don't despair the acceptance of a deed where you did not find presence of the heart. Perhaps He accepts deeds and you do not perceive immediate reward. لَا تَيْأَسْ مِنْ قُبُوْلِ عَمَلٍ – لَمْ تَجِدْ فِيْهِ وُجُوْدَ الْحُضُوْرِ، فَرُبَّمَا قَبِلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ – مَا لَمْ تُدْرِكْ ثَمَرَتَهُ عَاجِلّا

If you do not find the sign that your deed is accepted, which is the presence of your heart with The Lord Almighty in it, by noticing that you are always in His Presence, do not despair that it can be accepted. Perhaps he accepts a deed that you do not feel fruit to immediately. The condition for acceptance is the presence of sincerity, and intending only The Lord with the deed. The presence of the heart and its joy in obedience and finding its sweetness are signs for and not conditions of acceptance.
أي: إذا لم تجد العلامة على قبول العمل التي هي حضور قلبك فيه مع الله تعالى بأن تلاحظ أنك حاضر بين يديه فلا تيأس من قبوله فإنها علامة غير مطردة لأنه ربما قبل من العمل ما لم تدرك ثمرته أي علامة قبوله عاجلا. وإنما الشرط في القبول هوالإخلاص أي: قصد وجه الله بالعمل وأما الحضور بالقلب واستلذاذه بالطاعة ووجدان حلاوتهما فهي علامات لا شروط
220 Don't commend a revelation ([warid]) whose fruit you do not know. For what is required from the cloud is not its rain, but what is required from it is that it results in fruit and reward. لَا تُزَكِّيَنَّ وَارِداً لَا تَعْلَمُ ثَمَرَتَهُ، فَلَيْسَ الْمُرَادُ مِنَ الْسَّحَابَةِ الْإِمْطَارَ، وَإِنَّمَا الْمُرَادُ مِنْهَا وُجُوْدَ الْإِثْمَارِ

If a revelation is revealed to your heart, don't commend it and don't rejoice in it till you feel and verify its fruit and reward. It should affect the heart, and change its evil traits to praised ones, and so increase the drive to perform goodness and serve The Lord. What is required from the cloud is not its rain, but what is required from it is that it results in fruit and reward. And similarly, if a revelation ([warid]) does not result in fruit and reward, then commending it becomes vanity, because its only benefit was the knowledge that the self gained but that did not enlighten the heart.
هذا رجوع منه للكلام على الوارد يعني: إذا ورد عليك أيها المريد وارد فلا تزكينه أي: لا تمدحنه ولا تفرح به حتى تعرف ثمرته وتتحقق بها وهي تأثر القلب به وتبدل صفاته المذمومة بصفات محمودة فتنشط الجوارح للأعمال وتقوم بخدمة ذي العزة والجلال. فليس المراد من السحابة الأمطار بل ما ينشأ عن المطر من وجود الأثمار. فكذلك الوارد إذا لم تحصل ثمرته تكون تزكيته نوعا من الاغترار لأنه حينئذ يكون مدحه لحظ النفس فيه من العلم الذي لم يحصل به للقلب استبصار
   
     
     
     
     
221 Don't ask for the persistence of the revelations ([warid]) after they shined and extended their lights, and deposited their secrets. The Lord's Richness suffices you beyond everything, and nothing will ever suffice you to dispense with Him. لَا تَطْلُبَنَّ بَقَاءَ الْوَارِدَاتِ – بَعْدَ أَنْ بَسَطَتْ أَنْوَارَهَا، وَأَوْدَعَتْ أَسْرَارَهَا، فَلَكَ – فِيْ الْلَّهِ – غَنَّىً عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَلَيْسَ يُغْنِيِكَ عَنْهُ شَيْءٌ

Don't ask for the persistence of the revelations ([warid]) and states that were revealed to your heart after they shined and extended their lights, and adapted your appearance and your heart with the adaptations of slavery and servitude, and deposited their secrets, but suffice your self with The Worshiped Lord. As some witnesses [ahl al-shohood] said:

Everything if parted with can be substituted
and The Lord if parted with will have no substitute.

Settling to a revelation mars your sincerity in unification, because it is of the othernesses with what it contains of lights and states and statuses. Be only a slave [abd] to The Mighty The praiseworthy, for He only set you in this state so you grasp of it and not that it takes from you.
أي لا تطلبن بقاء التجليات والأحوال التي وردت على قلبك بعد أن بسطت عليه أنوارها فتكيف ظاهرك وباطنك بكيفيات العبودية وأودعته أسرارها استغناء عنها بالملك المعبود كما قال بعض أهل الشهود
لكل شيء إذا فارقته عوض
وليس لله أن فارقت من عوض
فإن الركون إلى الوارد قادح في إخلاص التوحيد لأنه من الأغيار الشاملة للأنوار والمقامات والأحوال. فكن عبدا للعزيز الحميد فإنه إنما أدخلك في الحال لتأخذ منها لا لتأخذ منك لأنه وجهها إليك باسمة باسمه المبدئ فأبداها حتى إذا أدت ما كان لك فيها أعادها باسمه المعيد وتوفاها. ثم علل ذلك بقوله
222 Your longing for the lasting of anything else is evidence that you did not find Him, and your lamenting at losing anything else is evidence that you did not reach Him. تَطَلُّعِكَ إِلَىَ بَقَاءِ غَيْرِهِ – دَلِيْلٌ عَلَىَ عَدَمِ وِجْدَانِكَ لَهُ، وَاسْتِيحَاشِكَ لِفُقْدَانِ سِوَاهُ – دَلِيْلٌ عَلَىَ عَدَمِ وَصْلَتِكَ بِهِ

Your longing for the lasting of anything else of these revelations ([warid]) and statuses and states and outwardly and hidden graces is evidence that you did not find Him. If you find Him in your heart, you would not have wanted any else to stay and last. If you had reached Him you would not lament at losing anything else because He is the ultimate request, and the uttermost hope and target. And as a gnostic ([aaref]) said:

my heart had several separate affections
but my affections combined since the eye saw You
those who I envied came to envy me
and I became the people's lord since You became my Lord
I left to the people their world and their religion
out of occupied with Your [zikr], O my religion and my world.
يعني: أن تطلعك وتشوفك إلى بقاء غيره تعالى من الواردات المذكورة وغيرها من المقامات والأحوال والنعم الظاهرية والباطنية دليل على عدم وجدانك له تعالى إذ لو وجدته في قلبك لم تطلب بقاء غيره ولو وصلت إليه لم تستوحش عند فقد شيء سواه فإنه غاية المطالب ومنتهى الآمال والمآرب. كما قال بعض العارفين
كانت لقلبي أهواء مفرقة
فاستجمعت إذ رأتك العين أهوائي
فصار يحسدني من كنت أحسده
 وصرت مولى الورى مذ صرت مولائي
تركت للناس دنياهم ودينهم
شغلا بذكرك يا ديني ودنيائي
223 Blessedness, though of various forms, truly comes from witnessing Him and His closeness; and true torment and suffering, though of various forms, comes from His being veiled and concealed from you. The reason for torment is the presence of concealment, and the completeness of blessedness is through regarding His Generous Face. الْنَّعِيمُ وَإِنْ تَنَوَّعَتْ مَظَاهِرُهُ – إِنَّمَا هُوَ لِشُهُوْدِهِ وَاقْتِرَابِهِ، وَالْعَذَابَ وَإِنْ تَنَوَّعَتْ مَظَاهِرُهُ – إِنَّمَا هُوَ لِوُجُوْدِ حِجَابِهِ، فَسَبَبُ الْعَذَابِ – وُجُوْدُ الْحِجَابِ، وَّاتْمَامِ الْنَّعِيمِ – بِالْنَّظَرِ إِلَىَ وَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيْمِ

Blessedness, though comes in various physical forms in this world and in the afterworld, truly comes from witnessing Him by insight in this world and by sight in the afterworld, and His closeness to the slave [abd] a spiritual closeness. If it is not witness and closeness, this blessedness would in truth be torment and suffering. Torment and suffering, though displayed in various physical forms of boiling water and [Zaqqum] and chains, and yokes, truly comes from His being veiled and concealed from you. If He is witnessed, all this would not be torment. The reason for torment is the presence of concealment, and not these forms in themselves, that is why hellfire is not torment for the angels who tend it. This is manifest in His saying: "Nay! They, on that day will be screened off from their Lord. [83:15] Then they will be exposed to Hell-fire, [83:16]". The completeness of blessedness is through regarding His Generous Face, and not through these physical forms in their selves. Parting with Him is more severe than his hellfire, and reaching Him is more pleasant than His heaven. Ask Allah for His beautiful reaching. يعني أن النعيم وإن تنوعت مظاهره التي يظهر فيها من المطاعم والملابس ونحوها في هذه الدار وفي تلك الدار إنما هو بشهوده تعالى بالبصيرة في الدنيا والبصر في الآخرة واقترابه سبحانه من العبد قربا معنويا. وأما إذا لم يكن شهود واقتراب كان ذلك النعيم في الحقيقة عين العذاب فإن العذاب وإن تنوعت مظاهره التي يظهر فيها من أنواع العقوبات: كحميم وزقوم وسلاسل وأغلال إنما هو بسبب احتجاب العبد عن ذي العزة والجلال وأما عند مشاهدته فليس ذلك بعذاب. وقد وضح ذلك بقوله: فسبب العذاب وجود الحجاب أي لا تلك المظاهر لذاتها ولذلك لم تكن النار عذابا على الملائكة الموكلين بها. ويلوح لهذا المعنى قوله تعالى: {كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ {١٥} ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُو الْجَحِيمِ {١٦} (المطففين)} . ثم قال: وإتمام النعيم بالنظر إلى وجهه الكريم أي لا بتلك المظاهر لذاتها فهجره أعظم من ناره ووصله أطيب من جنته أسأل الله جميل الوصال
224 The worries and sorrows which the hearts experience come about because they were denied the presence of witnessing. مَا تَجِدُهُ الْقُلُوْبُ مِنَ الْهُمُوْمِ وَالْأَحْزَانِ – فَلِأَجْلِ مامُنِعَتْهُ مِنْ وُجُوْدِ الْعِيَانِ

The worries related to the future to come and sorrows related to the past gone, which the hearts experience come about because they were denied the presence of witnessing The Lord Almighty with the eye of insight in everything. This is due to witnessing the self and wanting its fortune and reward. If one is absent from regarding his self by witnessing his Lord, he would be continuously happy, as The Lord said about the best of the pious (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) when he told his companion in the cave: ".. 'Do not despair; verily God is with us'... [9:40]". Worries and sorrow will abandon the heart that enlightens with the light of knowledge. But whoever did not reach this status, should only worry about what purifies his heart and cleanses it of sin and wrongdoing, for indeed, worries over worldly matters as making a living are sin-wipers [kaffarat] and over Hereafter matters are elevation of states. يعني أن الذي تجده القلوب من الهموم المتعلقة بالمستقبل والأحزان المتعلقة بالماضي إنما يكون لأجل ما منعته من وجود العيان بكسر العين المهملة أي معاينة الحق جل شأنه بعين البصيرة وذلك من نتائج رؤية النفس وبقاء حظها. فلو غاب شخص عن رؤية نفسه بمعاينة سيده كان دائم الفرح كما أخبر الله عن سيد الأبرار حين قال لصاحبه في الغار: {...لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَنَا ... (التوبة - ٤٠)}. فمن استنار قلبه بنور المعرفة زال همه وتباعد عنه غمه. لكن من لم يصل إلى هذا المقام يكون همه مصفيا لقلبه وموجبا لتطهيره من الذنوب والآثام. فإن الهموم في الأمور الدنيوية كطلب المعيشة كفارات وفي الأمور الأخروية رفع الدرجات
225 Of the completeness of His Bounties and Graces upon you, is to give you what suffices you, and deny you what would otherwise lead you to transgress and oppress. مِنْ تَمَامِ الْنِّعْمَةِ عَلَيْكَ – أَنْ يَرْزُقَكَ مَا يَكْفِيَكَ، وَيَمْنَعُكُ مَا يُطْغِيَكَ

Of the completeness of His Bounties and Graces upon you, is to give you what suffices you, without excess or shortage. Having excess over what suffices leads to transgression. The Lord Almighty said: "Nay, but verily man is [wont to be] rebellious, [96:6] when he sees it to be self-sufficient. [96:7]" Shortage and deficiency less than what suffices is cause for pre-occupation beyond obedience to The Lord and may be cause for asking of people. They said: If the slave [abd] was sufficed but then inclined to the world, The Lord will deprive him of feeling the sweetness of asceticism [zuhd]. يعني أن من تمام نعمة الله عليك أيها المريد أن يرزقك ما يكفيك من غير زيادة ولا نقصان فإن في الزيادة عن الكفاية الطغيان. قال تعالى: {كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَى {٦} أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَى {٧}} (العلق)}. وفي النقصان عن الكفاية الاشتغال عن طاعة الله تعالى والتعرض للسؤال. وقد قالوا: إذا كان العبد في كفاية ثم مال إلى الدنيا سلبه الله حلاوة الزهد. ثم ذكر فائدة تترتب على الرضا بالكفاف فقال
226 Let less things make you happy, so that you lament and feel sorrow over fewer things لِيَقِلَّ مَا تَفْرَحُ بِهِ – يَقِّلُ مَا تَحْزَنُ عَلَيْهِ

Let less things like money and stature make you happy, so that you lament and feel sorrow over fewer things when you lose them. You only feel sad for losing what makes you happy to have. If these are fewer then those are fewer. And it was said:

as much as a thing delights you is its sorrow (when parting with)
and it is difficult to remove the arrow not matter how deep it goes.

And to prevent devastating consequences of sorrow has priority over bringing a joy that does not last. And as was said:

and who wishes not to see what will annoy him
will not own what he fears losing
for a persons good all becomes
evil if it exceeds the limits.
أي ليقل الشيء الذي تفرح به من المال والجاه ليقل حزنك عليه عند فقده. فإن المفروح به هو المحزون عليه إن قليلا فقليل وإن كثيرا فكثير. كما قيل في ذلك
على قدر ما أولعت بالشيء حزنه
ويصعب نزع السهم مهما تمكنا
ودرء مفسدة وجود الحزن مقدم على جلب مصلحة الفرح الذي لا يدوم. كما قيل
ومن سره أن لا يرى ما يسوؤه
فلا يتخذ شيئا يخاف له فقدا
فإن صلاح المرء يرجع كله
فسادا إذا الإنسان جاز به الحدا
ثم ذكر ما هو من أفراد ذلك بقوله
227 If you don't want to be overthrown, don't assume a position that does not last. إِنَّ أَرَدْتُ أَلَّا تُعْزَلَ – فَلَا تَتَوَلَّ وِلَايَةً لَا تَدُوْمُ لَكَ

If you don't want to be overthrown and so be saddened with being toppled from your state, don't assume a position that does not last for you. It is a sweet beginning for he who tastes it, but regard its bitter end. يعني أن أردت أن لا تعزل فتحزن بسبب العزل عن الولاية فلا تتول ولاية لا تدوم لك. فإنها نعمت المرضعة وبئست الفاطمة مبتدأ حلو لمن ذاقه ولكن انظر خبر المبتدأ كما أشار إلى ذلك بقوله
228 If you desire the beginnings, the ends will renounce you. If what is manifest lures you towards it (the world), what is hidden warns you against it.. إِنَّ رَغِبْتَ الْبِدَايَاتِ – زَهِدَتكَْ النِّهَايَاتِ: إِنْ دَعَاكَ إِلَيْهَا ظَاهِرٌ – نَهَاكَ عَنْهَا بَاطِنٌ

If you desire the beginnings of worldly matters as position and status, the ends of it will renounce you, if not by parting with them, then at least by death. If what is manifest lures you towards worldly affairs, what is hidden warns you against them, because of what they entail of preoccupation from obedience to The Knower Of Hidden Souls. Worldly affairs in appearance are pleasantries, and in essence are evil and harm. So the wise is the one who renounces the world. And contemplate His saying: "... Truly this life of the world is only an [ephemeral] enjoyment, whereas the Hereafter truly is the enduring abode. [40:39]" يعني إذا رغبتك أيها المغتر بدايات الأمور الدنيوية كالولاية لرونقها الظاهر زهدتك نهايتها من العزل عنها ولو بالموت ونهاك عنها باطنها من كونها شاغلة عن طاعة عالم السرائر. فالأمور الدنيوية في الظاهر تسر وفي الباطن تضر. فمتى رغبتك البدايات بتسهيل ما تريد زهدتك النهايات بالوقوع فيما لا تريد. فالعاقل من زهد في الدنيا. وتأمل قول العزيز القهار: {...إِنَّمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ  (غافر - ٣٩)}ء
229 He only made it a place for otherness [al-aghyar], and stage for mishaps and calamity to help you renounce it. إِنَّمَا جَعَلَهَا مَحَلّا لِلْأَغْيَارِ، وَمَعْدِنَاً لِلْأَكْدَارِ؛ تَزْهِيْدا لَكَ فِيْهَا

He, The Exalted, only made the world a place for otherness [al-aghyar] as illness and tribulations, and stage for mishaps and calamity that trouble the person to help you renounce it. The befalling of mishaps and calamities are part of His blessedness upon you, as they make you renounce the world before its harm reaches you. يعني أنه سبحانه إنما جعل الدنيا محلا للأغيار كالأمراض والمحن ومعدن للأكدار التي تكدر الإنسان فهو بمعنى ما قبله ليزهدك فيها فورود الأكدار من جملة النعيم عليك لكونها تزهدك في الدنيا قبل أن يصل ضررها إليك
230 He knew that you will not accept simple advise, so He made you experience from its tastes what eases for you to part with it. عَلِمَ أَنَّكَ لَاتَقْبَلَ الْنُّصْحَ الْمُجَرَّدَ، فَذَوَّقَكَ مِنْ ذَوَاقِهَا – مَا سَهَّلَ عَلَيْكَ وُجُوْدَ فِرَاقِهَا

The Lord Almighty knew that you, overtaken by the love of the perishing world, will not accept and take simple advise without a taste of illness and inflictions, so He made you experience from its tastes and troubles what eases for you to part with the world. For a person when experiencing troubles and illnesses will be looking forward for death and departing the world. You should count this among the greatest blessings even if it comes in the form of inflictions and troubles. But who is not overtaken by the love of the perishing world will be sufficed by simple advise. And as some said: the slave needs the stick and the free is sufficed by blame. And:

The Lord has insightful slaves
who divorced the world and feared temptation
they regarded it and when they realized
that it is not a permanent home for living
they made it a deep ocean and
took to performing good deeds to be their ships.
يعني أن الله سبحانه علم منك يا من استحكم فيك حب الدنيا الفانية أنك لا تقبل نصح الناصحين لك المجرد عن البلايا والأمراض فذوقك من ذواقها أي مما شأنه أن يذاق فيها من تلك المحن ما يسهل عليك فراقها فإن العبد إذا نزل به شيء من ذلك يتمنى الموت ومفارقة الدنيا. فعد ذلك عليك من أعظم المنن وإن ظهر لك في صورة البلايا والمحن. وأما من لم يستحكم في قلبه حب الدنيا فإن مجرد النصح يكفيه. كما قال بعضهم: العبد يقرع بالعصا والحر تكفيه الملامة. ولله در القائل
إن لله عبادا فطنا
طلقوا الدنيا وخافوا الفتنا
نظروا فيها فلما علموا
أنها ليست لحي وطنا
جعلوها لجة واتخذوا
صالح الأعمال فيها سفنا
231 A fruitful knowledge is that whose rays shine through the chest, and through which the heart's mask is lifted. الْعِلْمُ الْنَّافِعُ – هُوَ الَّذِيْ يَنْبَسِطُ فِيْ الْصَّدْرِ شُعَاعُهُ، وَيَنْكَشِفُ بِهِ عَنِ الْقَلْبِ قِنَاعُهُ

Fruitful knowledge is knowledge of The Lord Almighty, His traits, His Names, and knowledge of servitude to Him, and proper manners towards Him. This is the knowledge whose rays shine through the chest, so it expands and opens to Islam, and through which the heart's mask is lifted, so it is cleared of doubts and delusions. Al-Gonaid said: knowledge is to know your Lord, and not to surpass your measure and magnitude. It is knowing The Lord and knowing proper manners. So do not be deceived by the knowledge of words, and abide by the knowledge that will direct you to The Most Generous The Bestower. يعني أن العلم النافع هو العلم بالله تعالى وصفاته وأسمائه والعلم بكيفية التعبد له والتأدب بين يديه لأنه العلم الذي ينبسط في الصدر شعاعه أي نوره فيتسع وينشرح للإسلام ويكشف به عن القلب قناعه أي غطاؤه فتزول عنه الشكوك والأوهام. قال الجنيد: العلم أن تعرف ربك ولا تعدو قدرك. أي هو معرفة الله وحسن الآداب فلا تغتر بعلم اللسان وعليك بالعلم الذي يوصلك إلى الكريم الوهاب. كما قال المصنف
232 The best knowledge is that which is associated with fearfulness. خَيْرُ الْعِلْمِ – مَا كَانَتْ الْخَشْيَةُ مَعَهُ

Beneficial knowledge is that which makes the person abide by fearfulness, which is fear associated with reverence that leads to deeds. The Lord Almighty commended those who realize this and said: "...Indeed only those of God’s servants who have knowledge fear Him... [35:28]" The knowledgeable who is devoid of fear is not truly knowledgeable, specially if his aim is acquisition and saving and boasting and arrogance. Knowledge is this case will be against him and not for him, and will bring upon him severe punishment. Among the inheritors of the prophets will only be those who are characterized by the prophets' traits of denouncing the world and longing for the hereafter and being overtaken by piety and fear of God. And some said:

if knowledge without piety and fear of God had any honor
the best in creation would have been Satan.

And:
they said a man is knowledgeable
so honor him as much as he pleases,
and I said since he had no piety and fear of God,
then this denies the request.

And contemplate what The Lord said in His guarded Qur'an: "They know [merely] an outward aspect of the life of this world; but they, of the Hereafter, they are oblivious. [30:7]" So abide by obedience if you want to be among the knowledgeable, and seek refuge with Allah from un-beneficial knowledge, as the master of the first and last (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) did.
يعني أن العلم النافع هو ما كان صاحبه ملازما للخشية وهي خوف مع إجلال ينشا عنه العمل وقد أثنى الله تعالى على العلماء بذلك فقال: {.. إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء... (فاطر - ٢٨)} وأما العالم الذي لا خشية معه فليس عالما على الحقيقة خصوصا إذا كان همه الجمع والادخار والمباهاة والاستكبار فإن علم هذا حجه عليه وسبب في جر وبال العقوبة إليه لأنه لا يكون من ورثة الأنبياء إلا إذا كان بصفة المورث عنه من الزهد في الدنيا والرغبة في الآخرة وتمكن التقوى منه. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
 لو كان للعلم من دون التقى شرف
لكان أفضل خلق الله إبليس
ولقد أحسن من قال
قالوا فلان عالم فاضل
فأكرموه مثل ما يرتضى
فقلت لما لم يكن ذا تقى
تعارض المانع والمقتضى
وناهيك قوله سبحانه في كتابه المكنون: {يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ (الروم -٧)}. فالزم الطاعة أن أردت أن تكون من العلماء العاملين واستعذ بالله من علم لا ينفع كما استعاذ منه سيد الأولين والآخرين ثم أكد المصنف ذلك بقوله
233 Knowledge that is associated with fear counts for you, or else it is against you. الْعِلْمُ إِنَّ قَارَنَتْهُ الْخَشْيَةُ – فَلَكَ وَإِلَا فَعَلَيْكَ

Beneficial knowledge for which you will have reward [thawab] is the knowledge that is associated with fearfulness from The Lord Almighty and leads you to continue performing deeds. If, on the other hand, you intention is boasting and grandiosity, then its burden will be upon you, and your hope will be in vain. Knowledge will not be beneficial unless the intention is to satisfy his Lord and to use it for what He likes and accepts. Seeking nearness to The Lord with knowledge is the objective of the honorable. Contemplate the Hadith of Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam: "Every day in which I do not increase in a knowledge that brings me closer to my Lord, may the sunrise of this day not be blessed." And they said: whoever passes time acquiring knowledge and does not work with it is similar to who spent time purifying and repeating performing ablution [wadou] but never praying. The intention of knowledge should be what it leads of good deeds, as the intention of ablution [wadou] should be to perform prayer. And even seeking knowledge of and learning Hadith should be for this purpose. Abu Dawood Al-Tawalsy (one of the most learned early imams of Hadith) said: "if heaping and piling knowledge of Hadith will divert you from [zikr] and from performing prayer, you should abandon it'. Imam Malik when asked about knowledge said: "seeking knowledge is goodness if the intention is proper, but regard what you require since you wake up till you sleep and since you sleep till you wake up (of performing obligatory deeds), and prefer nothing to it". يعني أن العلم النافع الذي يكون لك ثوابه هو ما قارنته الخشية من الله تعالى فتداوم العمل. وإلا بأن قصدت به المباهاة والتعاظم فعليك وزره وخاب منك الأمل. فإنه لا يكون العلم نافعا إلا إذا كانت نية صاحبه طلب مرضاة مولاه واستعماله فيما يحبه ويرضاه لأن التقرب إلى الله تعالى بالعلم هو مقصود الأكابر من القوم. وناهيك قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " كل يوم لا أزداد فيه علما يقربني إلى ربي فلا بورك لي في طلوع شمس ذلك اليوم " وقد قالوا: مثل من قطع الأوقات في طلب العلم فمكث أربعين أو خمسين سنة يتعلم ولا يعمل كمثل من قعد هذه المدة يتطهر ويجدد الطهارة ولم يصل ركعة واحدة. إذ المقصود من العلم العمل كما أن المقصود بالطهارة وجود الصلاة وقد سمع أبو داود الطيالسي يحدث عن شعبة أنه كان يقول: الإكثار من هذا الحديث يصدكم عن ذكر الله وعن الصلاة فهل أنتم منتهون. فإذا كان الإكثار من طلب الحديث بهذه المثارة عند هذين الإمامين مع ما فيه من الفوائد الأخروية فما ظنك بغيره من محدثات العلوم ومبتدعاتها وقد ذكر طلب العلم عند الإمام مالك فقال: إن طلبه لحسن إذا صحت فيه النية ولكن انظر ماذا يلزمك من حين تصبح إلى حين تمسي ومن حين تمسي إلى حين تصبح فلا تؤثرون عليه شيئا
234 Whenever it pains you that people don't gather around you, avoid you, or slander you, go back to what The Lord knows about you. If what He knows about you does not convince you (that you deserve what is happening to you), then you face a greater problem not sensing what He knows about you than the hurt afflicting you from the people. مَتَىَ آَلَمَكَ عَدَمُ إِقْبَالِ الْنَّاسِ عَلَيْكَ، أَوْ تَوَجُّهُهُمْ بِالذَّمِّ إِلَيْكَ – فَارْجِعْ إِلَىَ عِلْمِ الْلَّهِ فِيْكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا يُقْنِعُكَ عِلْمُهُ – فَّمُصِيْبَتُكَ بِعَدَمِ قَنَاعَتِكَ بِعِلْمِهِ – أَشَدُّ مِنَ مُصِيْبَتُكَ بِوُجُوْدِ الْأَذَى مِنْهُمْ

Whenever it pains you that people don't gather around you and praise you, or that they avoid you, or slander you, go back to what The Lord knows about you. He knows what is manifest and hidden of you. If you are before Him faithful in your deeds, do not mind people's slander, and if you are detested by Him, do not be deceived by their flattery. If what He knows about you does not benefit you enough, and you long for what the people can provide, then you face a greater problem not sensing what He knows about you than the hurt afflicting you from the people, because of your distance from The Lord of both Worlds. The [mureed] 's sight should only be directed to regarding his Lord, so he does not rejoice except on nearing Him, and does not grieve except due to distancing from Him, may The Lord save us from this. يعني متى أوجعك عدم إقبال الناس عليك بالمدح أو آلمك توجههم إليك بالذم فارجع إلى علم الله فيك فإنه هو الذي يعلم ظاهرك وخافيك فإن كنت عنده مخلصا في أعمالك فلا تغتم لذم الذامين وإن كنت عنده ممقوتا فلا تغتر بمدح المادحين فإن كان لا ينفعك علم الله بك بل نظرت إلى ما من المخلوقين فمصيبتك الحاصلة لك بعدم قناعتك بعلمه أشد من مصيبتك بوجود الأذى منهم لبعدك عن رب العالمين فلا ينبغي للمريد أن يكون مطمح نظره إلا إلى مولاه فلا يفرح إلا بإقباله عليه ولا يحزن إلا لإعراضه عنه والعياذ بالله
235 He made them hurt and afflict you to prevent you from finding intimacy in them. He wanted to disturb you away of everything so that nothing distracts you from Him. إِنَّمَا أَجْرَىَ الْأَذَىَ عَلَىَ أَيْدِيِهِمْ كَيْ لَا تَكُوْنُ سَاكِنَاً إِلَيْهِمْ، أَرَادَ أَنْ يُزْعِجُكَ عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، حَتَّىَ لَا يَشْغَلَكَ عَنْهُ شَيْءٌ

The Lord, [Subhanahu], only made people hurt and afflict you to prevent your heart from inclining to them. This is in truth a blessing, because it directed you to The Only One to deliver graces and blessings upon you. If it were not for this, people would have lazed in the splendor of glory and wealth, which is a huge veil from The Lord. A gnostic ([aaref]) used to say in prayer: O Lord, some people prayed that You subjugate people to them, and you did, which satisfied them; but as for me, I pray that you divert people away from me, so that You become my only refuge. Ibn Ata'Illah wrote in Lata'if Al-Minan: it is mandated that the [awliyaa] in the beginning of the path be plagued by the people in order that they purify of remnants and they complete in virtue, and in order that they do not find intimacy with people or rely or depend on them; and whoever has hurt you has in fact liberated you from the slavery of his giving, and whoever has done you good has in fact enslaved you by the necessity of gratitude. That is why Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said in the Hadith: "whoever did you a favor, you should reward him, and if you cannot, then pray for him", to liberate the heart from slavery to people's giving, and allow them to attach only to The Ki Al-Haqq. He wanted to disturb you away of everything so that nothing distracts you from Him, [Subhanahu]. And Abul-Hasan Al-Shadhuli said: someone hurt me and I was very upset; then I saw a revelation telling me: a sign of sainthood is plentifulness of enemies, and not being bothered by them.
يعني أنه سبحانه إنما أجرى الأذى لك أيها المريد على أيدي الخلق لأجل أن لا تكون مائلا إليهم بقلبك. فهو في الحقيقة نعمة عليك لأنه أوصلك إلى من لا تصل النعم إلا منه إليك قال بعض العارفين: الصيحة من العدو سوط الله يضرب به القلوب إذا ساكنت غيره. ولولا ذلك لرقد العبد في ظل العز والجاه وهو حجاب عن الله عظيم وكان بعض العارفين يقول في دعائه: اللهم أن قوما سألوك أن تسخر لهم خلقك فسخرت لهم خلقك فرضوا منك بذلك. اللهم إني أسألك اعوجاج الخلق علي حتى لا يكون لي ملجأ إلا إليك وقال في لطائف المنن: اعلم أن أولياء الله حكمهم في بداياتهم أن يسلط الخلق عليهم ليطهروا من البقايا وتكمل فيهم المزايا ولئلا يساكنوا هذا الخلق باعتماد أو يميلوا إليهم باستناد ومن آذاك فقد أعتقك من رق إحسانه ومن أحسن إليك فقد استرقك بوجود امتنانه. ولذلك قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: " من أسدى إليكم معروفا فكافئوه فإن لم تقدروا فادعوا الله له ". كل ذلك ليتخلص القلب من رق إحسان الخلق وليتعلق بالملك الحق وقول المصنف: أراد أن يزعجك الخ بمعنى ما قبله يعني أراد أن ينفرك من كل شيء سواه حتى لا يشغلك عنه سبحانه شيء. وذلك من أكبر النعم عليك من الله قال أبو الحسن الشاذلي: آذاني إنسان مرة فضقت ذرعا بذلك فنمت فرأيت يقال لي: من علامة الصديقية كثرة أعدائها ثم لا يبالي بهم
236 If you know that Satan is always mindful you, don't you forget The One Who controls your fate. إِذَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْشَّيْطَانَ لَا يَغْفَلُ عَنْكَ – فَلَا تَغْفُلْ أَنْتَ عَمَّنْ نَاصِيَتُكَ بِيَدِهِ

If you know that Satan is always mindful of you and is always scheming to seduce you and fight you from every direction, as The Lord said: "Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right and from their left. ...[7:17]" (Ibn Abbas said: from before them: I make them doubt the Hereafter, from behind them: I make them desire the world, from their right: I make them distrust their religion, from their left: I beautify sin and verify falsehood for them), then do not be heedless of your Lord who controls your fate and destiny. Verify your slavery and servitude to Him, and depend upon Him and seek refuge with Him, and He will prevent you his evil and harm. As He said: "...And who is truer in statement than God? [4:87]" "‘Truly as for My servants, you shall have no warrant’. And Your Lord suffices as a guardian. [17:65]". This is the reason for Satan's existence, and He said: "...and none but Satan made me forget to mention it ... [18:63]" and "...‘This is of Satan’s doing...[28:15]", but know that he has no will or power through which to harm or benefit. And in the Hadith: "Satan said: by Your Glory and Majesty, I will continue tempting sons of Adam as long as they have life in them; and The Lord said: by My Glory and Majesty I will continue forgiving them as long as they seek My forgiveness." Dhul-Nun al-Misri said: if he sees you from where you do not see him, The Lord sees him from where he does not see The Lord, so seek Allah's help against him. يعني إذا تيقنت أيها المريد بالأدلة القطعية أن الشيطان لا يغفل عن إغوائك ومحاربتك من كل جهة كما قص الله تعالى ذلك بقوله {ثُمَّ لآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ... (الأعراف - ١٧)}. قال ابن عباس: من بين أيدهم أشككهم في آخرتهم ومن خلفهم أرغبهم في دنياهم وعن أيمانهم أشبه عليهم أمر دينهم وعن شمائلهم أزين لهم المعاصي وأحقق لهم الباطل. فلا تغفل أنت عن مولاك الذي ناصيتك بيده أي قدرته وذلك بتحقيق عبوديتك له وتوكلك عليه واعتصامك به والتجائك إليه. فإن الله تعالى يكفيك شره. كما قال سبحانه: {...وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللّهِ حَدِيثًا (النساء - ٨٧)} {إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلاً  (الإسراء - ٦٥)} قال بعض العارفين: الشيطان منديل هذه الدار يعني يمسح به أقذار النسب وهي نسبة الشرور وأنواع المعاصي والفساد إليه أدبا مع الله تعالى وهذا سر إيجاده كما قال تعالى: {...وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ.. (الكهف - ٦٣)}. وقال تعالى: {...هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ... (القصص - ١٥)}. وأما أن له حولا وقوة يضر بها أو ينفع فلا آه. وفي الحديث: " أن إبليس قال: وعزتك وجلالك لا أبرح أغوي بني آدم ما دامت الأرواح فيهم فقال الله عز وجل: وعزتي وجلالي لا أبرح أغفر لهم ما استغفروني" وقال ذو النون المصري: أن كان هو يراك من حيث لا تراه فإن الله يراه من حيث لا يرى الله فاستعن بالله عليه
237 He made him (Satan) your enemy so that he makes you feel the need to return to Him, and He set your own self against you so that your coming towards Him continues. جَعَلَهُ لَكَ عَدُواً لِيَحُوشَكَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ، وَحَرَّكَ عَلَيْكَ الْنَّفْسَ؛ لِيَدُومَ إِقْبَالُكَ عَلَيْهِ

The Lord made Satan your enemy, as He The Almighty said: "Truly Satan is an enemy to you. So treat him as an enemy;...[35:6]" so that he makes you feel, through him, the need to return to Him [Subhanahu]. For if you know that you cannot overcome his temptation on your own, you will be obliged to seek The Lord's support against him; and thus His setting him against you was in fact a blessing, so thank your Wise Lord for it, and contemplate this Hikma. And He set your own self against you by its continuous want for lust and passion so that your coming towards Him continues. You are not able to fight it and suppress its lust except with The Lord's help. If He brings you back to Him through it, then you have reached your aim. Ibn Ata'Illah used to refer to the four enemies by:

I have been inflicted by four who throw me
 with arrows from stretched bows
Satan, the world, my self, and passion
O Lord, of my salvation You are capable
أي جعل الله لك الشيطان عدوا كما قال تعالى: {إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا...(فاطر - ١٦)}. ليحوشك أي ليردك به إليه سبحانه فإنك إذا عرفت أنك لا تطيق رد غوايته لك بنفسك اضطررت إلى الاستعانة عليه بربك فكان تسليطه في الحقيقة من الله عليك نعمة. فاشكر مولاك الحكيم عليها وتأمل بفكرك هذه الحكمة وكذلك حرك عليك النفس بطلب متابعة الشهوة والهوى ليدوم إقبالك عليه تعالى فإنك لا تقدر على مجاهدتها وقمع شهواتها إلا بمعونة مولاك فإذا أرجعك بها إليه فقد بلغك مناك وكأن المصنف رضي الله عنه يشير إلى الأعداء الأربعة المجموعة في قول بعضهم
إني بليت بأربع يرمينني
بالنبل عن قوس لها توتير
إبليس والدنيا ونفسي والهوى
يا رب أنت على الخلاص قدير
238 Who declared himself as modest ([motawadi']) is the true arrogant, for feeling modesty ([tawadoaa]) only follows a sense of eminence. Once you label yourself as modest, then you are the true arrogant. مَنْ أَثْبَتَ لِنَفْسِهِ تَوَاضُعاً – فَهُوَ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ حَقاً: إِذْ لَيْسَ التَّوَاضُعُ إِلَا عَنْ رِفْعَةٍ؛ فَمَتَىَّ أَثْبَتَّ لِنَفْسِكَ تَوَاضُعاً – فَأَنْتَ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ حَقاً

Who thinks of himself and declares that he is humble ([motawadi']) is the true arrogant, for the modesty he labeled himself with comes from assuming an eminence he deserved but relinquished to a lower state. Assuming an eminent state is the apex of arrogance. Once you see yourself as modest ([motawadi']) and that you willingly descended from a status you deserved, you are conscious of that status and proud of it. Arrogance is not negated except by the true presence of abasement by not seeing for yourself any value or status. Al-Shibly said: whoever sees for himself any value has no share of modesty. Signs of being modest is absence of anger when blamed or reproached, absence of hate at being cursed or slandered, and absence of desire for any fame or status. Abu Yazeed said: If a person sees that there is someone worse than he is, then he is arrogant; when asked then when is he humble? he answered: if he does not see for his self any state or status. Each person's modesty and humility is proportionate to his knowledge of his Lord and his self. A gnostic ([aaref]) used to let the dog pass before him in the street and say: he is more worthy of a status than me, for I have a lot of sins and the dog has no sin. And some said: a person should never see an advantage for himself over anyone, even over an infidel, because no one is secure of a good ending, and consider His saying: "...None feels secure from God’s plotting but the people who are losers. [7:99]" and His saying: "... and know that God comes in between a man and his heart;...[8:24]"; and the Hadith: "Indeed man's heart is more turning than a churning boiling pot." And Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam used to say: "O Lord, Stabilizer of the hearts, please stabilize my heart to your religion."
يعني أن من أثبت لنفسه تواضعا بأن خطر بباله أنه متواضع فهو المتكبر حقا إذ ليس التواضع الذي أثبته لنفسه ناشئا إلا عن شهود رفعة كان يستحقها وتنازل عنها إلى ما دونها. وشهود ذلك هو عين التكبر فمتى أثبت لنفسك تواضعا وشاهدت أنك نزلت عن الدرجة التي تستحقها فأنت المتكبر بها ولا ينتفي عنك التكبر إلا بوجود الضعة حقيقة بأن لا ترى لنفسك قيمة ولا مرتبة. كما قال الشبلي: من رأى لنفسه قيمة فليس له من التواضع نصيب. وعلامة المتحقق بهذا الخلق أن لا يغضب إذا عوتب ولا يكره أن يذم أو يقذف بالكبائر ولا يحرص أن يكون له عند الناس قدر أو جاه وقال أبو يزيد: ما دام العبد يظن أن في الخلق من هو شر منه فهو متكبر. قيل: فمتى يكون متواضعا ؟ قال: إذا لم ير لنفسه مقاما أو حالا. وتواضع كل أحد على قدر معرفته بربه وبنفسه. فقد كان بعض العارفين إذا عارضه في الطريق كلب يوسع له ويمشي هو أسفل منه ويقول: هو أولى بالكرامة لأني كثير الذنوب والكلب لا ذنب له وقال بعضهم: لا يجوز للإنسان أن يرى لنفسه مزية على غيره ولو كافرا لعدم أمن العاقبة. وناهيك قوله تعالى: {...فَلاَ يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللّهِ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ (الأعراف - ٩٩)}. وقوله تعالى: {...وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ ... (الأنفال - ٢٤)} وفي الحديث: " لقلب ابن آدم أشد انقلابا من القدر إذا استجمعت غليانا ". وكان صلى الله عليه وسلم كثيرا ما يقول: "يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك" ثم وضح ما تقدم بقوله
239 The humble [motawadi'] is not the one who sees himself above what he has done (he deserved a better state and left it out of humility), but the humble [motawadi'] is the one who sees himself beneath what he has done (he deserved a lower state). لَيْسَ الْمُتَوَاضِعُ الَّذِيْ إِذَا تَوَاضَع رَأَىَ أَنَّهُ فَوْقَ مَا صَنَعَ، وَلَكِنَّ الْمُتَوَاضِعُ الَّذِيْ إِذَا تَوَاضَعَ رَأَىَ أَنَّهُ دُوْنَ مَا صَنَعَ

Who sits in the end of the group but thinks he deserved sitting up front, and sees that he has done that out of modesty [tawadoaa] is the true arrogant. And who sees that his status is below that and that his sitting an the end of the group is above what he deserves because he does not regard any value or status for himself is the true modest. فمن جلس في آخر المجلس مثلا ورأى أنه يستحق الجلوس في صدره وإنما فعل ذلك تواضعا فهو المتكبر ومن رأى أن مرتبته أحط من ذلك وأن جلوسه في آخر المجلس فوق ما يستحق لكونه لا يرى لنفسه قدرا ولا رتبة فهو المتواضع
240 True humility is that emanating from witnessing His Might and Greatness and sensing the revelation of His Trait. التَّوَاضُعُ الْحَقِيقِيَّ – هُوَ مَا كَانَ نَاشِئَاً عَنْ شُهُوْدِ عَظَمَتِهِ، وَتَجَلَّيْ صِفَتِهِ

True humility that is not tainted with the smallest smear of arrogance is that emanating from witnessing His Might and Greatness and sensing the revelation of His Trait. Al-Suhrawardi wrote in Awaref Al-Maaref: a slave [abd] does not reach the truth of modesty and humility till the light of witnessing shines in his heart; then the self dissolves, and with its dissolution comes its purification of the deception of arrogance and self-amusement. It becomes gentle and it humbles to The Lord and to the people. يعني أن التواضع الحقيقي الذي لا يبقى معه شائبة كبر هو ما كان ناشئا عن شهود عظمته تعالى وتجلي صفته على العبد. كما قال في عوارف المعارف: لا يبلغ العبد حقيقة التواضع إلا عند لمعان نور المشاهدة في قلبه فعند ذلك تذوب النفس وعند ذوبانها صفاؤها من غش الكبر والعجب فتلين وتنطبع للحق وللخلق بمحو آثارها وسكون وهجها وغليانها ثم علل ذلك بقوله
   
     
     
     
     
241 You do not part with (your) description [wasf] except by witnessing (His) Description [Wasf]. لَا يُخْرِجُكَ عَنِ الْوَصْفِ إِلَا شُهُوْدُ الْوَصْفِ

You do not part with your description [wasf] except by witnessing His Divine Description [Wasf]. If you do not witness His Glory and Utmost Greatness and Majesty, do not assume that you have any modesty in you. You will not stop seeing your own power and ability except when you witness The Lord Almighty's Power and Ability, and you will not stop seeing your own wealth except when you witness His Wealth and Richness, and you will not stop seeing any might for your self except when you witness His Might; whereby you exist with Him in everything, not with yourself. So contemplate this and endeavor to please your Lord before your time expires. أي لا يخرجك عن وصفك النفساني إلا شهود الوصف الرباني فإذا لم تشهد عظمته وكبريائه وجلاله فلا تتوهم أن لك نصيبا من التواضع الحقيقي فقف عند حدك واعرف قدر نفسك ولا تدع أحوال الرجال قبل أن تظفر بالنوال. وهذا وإن كان مرتبا على ما قبله لكنه أعم منه. فلا يخرجك عن شهود القدرة والقوة من نفسك إلا شهود قدرة الله تعالى وقوته ولا يخرجك عن شهود الغنى لك إلا شهود غناه ولا يخرجك عن شهود العزة لنفسك إلا شهود عزته. فتبقى بربك في الكل لا بنفسك. فتدبر ذلك وجد في مرضاة مولاك قبل حلول رمسك
242 The believer is more occupied by praising The Lord than by thanking himself (for his deeds), and The Lord’s rights and dues occupy him beyond remembering his own fortunes. الْمُؤْمِنُ يَشْغَلُهُ الْثَّنَاءُ عَلَىَ الْلَّهِ عَنْ أَنْ يَكُوْنَ – لِنَفْسِهِ شَاكِرا، وَتَشْغَلُهُ حُقُوْقِ الْلَّهِ عَنْ أَنْ يَكُوْنَ لِحُظُوظِهِ ذَاكِرَا

The true believer departs from his self, and does not see it doing any good deeds, but sees all his deeds originating from The Lord Almighty. If he prays or fasts or performs any obedience, he will be preoccupied with thanking The Lord who permitted and supported him to this beyond thanking his self for doing them, because he does not witness his self. He is also preoccupied with paying The Lord's dues of worshiping Him for His Self beyond observing his own fortunes of seeking entry into heaven of fearing and avoiding hellfire.
يعني أن المؤمن الحقيقي ذاهب عن نفسه فلا يرى لها عملا صالحا وإنما يشاهد الأفعال من الله تعالى فإذا صلى أو صام أو فعل شيئا من الطاعات شغله الثناء على الله الذي أوجد ذلك فيه ووفقه له عن أن يكون لنفسه شاكرا لعدم رؤيته لنفسه. كما تشغله حقوق الله أي مراعاتها بأن يعبده لذاته عن أن يكون لحظوظه من طمع في جنة أو خوف من نار ذاكرا. كما وضح ذلك بقوله
243 The lover is not the one who expects from his loved one reward, or asks him to grant a request. Indeed the lover is the one who gives you, and not the one you give to. لَيْسَ الْمُحِبُّ الَّذِيْ يَرْجُومِنَ مَحْبُوْبِهِ عَوَضاً، أَوَيَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ غَرَضاً، فَإِنَّ الْمُحِبَّ مَنْ يَبْذُلُ لَكَ، لَيْسَ الْمُحِبُّ مَنْ تَبْذُلُ لَهُ

The lover is not the one who expects from his Loved One reward or compensation for deeds as entry into heaven or escaping hellfire, or asks Him to grant him a request, whether worldly or for the Hereafter. A true lover gives you, and is not the one you give to. As was said: If a lover loves his loved one, you find him endeavoring to exert the utmost. Ibn Al-Faridd said:

I only own my soul, and the spender (giver)
of his self for the love of his loved one is not extravagant.
If You accept it, You would have saved me,
otherwise how disappointing will be the endeavor if You do not save me.

Abu Abdullah Al-Qurashy said: the essence of loving is to give your all to whom you love till you have nothing left of you for you. And some said:

if the eye still has a single drop,
then I would be disgraced and degraded among the lovers.

The true lover is not the one you give to, because true love overtakes totally the lover's heart so he can notice nothing saved his loved one. Whoever worships Him for heaven is not loving Him, but loving heaven. As some said:

I do not aim by my love to be bribed
he whose love is feeble is the one who expects reward for it.
يعني ليس المحب الحقيقي هو الذي يرجو من محبوبه عوضا على أعماله كدخول الجنة أو النجاة من النار أو يطلب منه غرضا من الأغراض الدنيوية أو الأخروية. فإن المحب الحقيقي من يبذل لك بفتح التحتية وضم المعجمة بينهما موحدة أي يعطيك. كما قال القائل: إن المحب إذا أحب حبيبه تلقاه يبذل فيه ما لا يبذل. ولابن الفارض
ما لي سوى روحي وباذل نفسه
في حب من يهواه ليس بمسرف
فلئن رضيت بها لقد أسعفتني
يا خيبة المسعى إذا لم تسعف
وقال أبو عبد الله القرشي: حقيقة المحبة أن تهب كلك لمن أحببته حتى لا يبقى لك منك شيء. وما ألطف قول بعضهم
لئن بقيت في العين مني قطرة
فإني إذا في العاشقين ذليل
وقوله: “ ليس المحب “ أي الحقيقي “ من تبذل له “ لأن المحبة الحقيقية أخذ خصال المحبوب لحبة قلب المحب فلا يكون عنده التفات لغير محبوبه. فمن عبده تعالى لجنته فليس محبا له بل للجنة. كما قال بعضهم
وما أنا بالباغي عن الحب رشوة
ضعيف هوى يرجو عليه ثوابا
244 If it were not for the fields and pastures of the selfs, those traveling (towards Him) would have not traveled. For there is no distance separating you from Him to be covered in a trip, and no rift between you and Him to be erased by your reaching. لَوْلَا مَيَادِيْنُ الْنُّفُوْسِ – مَا تَحَقَّقَ سَيْرُ الْسَّائِرِيْنَ، إِذْ لامَسَافَةٌ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ؛ حَتَّىَ تَطْوِيَهَا رِحْلَتُكَ، وَلَا قَطِيْعَةٌ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ؛ حَتَّىَ تَمْحُوَهَا وُصْلَتُكَ

If it were not for lusts and wants of the self in which it wanders and desires, those traveling towards Him would have not needed to travel, and no [mureed] would have set on the path, as there would not have been the need for a path. For The Lord Almighty is closer to you than your jugular vein, and if selfs purify, they would notice that they are in The Presence of The Most Holy. Traveling towards Allah is only traversing the obstacles of your self. There is no physical distance separating you from Him to be covered in a trip, as it would only be between two of the same kind. And there is no rift creating a physical separation between you and Him to be erased by your reaching, because rifts are only between enemies, and where are you from being an enemy to your Lord? There is no veil preventing your arrival except your self; and this veil will not be lifted except by killing it and purifying it of everything that angers The Lord.
يعني لولا شهوات النفوس ومألوفاتها التي تخوض فيها وتتعشقها كما تخوض الفرسان في الميادين الواسعة التي تجول فيها الخيل ما تحقق سير السائرين أي ما تصور سير من أي مريد. فإن الله تعالى أقرب إليه من حبل الوريد ولو تطهرت النفوس لعلمت أنها في حضرة القدوس. فالسير إلى الله إنما هو قطع عقبات نفسك. فإن البعد منسوب إليك لا إلى ربك إذ لا مسافة حسية بينك وبينه تقطعها رحلتك لأنها لا تكون إلا بين متماثلين. ولا قطعة بضم القاف أي لا مقاطعة توجب البعد المعنوي بينك وبينه حتى تمحوها وصلتك لأن ذلك لا يكون إلا بين متعاديين وأين أنت من معاداة ربك. فليس ثم حجاب يمنع وصولك غير نفسك ولا يزول ذلك الحجاب إلا بإماتتها وتطهيرها من كل ما يغضب رب الأرباب ولا يكون ذلك في الغالب إلا بتسليمها لشيخ عارف بما لها من الأحوال فإنك تصل بالانقياد إليه إلى أعلى مراتب الكمال
245 He placed you in the world between His Kingdom and His Dominion, to let you know your honored status among His creatures, and that you are a pearl contained within the shells of His creations. جَعَلَكَ فِيْ الْعَالَمِ الْمُتَوَسِّطِ بَيْنَ مُلْكِهِ وَمَلَكُوْتِهِ؛ لِيُعْلِمَكَ جَلَالَةَ قَدْرِكَ بَيْنَ مَخْلُوْقَاتِهِ، وَأَنَّكَ جَوْهَرَةٌ، تَنْطَوِيَ عَلَيْكَ أَصْدَافُ مُكَوَّنَاتِهِ

He made man a world intermediary between His Kingdom which is the world of the known and visible [al-shahada], and His Dominion, which is the world of the unseen [al-ghayb]. You are not totally among the kingdom, but your body is, and you are not totally among the dominion, but your soul is. Through this He acquaints you with your status above other creatures: for you combine the visible and the unseen, and combine the physical and the spiritual, and the greater world is folded in you. Once you reckon this, you will realize that you are a pearl enclosed inside His creations, which are like the shell surrounding you. For The Lord Almighty subjugated all His creatures to serve you, as He said: "And He has disposed for you whatever is in the heavens, and whatever is in the earth, all being from Him... [45:13]", so you should elevate your intention beyond the universes and occupy yourself with worship of The Generous The Bestower of Favors. It is despicable that you serve the servants and leave worshiping The Lord of Blessedness. And it is related that The Lord said: "Son of Adam: I have created all things for you, and created you for Me, so do not occupy yourself with what is for you over Who you are for. أي جعلك أيها الإنسان عالما متوسطا بين ملكه بضم الميم وهو عالم الشهادة وملكوته وهو عالم الغيب. ولم يجعلك ملكيا محضا ولا ملكوتيا محضا بل جعل فيك من عالم الملك جسمك ومن عالم الملكوت روحك وسرك ليعلمك جلالة قدرك بين مخلوقاته حيث جمعت بين الظاهر والباطن وبين الجسمانيات والروحانيات ففيك انطوى العالم الأكبر. ومتى تدبرت ذلك علمت أنك جوهرة نفيسة تنطوي أي تحتوي عليك للخدمة والحفظ مكوناته التي هل لك كالأصداف المحيطة بالجوهرة. فإن الله تعالى سخر لك جميع مخلوقاته لنفعك كما قال تعالى: {وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ... (الجاثية - ١٣)} فينبغي لك أن ترفع همتك عن الأكوان وتشتغل بعبادة الكريم المنان فإنه يقبح منك أن تخدم الخدم وتترك عبادة مولي النعم وفي بعض الكتب المنزلة: يا ابن آدم خلقت الأشياء كلها من أجلك وخلقتك من أجلي فلا تشتغل بما هو لك عمن أنت له
246 The universe encompassed (enclosed) your physical aspect, but does not encompass (enclose) your proven spirituality. إِنَّمَا وَسِعَكَ الْكَوْنُ مِنْ حَيْثُ جُسْمَانِيَّتِكَ، وَلَمْ يَسَعْكَ مِنْ حَيْثُ ثُبُوْتِ رُوْحَانِيَّتِكَ

You are suitable for the universe from your physical and bodily aspect, that is why it encompassed you, because your body is part of the universe where it has its interests. Your spirit, on the other hand, is not fit to attach to the universes because its interests are not there; but is fit to attach to The Creator of the universes, and that is why the universes cannot encompass you from the aspect of your spirituality. You should strive to complete your spirit by departing your human habits till it becomes suited to attach to The Lord, and escalate through its completeness to The Sacred Presence. Your regarding the universes abases you to the lowest degrees, while regarding their Creator lifts you to the highest elevations. So you choose what you please. يعني أنك مناسب للكون أي العالم السفلي وهو الأرض من حيث جثمانيتك بضم الجيم وسكون المثلثة أي جسمك فقط فلذا وسعك لأن جسمك بعض الكون وله فيه مصالح وأما روحك فلا تصلح أن تتعلق بالكون لعدم وجود مصالحها فيه وإنما تصلح للتعلق بمكون الأكوان فلذا لم يسعك الكون من حيث ثبوت روحانيتك. فينبغي السعي في تكميلها بإخراجها عن مألوفات بشريتك حتى تصلح للتعلق برب البرية فترقى بمعراج كمالاتها إلى الحضرة القدسية فنظرك إلى الأكوان يحطك إلى أسفل سافلين ونظرك إلى المكون يرفعك إلى أعلى عليين. فاختر لنفسك ما يحلو
247 A being within the universe for whom the doors to the unseen have not been opened, is imprisoned within his boundaries, and contained within his own frame. الْكَائِنُ فِيْ الْكَوْنِ، وَلَمْ تُفْتَحْ لَهُ مَيَادِيْنُ الْغُيُوْبِ – مَسْجُوْنٌ بِّمُحِيْطَاتِهِ، وَمَحْصُوْرٌ فِيْ هَيْكَلِ ذَاتِهِ

A person for whom the coffers of knowledges and secrets of the unseen have not been opened to enlighten his heart becomes and to see the secrets of The Lord of Both Worlds, is imprisoned within his boundaries by his lusts, and contained within the spiritual frame of his self's wants. On the other hand, whoever purified his self of lusts has reached the highest levels of happiness, and The Knower of The Unseen [al-ghayb] and The Seen [al-shahada] opened for him the doors of the unknown. It is related that The Lord said: "My slave [abd]: refer your worries to Me and I will suffice all your worries; as long as you depend on your self you will be distanced, and as long as you depend on Me you will be brought near: so choose for your self". يعني أن من وجد في الدنيا ولم تفتح له خزائن العلوم والمعارف الغيبية الشبيهة بالميادين حتى يستنير بها قلبه ويشاهد أسرار رب العالمين فهو مسجون بمحيطاته أي بشهواته المحيطة به ومحصور في هيكل ذاته أي في هيكل هو ذاته النفسانية والمراد شهواتها. فهو مرادف لما قبله وأما من طهر نفسه من الشهوات وتخلص من سجن الرعونات فقد وصل إلى أعلى درجات السعادة وفتحت له ميادين الغيوب من عالم الغيب والشهادة وفي بعض الآثار المروية عن الله عز وجل: عبدي اجعلني مكان همك أكفك كل هم ما كنت بك فأنت في محل البعد وما كنت بي فأنت في محل القرب فاختر لنفسك
248 You are part of the universes if you do not witness The Maker. If you witness Him, the universes are with you. أَنْتَ مِنَ الْأَكْوَانِ مَالَمْ تَشْهَدْ الْمُكَوِّنَ، فَإِذَا شَهِدْتَهُ – كَانَتْ الْأَكْوَانُ مَعَكَ

You are part of the universes and a slave for them if you do not witness The Maker [Subhanahu] in them and witness Him overseeing and managing and directing them. If you witness Him and know Him and know His dues, the universes become with you, and subjugated to you, even the animals and plants. Al-Shibly said: the universe does not cross the mind of whoever knows The Creator. يعني أنك تكون مع الأكوان وعبدا لها ما لم تشهد المكون سبحانه فيها وقائما عليها ومدبرا لها فإذا شهدته وعرفته حق معرفته كانت الأكوان معك ومسخرة لك ومتبركة بك حتى الحيوانات والجمادات. وهذا حال علي الهمة والإرادة كما قال الشبلي: ليس يخطر الكون ببال من عرف المكون
249 Proof of singularity does not require contradicting the traits of being human: singularity is similar to the morning sun rising in the horizon though it is not part of it. Sometimes the suns of His Traits rise upon the night of your existence, and sometimes He folds this away from you, and sends you back to your limits. Daylight is not because of you, but comes upon you. لَا يَلْزَمُ مِنْ ثُبُوْتِ الْخُصُوْصِيَّةِ عَدَم وَصْفِ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ: إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْخُصُوْصِيَّةِ كَإِشْرَاقِ شَمْسِ الْنَّهَارِ ظَهَرَتْ فِيْ الْأُفْقِ، وَلَيْسَتْ مِنْهُ: تَارَةً تُشْرِقُ شُمُوْسُ أَوْصَافِهِ عَلَىَ لَيْلِ وُجُوْدِكَ وَتَارَةً يَقْبِضُ ذَلِكَ عَنْكَ، فَيَرُدُّكَ إِلَىَ حُدُوْدِكَ، فَالَنَّهَارُ لَيْسَ مِنْكَ وَإِلَيْكَ، وَلَكِنَّهُ وَارِدٌ عَلَيْكَ

Proving the state of singularity in a special person by delivering higher traits and displaying sacred descriptions that enable him to control matter and perform wonders and miracles does not require totally contradicting human descriptions. Human characteristics as inability and ignorance and poverty are inherent in all slaves [abd] and this is contrary to those who said: reaching The Lord is only through denouncing traits of humanity and totally abolishing them, and becoming characterized by Lordly traits and descriptions, for this is twisting the truth that is apparent to anyone with vision. Singularity is similar to the morning sun rising in the horizon though it is not part of it: light is not inherent, but a temporary lifting of darkness. And so are the sacred descriptions: they are not inherent to the slave [abd], but are temporary coming upon the darkness of his inherent human traits. Sometimes the suns of His Traits rise upon your existence which is similar to the dark night because of what it contains of vile despicable traits, so they take over and display your singularity: you become rich by The Lord after being poor, able by Him after being incapable, knowledgeable by Him after being ignorant and so on. And sometimes He folds this away from you, and sends you back to your limits of poverty and incapability and ignorance so your singularity does not appear or show. Daylight, which is the singularity that appeared for you, is not because of you, and is not an inherent state for you, but comes upon you by the shining of the suns of His Sacred Traits. And know that this mentioned folding is not depriving; but is a warning to those failing to grasp and comprehend that all matter and affair is Allah's, and they have no say in anything of it. That is why the [awliyaa] sometimes appear in power and ability and sometimes appear incapable. This does not contradict the previous Hikma (Hikma 104): "...the lights of hearts and souls shined on.." because in the previous Hikma the sun and light are those of knowledge and they do not fade, but here the appearance of singularity is by changing the traits of humanity, which occasionally fades. Whoever is perfect in servitude will therefore perform the dues of each time. يعني لا يلزم من ثبوت الخصوصية لأحد الخواص بإيصال الأوصاف العلية إليه وإظهار النعوت القدسية عليه فيتصرف في المكونات وتظهر على يده الكرامات عدم وصف البشرية بالكلية فإن الأوصاف البشرية من العجز والجهل والفقر للعبد من الأمور الذاتية. خلافا لمن قال: إن الوصول إلى الله لا يكون إلا بذم أوصاف البشرية وزوالها بالكلية والاتصاف بصفات الربوبية فإن في ذلك من قلب الحقائق ما لا يخفى على من له أدنى روية. ولذا ضرب هنا لذلك مثلا بقوله: إنما مثل الخصوصية كإشراق شمس النهار ظهرت في الأفق أي نواحي السماء وليست منه أي الأفق فالنور ليس ذاتيا له وإنما عرض لإزالة الظلمة. فكذلك الأوصاف القدسية ليست ذاتية للعبد وإنما هي عارضة على ظلمة أوصاف بشريته الذاتية لأنه تارة تشرق أوصافه تعالى التي هي كالشموس على وجودك الشبيه بالليل المظلم لما فيه من الأوصاف الدنيئة فتغلب عليها وتظهر خصوصيتك فتكون غنيا بالله بعد أن كنت فقيرا وقادرا بالله بعد أن كنت عاجزا وعالما به بعد أن كنت جاهلا إلى غير ذلك وتارة يقبض ذلك عنك فيردك إلى حدودك من الفقر والعجز والجهل فلا تظهر خصوصيتك فالنهار الذي هو الخصوصيات التي ظهرت عليك ليس منك وإليك أي ليس من أوصافك الذاتية ولكنه وارد عليك من إشراق شموس أوصافه القدسية ثم اعلم أن القبض المذكور ليس سلبا بل هو تنبيه للقاصرين على أن الأمر كله لله ليس لهم منه شيء. ولذا ترى بعض الأولياء في بعض الأحيان عنده قوة بطش وفي بعضها يكون عاجزا وهذا لا يعارض قوله السابق: ولم تأفل أنوار القلوب والسرائر لأن ما تقدم شمس المعارف وهي لم تأفل. وما هنا ظهور الخصوصية بتبديل صفات البشرية من الفقر وما معه فإنها تارة تتبدل وتارة لا ليعطي الكامل في العبودية كل وقت حقه
250 Through the presence of His signs He demonstrated the presence of His names, and through the presence of His Names the affirmation of His traits, and through the affirmation of His traits the presence of His Self; for a trait cannot stand alone. To the attracted ([madjzooboon]) He uncovers the completeness of His Self, then He returns them to witnessing His traits, then to clinging to His Names, then to witnessing His signs. The [saliks] are to the opposite, for the final step for the [saliks] is the beginning of the attracted ([madjzooboon]), and the beginning of the attracted ([madjzooboon]) is the final step for the [saliks], but not with the same intention. Maybe the meet along the path, one during his ascent and the other during his descent. دَلَّ بِوُجُوْدِ آَثَارِهِ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ أَسْمَائِهِ، وَبِوُجُوْدِ أَسْمَائِهِ عَلَىَ ثُبُوْتِ أَوْصَافِهِ، وَبِثُبُوتِ أَوْصَافِهِ عَلَىَ وُجُوْدِ ذَاتِهِ؛ إِذْ مُحَالٌ أَنْ يَقُوْمَ الْوَصْفُ بِنَفْسِهِ؛ فَأَرْبَابُ الْجَذْبِ – يَكْشِفُ لَهُمْ عَنْ كَمَالِ ذَاتِهِ، ثُمَّ يَرُدُّهُمْ إِلَىَ شُهُوْدِ صِفَاتِهِ، ثُمَّ يُرْجِعُهُمْ إِلَىَ الْتَّعَلُّقِ بِأَسْمَائِهِ، ثُمَّ يَرُدُّهُمْ إِلَىَ شُهُوْدِ آَثَارِهِ، وَالْسَّالِكُوْنَ عَلَىَ عَكْسِ هَذَا، فَنِهَايَةُ الْسَّالِكِيْن بِدَايَّةُ الْمَجْذُوْبِينَ، وَبِدَايَةُ الْسَّالِكِيْن نِهَايَةُ الْمَجْذُوْبِينَ، لَكِنْ لَا بِمَعْنَىً وَاحِدٍ؛ فَرُبَّمَا الْتَقَيَا فِيْ الْطَّرِيْقِ: هَذَا فِيْ تَرَقِّيِهِ، وَهَذَا فِيْ تَدَلِّيهِ

The Lord, [Subhanahu] demonstrated through the presence of His signs and creations the presence of His names: perfect creation can only come from an Able Omnipotent All-Knowing. Through the presence of His Names He demonstrated the affirmation of His traits, of Ability, Will, and Knowledge, and through the affirmation of His traits the presence of His Self. The Lord's slaves [abd] blessed by nearness to and reaching Him are of two types: the attracted ([madjzooboon]) and the travelers ([saliks], [arbab al-suluk]). The attracted ([madjzooboon]) were plucked by His Caring Hand, and to them He uncovers His Complete Self by increasing them in knowledge till they see His Sacred Self with the eye of their insight. Then He returns them to witnessing His traits, so they see with the light of knowledge the relation of the traits to the Self. He then returns them to clinging to His Names where they realize their relation to the signs and creation. Then He returns them to witnessing His signs and how they originated from His names. These are guided through The Effector to the presence of the effect, and they say: there is nothing we see without seeing The Lord before seeing it. The [saliks] are to the opposite, because they are guided by the effects to The Effector. They initially regard the signs which guide them to The Names, which show them The Traits, which lead them to The Complete Self, and they say: there is nothing we see without seeing The Lord after it. The final step for the [saliks] of observing The Sacred Self is the beginning of the attracted ([madjzooboon]), and the beginning of the [saliks] of observing the signs is the final step for the attracted ([madjzooboon]). The aim of the [saliks] is to see things for The Lord, and the aim of the attracted ([madjzooboon]) is to see things by The Lord. The [saliks] are on the way to reach extinction, and the attracted ([madjzooboon]) are set on the path of persistence and alertness. Maybe the meet along the path, the [salik] during his ascent from creation to Al-Haqq, and the attracted ([madjzooboon]) during his descent from Al-Haqq to the creation.
يعني أنه سبحانه دل بوجود آثاره أي مصنوعاته على وجود أسمائه إذ لا يصدر هذا الصنع القويم إلا من قادر مريد عليم. وبوجود أسمائه على ثبوت أوصافه من القدرة والإرادة والعلم وبثبوت أوصافه على وجود ذاته. وعلل ذلك بقوله: إذ محال أن يقوم الوصف بنفسه لأن المعنى لا يقوم بالمعنى ثم إن عباد الله المختصين بالقرب منه والوصول إليه قسمان: أرباب جذب وأرباب سلوك فأرباب الجذب الذين اختطفتهم يد العناية يكشف لهم أولا عن كمال ذاته أي عن ذاته الكاملة بأن يزيد في قوة معرفتهم حتى يروا ذاته المقدسة بعين بصيرتهم ثم يردهم إلى شهود صفاته فيشاهدون بنور المعرفة ارتباطها بالذات ثم يرجعهم إلى التعلق بأسمائه بأن يشاهدوا بالذوق تعلقها بالآثار ثم يردهم إلى شهود آثاره أي صدورها عن الأسماء وهؤلاء هم الذين يستدلون بالمؤثر على الأثر ويقولون ما رأينا شيئا إلا ورأينا الله قبله وأما السالكون فهم على عكس هذا لأنهم يستدلون بالأثر على المؤثر فأول ما يظهر لهم الآثار فيستدلون بها على الأسماء وبها على الصفات وبها على كمال الذات وهم الذين يقولون ما رأينا شيئا إلا ورأينا الله بعده. فنهاية السالكين من شهود الذات المقدسة بداية المجذوبين وبداية السالكين من التعلق بالآثار نهاية المجذوبين. لكن لا بمعنى واحد: فإن مراد السالكين شهود الأشياء لله ومراد المجذوبين شهود الأشياء بالله فالسالكون على تحقيق الفناء والمحو والمجذوبون مسلوك بهم طريق البقاء والصحو فربما التقيا في الطريق أي في منزل من المنازل كشهود الصفات هذا أي السالك في ترقيه من الخلق إلى الحق وهذا أي المجذوب في تدليه من الحق إلى الخلق
251 The value of the lights of the hearts and the secrets will only be appreciated in the unseens of the Dominion, as the lights in the sky (stars) do not appear except by viewing the Kingdom لَا يُعْلَمُ قَدْرَ أَنْوَارِ الْقُلُوْبِ وَالْأَسْرَارِ إِلَا فِيْ غَيْبِ الْمَلَكُوْتِ، كَمَا لَاتَظْهَرَ أَنْوَارُ الْسَّمَاءِ إِلَا فِيْ شَهَادَةِ الْمُلْك

The lights and secrets that shined upon the hearts from the sky of knowledge and Unification will only be appreciated in the unseens of the Dominion which is the Hereafter. So who was strong in faith will be find appreciation there; and the more complete the belief in the unseen, the more complete and comprehensive will be his light and its consequence. The lights in the sky from stars and planets do not appear except in the apparent Kingdom, for they fade and thus befit the fading world, while the light of faith does not fade, so it befits the Hereafter or the permanent home.
أي لا يعرف قدر الأنوار والأسرار التي أشرقت على القلوب من سماء التوحيد والمعرفة إلا في غيب الملكوت وهو عالم الآخرة. فمن كان قوي الإيمان كان له هنالك أعظم منازل الامتنان ومن كان إيمانه بالغيب أكمل كان نوره وما يترتب عليه أتم وأشمل. كما أن أنوار السماء وهي أن أنوار الكواكب لا تظهر إلا في شهادة الملك أي الملك المشاهد وهو عالم الدنيا لحصول المناسبة بين هذه الأشياء فإن نور الإيمان ليس له أفول فيناسبه الدار الباقية وأنوار الكواكب تأفل فيناسبها الدار الفانية
252 Finding immediate fruits to obediences are indicators of later reward. وِجْدَانُ ثَمَرَاتِ الطَّاعَاتِ عَاجِلّا – بَشَائِرُ الْعَامِلِيْنَ بِوُجُوْدِ الْجَزَاءِ عَلَيْهَا آُجِلَا

What the laborers in goodness find of immediate rewards to obedience of increase in brilliance of the light of certitude [yaqeen] in their hearts, and their pleasure with it on confiding [munajah] with their Lord, is indication to acceptance and reward in the Hereafter, even if this was not the aim of their obedience. Indeed it is better and more befitting completeness not to aim for reward for a deed done. يعني أن ما يجده العاملون من ثمرات الطاعات كزيادة إشراق أنوار اليقين في قلوبهم والتلذذ بها عند مناجاة ربهم بشائر لهم بقبولها ووجود الجزاء عليها في الدار الآخرة وإن لم يقصدوه بطاعتهم فإن الأكمل عدم قصد ذلك كما قال المصنف
253 How come you claim compensation for deeds He gave you in charity? Or how come you claim compensation for truthfulness He granted you? كَيْفَ تَطْلُبُ الْعَوَضَ عَلَىَ عَمَلٍ – هُوَ مُتَصَدِّقٌ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ تَطْلُبُ الْجَزَاءَ عَلَىَ صِدْقٍ – هُوَ مُهْدِيْهِ إِلَيْكَ ؟

Your claiming compensation for a deed that is actually His, for He says: "And Allah has created you and all what you do [37:96]" is cause for wonder. He [Subhanahu] gave it to you in charity. And similarly claiming reward for truthfulness and sincerity in performing it is also cause for wonder, because He granted and gifted you with it. The author used 'charity' for deeds and 'gift' for truthfulness because they are different in degree and honor, as the difference between charity and gift.
يعني أن طلبك العوض على عمل هو في الحقيقة له تعالى لقوله سبحانه: {وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (الصافات - ٩٦)} مما يتعجب منه لأنه سبحانه متصدق به عليك وكذلك طلب الجزاء على الصدق أي الإخلاص فيه مما يتعجب منه لأنه مهديه إليك وإنما عبر في الأعمال بالصدقة وفي الصدق الذي عليه مدار قبول الأعمال بالهدية إشارة إلى تباينهما في الشرف كتباين الصدقة والهدية
254 There are people whose lights precede their  [zikr], and there are people whose [zikr] precede their lights, and there are people whose [zikr] coincide with their lights, and there are people who have no [zikr] or lights: we seek refuge with Allah from this. قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ أَنْوَارُهُمْ أَذْكَارَهُمْ، وَقَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ أَذْكَارُهُمْ أَنْوَارَهُمْ، وَقَوْمُ تَتَسَاوَى أَذْكَارُهُمْ وَأَنْوَارُهُمْ، وَقَوْمُ لَا أَذْكَارَ وَلَا أَنْوَارَ – نَعُوْذُ بِالْلَّهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ

Those who reached The Lord are two kinds: people whose lights precede their [zikr] and these are the attracted ([madjzooboon]) who did not suffer on the path, but were given lights and hence [zikr] came, for if a heart is guided, the body will become active in worship; and people whose [zikr] precede their lights, and these are the [mureeds] the [saliks]. When they become active in worship, lights come upon them and they become guided to satisfying The Mighty The Forgiver. Almighty said: "But as for those who struggle for Our sake, We shall assuredly guide them in Our ways,... [29:69]". يعني أن الواصلين إلى الله تعالى على قسمين:قوم تسبق أنوارهم أذكارهم وهم المجذوبون المرادون الذين لم يتكلفوا شيئا بل واجهتهم الأنوار فحصلت منهم الأذكار وإذا حلت الهداية قلبا نشطت للعبادة الأعضاء، وقوم تسبق أذكارهم أنوارهم وهم المريدون السالكون فمتى اجتهدوا في الأذكار حصلت لهم الأنوار واهتدوا لمرضاة العزيز الغفار. قال تعالى: {وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا... (العنكبوت - ٦٩)}. ثم بين حال الفريقين بعبارة أخرى فقال
255 A [zakir] performed [zikr] to illuminate his heart, and another [zakir]'s heart was illuminated so he performed [zikr]. However, the one whose [zikr] and lights were balanced, is the one whose [zikr] is to be followed and whose light is to be taken as a guide. ذَاكِرٌ ذَكَرَ لِيَسْتَنِيْرَ قَلْبُهُ، وَذَاكِرٌ اسْتَنَارَ قَلْبُهُ فَكَانَ ذَاكِرا، وَالَّذِي اسْتَوَتْ أَذْكَارُهُ وَأَنْوَارُهُ – فَبِذِكْرِهِ يُهْتَدَيَ، وَبِنُوِرِهِ يُقْتَدَيَ

The first are the [saliks] and the second are the attracted ([madjzooboon]), and both have illumination and lights. الأول راجع للفريق الثاني وهم السالكون والثاني راجع للفريق الأول وهم المجذوبون وكل على نور
256 An apparent [zikr] would only come from an inner witness and contemplation. مَا كَانَ ظَاهِرُ ذِكْرٍ – إِلَا عَنْ بَاطِنِ شُهُوْدٍ وَفِكْرٍ

An apparent [zikr], and this includes all apparent deeds, would only come from an inner witnessing The Lord Al-Haqq, Dignified is His Might, and contemplating the signs of His Ability. Indeed the outside is set in order only after the inside is set in order. The author only selected [zikr] from among all deeds because it is the soul of deeds, and the purpose of all deeds. Almighty said: "...and establish prayer for to make remembrance of Me [20:14]" يعني أن الذكر الظاهر والمراد به الأعمال الظاهرة جميعها لا تكون إلا عن باطن شهود الحق جل شأنه والتفكر في آثار قدرته فإن صلاح الظاهر تابع لصلاح الباطن. وإنما خص الذكر بالذكر من بين سائر الأعمال لأنه روحها والمقصود بالذات منها قال تعالى:{...وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي (طه - ١٤)}. ثم وضح هذا المعنى بقوله
257 He made you witness before He held you witness, so the appearances stated His Divinity, and the hearts and insights verified His Unity. أشْهَدُكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَسْتَشْهِدَكَ، فَنَطَقَتْ بِإِلَهِيَّتِهِ الْظَّوَاهِرُ، وَتَحَقَّقَتْ بِأَحَدِيَّتِهِ الْقُلُوْبُ وَالْسَّرَائِرُ

He [Subhanahu] displayed to you His Oneness by manifesting and shining the lights of knowledge upon your heart, till you regarded of this as much as your status permits, before he held you witness by demanding that you attest to His Greatness and Majesty by your [zikr] and worship. Your [zikr] and worship is your verification to His Greatness, and this witnessing of His Divinity led you to performing deeds that state the Greatness of The Owner of Dignity and Majesty.
أي أطلعك سبحانه على وحدانيته بتجلي أنوار المعارف على قلبك حتى شاهدت ذلك على حسب قدرك من قبل أن يستشهدك أي يطلب منك أن تشهد بعظمته وجلاله بذكرك وعبادتك فإن الذكر والعبادة شهادة منك بعظمة المذكور والمعبود فنطقت بألوهيته أي ما يدل عليها الظواهر أي الجوارح بأن أتت بالأعمال التي تكاد تنطق بعظمة ذي الجلال وهذا راجع للاستشهاد. وقوله:وتحققت بأحديته القلوب والسرائر راجع للإشهاد
258 He graced you with three graces: He made you mentioning [zakir] Him, and if it were not for His grace you would not have been worthy of mentioning Him, and He made you mentioned with Him when He displayed (to the people) your relation to Him, and He made you mentioned in His Presence, whereby He completed His bounties on you. أَكْرَمَكَ بِكَرَامَاتٍ ثَلَاثٍ: جَعَلَكَ ذَاكِرا لَهُ، وَلَوْلا فَضْلُهُ لَمْ تَكُنْ أَهْلَا لِجَرَيَانِ ذِكْرِهِ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَعَلَكَ مَذْكُوْرا بِهِ؛ إِذْ حَقَّقَ نِسْبَتَهُ لَدَيْكَ، وَجَعَلَكَ مَذْكُوْراً عِنْدَهُ، فَتَمَّمَ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ

The Lord Almighty graced you with three graces that contain all types of virtues and honor. The first: He made you mentioning [zakir] Him with your tongue and your heart, and if it were not for His grace you would not have been worthy of mentioning Him. The second: He made people mention you with Him, and label you His [waleyy] when He showed them your relation to Him by displaying what He graced you with of lights of [zikr] and obedience. The third: He made you mentioned in His Presence, whereby He completed His bounties upon you. In the Qudsi Hadith: "whoever mentions Me to his self I mention him to My Self, and whoever mentions Me in a public I mention to a better public." and Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: "There are not a group of people who sit together mentioning The Lord Almighty except that the angels hover over them, and mercy descends upon them, and The Lord mentions them among those around Him". And 'around' refers to status or honor and not place, Exalted is He beyond that. يعني أن الله تعالى أكرمك أيها المؤمن بثلاث كرامات جمع لك فيهن أنواع الفضائل والمبرات. الأولى:جعلك ذاكرا له بلسانك وقلبك ووجه حلاوة ذلك إليك ولولا فضله لم تكن أهلا لجريان ذكره عليك والثانية:جعلك مذكورا به عند الناس بأن يقال:هذا ولي الله وذاكره إذ حقق نسبته أي خصوصيته لديك. وهي ما أظهره من أنوار الذكر والطاعة عليك. والثالثة:جعلك مذكورا عنده فتمم نعمته عليك بمزيد الإكرام ومنتهى الفضل والإنعام. وفي الحديث القدسي:"من ذكرني في نفسه ذكرته في نفسي ومن ذكرني في ملأ ذكرته في ملأ خير منه" وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم:"ما جلس قوم يذكرون الله تعالى إلا حفتهم الملائكة وغشيتهم الرحمة ونزلت عليهم السكينة وذكرهم الله فيمن عنده ". والعندية هنا عندية مكانة أي شرف لا مكان تعالى الله عن ذلك
259 There is a life that is long in time and short in supplies, and there is a life that is short in time and long in supplies. رَبِّ عُمْرٍ اتَّسَعَتْ آَمَادُه وَقَلَّتْ أَمْدَادُهُ، وَرَبُّ عُمْرٍ قَلِيْلَةٌ آَمَادُهُ كَثِيْرَةٌ أَمْدَادُهُ

There is a life that is long in time and short in supplies and reward if the person was among the heedless, and there is a life that is short in time and long in supplies by being among those who mention [zakireen].
أي رب عمر لشخص اتسعت آماده بالمد جمع أمد كسبب وأسباب أي اتسع زمنه حتى طال وقلت أمداده بفتح الهمز جمع مدد أي فوائده بأن كان الشخص من الغافلين. ورب عمر لشخص آخر قليلة آماده كثيرة أمداده بأن كان من الذاكرين. كما وضح ذلك بقوله
260 He whose life is blessed will achieve in a short while, with God's Graces, what is beyond the circles of mention, and is not reached by descriptions. منْ بُوْرِكَ لَهُ فِيْ عُمرِه أَدْرَكَ فِيْ يَسِيْرِ مِنَ الْزَّمَنِ – مِنْ مِنَنِ الْلَّهِ تَعَالَىْ – مَا لَا يَدْخُلُ تَحْتَ دَوَائِرِ الْعِبَارَةِ، وَلَا تَلْحَقُهُ الْإِشَارَةُ

He whose life is blessed is graced with insight and alertness enough to drive him to seize chances fearing the passing of time. He attempts to deeds of the heart and of the body, employing all his effort. He will achieve in a short while, with Divine Graces and Lordly knowledges, what is beyond mention and beyond descriptions because of its extremely high status. In each night, good deeds will ascend to his account more than what others achieve in a thousand nights, so each of his nights would be as if [laylatul Qadr]. Abul Abbas Al-Mursy said: all out times, and thank is due to The Lord for that, are [laylatul Qadr]. The important issue is the blessing of life, not its length. And this is the meaning behind the Hadith: 'piety increases life', where what is meant is that it increases its blessing and not its duration, where a person can perform good deeds that others do not perform in long times devoid of blessings. يعني أن من بورك له في عمره بأن رزق من الفطنة واليقظة ما يحمله على اغتنام الأوقات وانتهاز فرصة الإمكان خشية الفوات فبادر إلى الأعمال القلبية والبدنية واستفرغ في ذلك مجهوده بالكلية أدرك في يسير من الزمن من المنن الإلهية والمعارف الربانية ما لا يدخل تحت دوائر العبارة لقصورها عن الإحاطة به ولا تلحقه الإشارة إليه لعلوه في مقامه ومنصبه فيرتفع له في كل ليلة من لياليه من الأعمال الصالحة ما لا يرتفع لغيره في ألف شهر فتكون لياليه كلها بمنزلة ليلة القدر. كما قال أبو العباس المرسي:أوقاتنا والحمد لله كلها ليلة القدر. فالعبرة بالبركة بالعمر لا بطوله. وعلى هذا يحمل حديث:"البر يزيد في العمر" فإن المراد البركة فيه بحيث يفعل فيه من الخيرات ما لا يفعله غيره في الأزمنة الطويلة الخالية من البركات
261 The greatest letdown is when you are freed of concern and you do not head to Him, and when your hurdles lessen, and you don't depart to Him. الْخِذْلانُ كُلِّ الْخِذْلانِ – أَنْ تَتَفَرَّغَ مِنَ الْشَّوَاغِلِ، ثُمَّ لَا تَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَيْهِ، وَتَقِلُّ عَوَائِقُكَ، ثُمَّ لَا تَرْحَلَ إِلَيْهِ

The greatest assured letdown is when you are freed of concern by having enough sustenance for worldly matters, then you do not head to Him by occupying yourself with what brings you closer to His Sacred Presence [Hadra], and when your hurdles that prevent you moving towards Him lessen, and you don't depart totally to Him. Imam Al-Qosheiry said: freeing the heart of labor is a great blessing; but if a slave [abd] would reject this blessing by indulging in whim and following lusts, The Lord will disturb and confuse his heart, and deprive him of the clearness of his mind. يعني أن الخذلان التام المؤكد أن تتفرغ من الشواغل بأن كان عندك ما يكفيك من الدنيا الدنية ثم لا تتوجه إليه بالاشتغال بما يقربك إلى حضرته القدسية وتقل عوائقك التي تشغلك عن الإقبال عليه ثم لا ترحل بكامل توجهاتك إليه. قال الإمام القشيري:فراغ القلب من الأشغال نعمة عظيمة فإذا كفر عبد هذه النعمة بأن فتح على نفسه باب الهوى وانـجر في قياد الشهوات شوش الله عليه نعمة قلبه وسلبه ما كان يجد من صفاء لبه
262 Contemplation is the heart's wandering in the fields of otherness [al-aghyar] الْفِكْرَةُ سَيْرُ الْقَلْبِ فِيْ مَيَادِيْنِ الْأَغْيَارِ

Contemplation which we are ordered to is the heart's wandering in regarding the fields of otherness [al-aghyar]. The Almighty said: "...'Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth!'...[10:101]" and other [ayas] that mandate contemplating and observing the wonders and miracles of the creations. Contemplating the Essence of The Lord is prohibited, because thought cannot encompass Him. If the slave [abd] contemplates the existence of creatures, this will guide him to the presence of their Creator, and this is the contemplation of the public. If he contemplates the world and its lack of loyalty to who seek it, he will increase in distancing from it, and this is the contemplation of the ascetics [zahids]. If he contemplates good deeds and what they bring of reward and becomes more fervent in performing them, or sins and what they bring of punishment and what is brought of reward on abandoning them, manifest and hidden, this is the contemplation of the worshiping traders. If he contemplates the flow of goodnesses he will increase in love for The Bestower of goodnesses, and this is the contemplation of the freethinking gnostics ([aarefeen]). يعني أن الفكرة المأمورين بها إنما هي سير القلب أي جولانه في مشاهدة الأغيار أي المخلوقات الشبيهة بالميادين في الاتساع قال تعالى: {قُلِ انظُرُواْ مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ...(يونس - ١٠١)}. ونحو ذلك من الآيات الدالة على التفكر والنظر في عجائب المخلوقات. وأما التفكر في ذات الله فإنه منهي عنه لأنه لا تحيط به الفكرة فإذا تفكر العبد في وجود المخلوقات هداه ذلك إلى وجود موجدهم وهذا تفكر العامة. وإذا تفكر في الدنيا وقلة وفائها للطالبين ازداد تباعدا عنها وهذا تفكر الزاهدين. وإذا تفكر في الحسنات وما يترتب عليها فعلها وازداد رغبة فيها أوفي السيآت وهوما يترتب عليها تركها ظاهرها وخافيها وهذا تفكر العابدين التجار. وإذا تفكر في توارد النعم ازداد محبة في المنعم بها وهذا تفكر العارفين الأحرار
263 Contemplation is the lantern of the heart. If it vanishes, there will be no light. الْفِكْرَةُ سِرَاجُ الْقَلْبِ، فَإِذَا ذَهَبَتْ – فَلَا إِضَاءَةَ لَهُ

Contemplation to the heart is like a lantern that shines in it to bring to light the essences of matter. Through it the heart unveils truth from falsehood, and come to know the diseases of the self by thinking of its flaws and plots, and find out the scheming of the enemy (Satan) and the vanities of the world and so on. If contemplation vanishes, there will be no light in the heart and it will become like a dark house; may we find refuge of this with The Lord يعني أن الفكرة بمنزلة السراج للقلب يستضيء بها لأن بها تنجلي حقائق الأمور فيظهر الحق من الباطل وتعرف آفات النفس بالتفكر في معائبها ومكائدها وتعلم مكائد العدو وغرور الدنيا ونحو ذلك. فإذا ذهبت الفكرة منه فلا إضاءة له فيكون كالبيت المظلم والعياذ بالله
264 Contemplation is of two kinds: one of belief and faith, and the other of witnessing and regarding. The first is for those who consider and think, and the second is for those who witness and recognize. الْفِكْرَةُ فِكْرَتَانِ: فِكْرَةُ تَصْدِيْقٍ وَإِيْمَانٍ، وَفِكْرَةُ شُهُوْدٍ وَعِيَانٍ: فَالَّأُوْلَىْ لَأَرْبَابِ الاعْتِبَارِ، وَالْثَّانِيَةُ لَأَرْبَابِ الْشُّهُوْدِ وَالاسْتِبْصَارِ

Contemplation, which is the heart's wandering in the fields of otherness [al-aghyar] is of two kinds: one more sublime than the other, and they are different in the cases of the [saliks] and the attracted [madjzooboon]. The contemplation of the [saliks] is one of belief and faith, or emanating from belief and leads to increase in faith, and here they are led by the effect to The Effector. The contemplation of the attracted ([madjzooboon]) is one of witnessing and regarding; they regard and witness with the eye of the insight, and they are led by The Effector to the effects. The first is for those who consider and think, or those who are guided by the effects and they are the [saliks] and the second is for those who witness and recognize, or those who are guided by The Effector to the effect, and they are the attracted ([madjzooboon]). And know that an attracted ([madjzooboon]) was chosen by Him, and headed rapidly to The Lord, and regarded and witnessed the statuses that others faced hardships to reach. This contradicts those who said that the [salik] is more complete than the attracted ([madjzooboon]) because the [saliks] traversed the path while the attracted ([madjzooboon]) did not, because the path was folded for the attracted ([madjzooboon]), but was not folded from him. May The Lord Almighty make us among those who reach.
يعني أن الفكرة التي هي السير في ميادين الأغيار فكرتان:إحداهما أرفع من الأخرى لأنها تختلف باختلاف السالكين والمجذوبين ففكرة السالكين:فكرة تصديق وإيمان أي فكرة ناشئة عن أصل التصديق الذي هوالإيمان والقصد بها الزيادة فيه بالاستدلال بالأثر على المؤثر. وأما فكرة المجذوبين:ففكرة شهود وعيان أي فكرة ناشئة عن المشاهدة والمعاينة بعين البصيرة فيستدلون بالمؤثر على الأثر. فالأولى لأرباب الاعتبار أي المستدلين بالآثار وهم السالكون. والثانية لأرباب الشهود والاستبصار أي المستدلين بالمؤثر على الأثر وهم المجذوبون. واعلم أن المجذوب سلك الطريق مسرعا إلى الله واطلع على المقامات التي كابد مشقتها من سواه خلافا لمن قال:إن السالك أتم من المجذوب لأن السالك عرف الطريق والمجذوب ليس كذلك لأن المجذوب طويت له الطريق ولم تطوعنه فهوكمن طويت له الطريق إلى مكة. والسالك كمن سار إليها على أكوار المطايا. كذا حققه بعض العارفين والله تعالى يجعلنا من الواصلين. وهذا آخر الحكم

     
 
   
   
   
   
  GLOSSARY
 

Aaref عَارِف plural: Aarefeen عَارِفِين

  • Literally: knower, knowledgeable
  • In Sufism: gnostic, knower of esoteric abstract knowledge of spiritual truths, revealed only to select few of special states
  • Those who have reached a status of "knowing" The Lord. This is the state that the [mureed] aspires to reach, and is the end of the path for the [salik].
 

Abd عَبْد plural: Ebad: عِبَاد

  • Literally: slave. Can also mean a servant.
  • Religiously, can refer to all people, as all are slaves and servants to Allah, or refers to the devoted people who follow The Lord's orders and perform their required deeds, or symbolically refer to a mystic devotee of the Divine
 

Abdal الأبْدَال

  • According to Sufis, Substitutes are saints who avoid fame and who are unknown among people. They always hasten to do good and to help others. They have been freed from all evil qualities and equipped with excellence and virtuousness, who resist all kinds of vices and wrongs, and who try to prevent these. They have a particular mission, and number 300, 40, and 7; they are also referred to by these numbers.
  • When one of the Substitutes dies, another one from the subgroup takes his or her place.
  • When the last one dies, the one who is superior to all others takes his place, and when somebody from among them dies, that position is filled by another one from another group. Like the number of Substitutes, the opinions about their residences and titles vary considerably.
  • The Substitutes are like a center of gravity for the earth; God employs them as a spiritual means of keeping the earth on its axis and provides for others out of their high place with Him.
  • Some commentators on Hadith such as Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya regard all those reports as fabricated and reject them. Imam Suyuti, another commentator, considers that since the hadiths support one another, as a whole, they may be considered as sound as the Prophetic Traditions that have been reported through many reliable chains of transmission. Hafiz Sahawi, following a moderate or middle way, notes that all those reports are weak in reliability and therefore open to criticism.
 

Adab أدَب

  • Literally: rules of behavior, or manners.
  • Good adab refers to proper manners or politeness.
  • In Sufism, refers to the proper outward manner or code of behavior required in order to fulfill the dues of proper slavery and servitude to The Lord, and those to be observed to be in harmony with people.
 

Aghyar الأغْياَر

  • Others, otherness, othernesses
  • Any concerns or affairs that occupies a person's time, or he notices, or that catches his attention other than Him, [Subhanahu]
  • Includes people, the world, worldly affairs as work or family or money and fortune, or of human habits and lusts, troubles, illnesses, calamities,
  • Othernesses also include including those The Lord set him up in, and acts of obedience and Lordly knowledges if the person notices them and his self finds and interest or a fortune in them, and they occupy him beyond being fully noticing and in the Presence of The Lord, Al-Haqq.
 

Ahad أحَد Ahadeyya أحَدِيَّة

  • Ahad (Unique, Absolutely One), refers to God's Uniqueness or Singleness, or that there is none comparable to or like Him. Ahad is a word signifying a quality that is exclusively only to The Lord [Subhanahu]. There is no other word that has the same meaning, and the word is not used to describe anyone or anything other than The Lord. It is a description or trait exclusive to Him.
  • Ahadeyya: literally means uniqueness or singleness, without having a like. It denotes oneness in order to emphasize uniqueness, or that God is One Who has no like. It has nothing to do with multiplicity and refers beyond number, and it contains all the truths pertaining to Divinity.
  • Wahid refers to The Lord's Unity, and Wahidiya (Unity) refers to His Oneness or Unity denying multiplicity (numerically)..
 

Al-Haqq الحَقّ

  • Literally: The Truth; The Real,
  • A Divine Name: One of the perfect names of God, meaning: ‘the One who truly exists, whose existence is confirmed’.
 

Al-Muqarrabeen المُقَرّبين

  • Literally: brought near
  • Those placed in a high rank due to special nearness to God. This exalted title is also used for the most distinguished ones among the Prophets and angels.
 

Ehsan إِحْسَان

  • Literally: Perfect Goodness. Can be used in two meanings: doing something well and perfectly, and doing someone a favor. Is sometimes used in the Qur'an and the Sunna with either meaning.
  • Religiously: Performing acts of worship in the perfect goodness and consciousness that God sees them. According to a Hadith: [Ehsan] is worshiping God as if seeing Him; for even if you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.
 

Hadra حَضْرَة

  • Literally: presence
  • Sufism: The Lordly Divine Presence. This does not refer to a physical presence or place (exalted is He beyond that), but to a spiritual presence in The Presence of The Lord, feeling in front of Him and in His Presence.
 

Hikma حِكْمَة plural: Hikam حِكَم

  • Wisdom
  • Wise say
  • Aphorism
  • To be described as having Hikma: to possess The understanding of Divine commandments, of philosophy, of The real reasons for The existence of events and of things, and grasping The goals and benefits in religion. To be able to combine useful knowledge and righteous deeds in life.
 

Karama كَرَامَة plural: karamat كَرَامَات

  • Literally: DIgnity
  • In Sufism: used to refer to extraordinary 'wonders' or actions displayed by [awleyaa] (saints) who have succeeded in purifying their souls and refining their hearts in adherence to the true Religion. The 'wonder' is created by the will and power of The Lord, and is beyond the power and ability of ordinary people.
  • Can be a spiritual wonder or gift, or can be a physical wonder that is beyond the normal laws of life: as extraordinary performances as covering great distances in a very short time, being present in many places at the same instant, walking on water, and so forth.
  • Awleyaa (saints) never consider'wonders' a virtue, and they do not seek them; if God creates wonders for them, they try to conceal them, for they consider wonders should be kept concealed as a mystery of God so long as there is not something that requires their exhibition.
 

Madad مَدَد

  • Literally: Supplies, reinforcement
  • Can be physical by troops or aid or money
  • Sufis refer to Lordly spiritual supplies and favors to aid and support them over the evil forces of their selfs and Satan.
 

Madjzoob مَجْذُوب; plural: madjzooboon مَجْذُوبُون ; verb: djazb جَذْب

  • Literaly: attracted, pulled
  • In Sufism, means that a person is attracted and pulled towards God by God Himself, purified thereby of human imperfection in spiritual elevation. They do not need a human teacher or guide, since they are continuously attracted by The Lord Himself.
  • Attraction is so great a Divine favor that it cannot be obtained through ordinary means or causes. It is The Lord Himself Who grants to His pure-hearted servant both the attraction and the ability to receive it: "...That is God's bounty He gives it to whom He will and God is Embracing, Knowing. [5:54]"
 

Mureed مُرِيِد

  • Literally: aspirant, desirer.
  • A willing disciple, member of a Sufi order, aspiring to reach the high levels of spirituality granted to Allâh’s beloved.
  • A [mureed] is either intending to start, or has started, the path, where he is a [salik]
 

Nawafel نَوافِل plural of nafila نَافِلَة

  • Literally: additional, more than required
  • Refers to additional voluntary acts of worship (prayer, fasting, etc..) done in excess of the obligatory deeds.
 

Qabdd قَبْض and Basstt بَسْط

  • Two states of the heart
  • Qabdd: Literally: caught tightly, distressed, or grasped by hand,
    • Sufis use qabd to relate to the heart being tightened, and to refer to the link between an individual and the source of his or her spiritual gifts and radiance has been severed for a certain period. This causes distress and makes one suffer from spiritual obstruction and blockage.
  • Basstt: Literally: opened, expansion, relief, relaxation
    • Sufis use basstt to describe a state of heart's joy brought about by being freed from spiritual blockage.
  • If fear represents anxiety about, and hope represents the joy of, expectations for the future, contraction and openness can be regarded as the heart's contracting with gloom and depression and expanding with joy.
  • In the Hadith, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said: "The heart is between the two Fingers of the All-Merciful; He turns it from state to state as He wishes..."
 

Salik سَالِك

  • Literally: traveller, person on the road, roamer, wayfarer
  • When a [mureed] sets on the path to The Lord, he becomes a [salik] or traveler, who follows a way to a goal and makes efforts to meet with God.
  • Unlike the attracted ([madjzooboon]), they constantly make huge effort, from the beginning to the end, and sincerely fulfill their duties of servitude. They neither feel attraction nor are attracted ([madjzooboon]) toward God. They must show great will-power and patience, observing even the least important rules of devotion.
 

Shawq شَوْق

  • Literally: strong desire, excessive wishing, longing, yearning
  • Shawq is used by Sufis to express joyful zeal and yearning and the overwhelming desire of the heart to meet with The Beloved,
  • Some describe it as a lover's excessive heartfelt longing to see Him, and others regard it as a fire that reduces to ashes all desires, wishes, yearnings, and inclinations other than those felt to meet with Him.
 

Sunna سُنّة

  • Literally: rule, custom
  • Religiously: all that is reported about the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) from actions or sayings.
  • Also used as a name for a performing nawafel (additional optional actions of worship) reportedly performed by the prophet, as opposed to an obligatory one.
 

Tawadoa تَوَاضُع adjective: motawadi' مُتَوَاضِع

  • Literally: humility, the opposite of arrogance, pride, and haughtiness.
  • Refers to awareness of one's real position before The Grandness and Majesty of The Lord, seeing oneself as a worthless insignificant part of creation, a pebble in a stream or a hay in a field.
  • The Lord Almighty said: "That is the Abode of the Hereafter which We shall grant to those who do not desire to be haughty in the earth,...[28:83]", and in the Hadith: "Whoever humbles himself to The Lord, He shall elevate him."
  • Humility involves seeing oneself as devoid of all virtues, treating others humbly and respectfully, seeing oneself as the worst of humanity, and being alert to any stirring of the ego and immediately suppressing it.
 

Waleyy وَلِىّ

  • Literally: Ally
  • The Lord can be The Ally of the believers, as in: "Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who disbelieve - their allies are Taghut. They take them out of the light into darknesses. [2:257]". And Al-Waliyy is one of the Sacred Names of God Almighty.
  • Usually refers to the person who is The Lord's ally or 'saint' who has been favored with [wilaya] or 'sainthood'. He resists sins and regularly fulfills the duties of worship and obedience with patience, and who has been favored with God's help and protection. They have been described by The Lord in The Quran: "Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve [10:62] Those who believed and were fearing Allah [10:63] For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter.... [10:64]"
  • And in the Hadith Qudsy, God Almighty declares: "Whoever shows hostility to an ally of Mine, I will wage war on him. ....."
  • A waleyy and can be favored with working of wonders, however, wonders are not a condition of sainthood.
 

Warid وَارِد

  • Literally: incoming, arriving, newcomer
  • Sufi term: revelations, spiritual perceptions, Lordly gifts. Denotes what occurs to or emerges in one's heart as a Divine gift.
  • The Sufis use the term to signify The Lord's gifts for those He wishes to gift among those who travel toward Him, and His particular enlightenment and guidance.
  • These revelations [waridat] sometimes occur without the person's exerting any effort or increase in deeds; and sometimes they come as a result of deep, serious reflective thought or concentration. In both cases, they are a special Divine radiance that is beyond the perception of senses or consciousness. They are His extra bounties, which He grants to His slaves in addition to His usual bounties.
 

Wilaya وِلاَية

  • Literally meaning an area or country under the direction and rule of someone
  • Religiously: the state of sainthood or the state reached when someone is a [waleyy]
 

Wird وِرْد

  • Daily ritual of additional acts of faith or deeds, usually of reading the Quran, zikr, or duaa.
 

Yaqeen يَقِين

  • Literally: certainty; certitude, having absolutely no doubt about the truth of a matter.
  • Certainty is a spiritual station that a traveler on the path reaches and experiences. It is obtained only by those who have an innate capability to progress and develop.
  • Certainty, when reached, is so strong that it fills the heart with light, removes the mist of doubt from the mind, and causes breezes of joy, satisfaction, and exhilaration to blow in one's inner world.
 

Zikr ذِكْر (Zakir ذَاكِر)

  • Literally meaning mentioning, remembrance, and recollection,
  • Religiously: remembrance and mentioning The Lord
  • Zikr is a duty of servitude to be performed both verbally, and with one's heart.
  • Zikr is repeating religious phrases or recitation of one or some of God's Beautiful Names and sacred Attributes; or praising, exalting, and glorifying Him; or reciting the Qur'an; or contemplating His signs in nature and events.
  • "Therefore remember Me, I will remember you....[2:152]"
  • Zikr can be performed whenever one wishes and has no set times: "Those who remember God, standing and sitting and on their sides, and reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: 'Our Lord, You have not created this in vain. Glory be to You! So guard us against the chastisement of the Fire. [3:191]"
  • Zakir is the one who performs zikr (zakiroon or zakireen plural)
 

Zuhd زُهد ; adjective: zahid زَاهِد

  • Literally: asceticism, renouncing worldly pleasures and resisting carnal desires
  • Sufis define it as indifference to worldly appetites, living an austere life, choosing to refrain from sin in fear of God, and despising the world's carnal and material aspects. A true ascetic feels no joy at worldly things acquired or grief over worldly things missed, feels no pleasure when praised or displeasure when criticized or blamed, and prefers to serve God over every other thing.
  • Asceticism is also described as renouncing this world's temporary ease and comfort for the sake of eternal happiness in the Hereafter. As The Lord Almighty said: "....Say, “The enjoyment of the world is but a little, and the Hereafter is far better for the one who fears Allah,....[4:77]" And "....and they rejoice in the life of this world, yet the life of this world in the Hereafter, is but [a brief] enjoyment. [13:26]" And "And the life of this world is nothing but diversion and play. But surely the Abode of the Hereafter is indeed the [true] Life, if they only knew.[29:64]"
     
O Lord, please send prayers upon Sayyidina Mohammed and his family and his companions, and send peace and greetings. وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وآله وصحبه وسلم