Discover the timeless spiritual insights of The Bezels of Wisdom by Ibn ʿArabi, one of the greatest Sufi mystics. These profound quotes reflect his teachings on divine love, unity, and inner transformation, offering deep guidance for seekers of truth and wisdom. Perfect for readers exploring Sufism, Islamic philosophy, and Ibn ʿArabi’s mystical thought.
Some of the Quotes are as follows ;
“Know that that which is referred to as other-than-Allah, or the
universe, is related to Allah as the shadow is related to the person. The universe is the shadow
of Allah.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
“When a man loves a woman, he desires union, that is, the goal of union which exists in love.
In the elemental form, there is no greater union than marriage. (10) By this appetite
encompasses all parts. For that reason, complete ritual washing is prescribed after
intercourse. Purification envelops him as annihilation in the woman was complete in the
obtainment of appetite. Allah is very jealous of His slave if He believes that he finds pleasure
in other than Him. So man purifies himself by ritual washing in order to return to Him in
whom he was annihilated, since that is all there is.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
In the elemental form, there is no greater union than marriage. (10) By this appetite
encompasses all parts. For that reason, complete ritual washing is prescribed after
intercourse. Purification envelops him as annihilation in the woman was complete in the
obtainment of appetite. Allah is very jealous of His slave if He believes that he finds pleasure
in other than Him. So man purifies himself by ritual washing in order to return to Him in
whom he was annihilated, since that is all there is.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“If it had not been for this love, the universe would not have appeared in its source. Its
movement from non-existence to existence is the movement of the love of the One who
brings into existence for this purpose. The universe also loves to witness itself in existence as
it was witnessed in immutability. Thus by every aspect, the movement from immutable non-
existence to the existence of the sources is a movement of love, both in respect of Allah and
in respect to itself.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
movement from non-existence to existence is the movement of the love of the One who
brings into existence for this purpose. The universe also loves to witness itself in existence as
it was witnessed in immutability. Thus by every aspect, the movement from immutable non-
existence to the existence of the sources is a movement of love, both in respect of Allah and
in respect to itself.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“You only know the universe according to the amount you know the shadows, and you are
ignorant of the Real according to what you do not know of the person on which that shadow
depends. Inasmuch as He has a shadow, He is known, and inasmuch as one is ignorant of
what is in the essence of the shadow of the form which projects the shadow, he is ignorant of
Allah. For that reason, we say that Allah is known to us from one aspect and not known to us
from another aspect.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
ignorant of the Real according to what you do not know of the person on which that shadow
depends. Inasmuch as He has a shadow, He is known, and inasmuch as one is ignorant of
what is in the essence of the shadow of the form which projects the shadow, he is ignorant of
Allah. For that reason, we say that Allah is known to us from one aspect and not known to us
from another aspect.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“As for the wisdom of tajalli and the discourse on the form of the fire, this was because it was
the object of Musa’s desire. Allah gave him a tajalli in what he was searching for so that
Musa would turn to Him and not turn away. If Allah had given the tajalli in other than the
form which he was seeking, Musa would have turned away because his interest was
concentrated on a particular goal. If he had turned away, his action would have rebounded on
him, and Allah would have turned away from him. Musa was the chosen one and the one
brought near. When Allah brings someone near to Him, He gives him a tajalli in the object he
desires, without him knowing it.
Like the Fire of Musa
which he saw as what he needed.
It was Allah,
but he did not perceive it.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
the object of Musa’s desire. Allah gave him a tajalli in what he was searching for so that
Musa would turn to Him and not turn away. If Allah had given the tajalli in other than the
form which he was seeking, Musa would have turned away because his interest was
concentrated on a particular goal. If he had turned away, his action would have rebounded on
him, and Allah would have turned away from him. Musa was the chosen one and the one
brought near. When Allah brings someone near to Him, He gives him a tajalli in the object he
desires, without him knowing it.
Like the Fire of Musa
which he saw as what he needed.
It was Allah,
but he did not perceive it.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“There is no way to neutralize causes because the source-forms necessitate them. They only
appear in existence by the form on which they are based at the source since “there is no
changing the words of Allah.” (10:64) The words of Allah are not other than the sources of
existent things. Timelessness is ascribed to Him in respect to their permanence, and in-time
ness is ascribed to them in respect of their existence and appearance. Thus we say, a certain
man or guest happened (26) to be with us today.” That does not mean that he did not have
any existence before this event. For that reason, Allah says about His Mighty Word which is
timeless, “No reminder (dhikr) from their Lord comes to them lately renewed (27) without
their listening to it as if it were a game,” (21:2) and “but no fresh (28) reminder reaches them
from the All- Merciful, without their turning away from it.” (26:5) The Merciful only brings
mercy, and whoever turns away from mercy advances the punishment which is the absence of
mercy.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
appear in existence by the form on which they are based at the source since “there is no
changing the words of Allah.” (10:64) The words of Allah are not other than the sources of
existent things. Timelessness is ascribed to Him in respect to their permanence, and in-time
ness is ascribed to them in respect of their existence and appearance. Thus we say, a certain
man or guest happened (26) to be with us today.” That does not mean that he did not have
any existence before this event. For that reason, Allah says about His Mighty Word which is
timeless, “No reminder (dhikr) from their Lord comes to them lately renewed (27) without
their listening to it as if it were a game,” (21:2) and “but no fresh (28) reminder reaches them
from the All- Merciful, without their turning away from it.” (26:5) The Merciful only brings
mercy, and whoever turns away from mercy advances the punishment which is the absence of
mercy.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Allah manifests Himself in a special way in every creature. He is the Outwardly Manifest in
every graspable sense, and He is the Inwardly Hidden from every understanding except the
understanding of the one who says that the universe is His form (4) and His He-ness
(huwiyya), and it is the name, the Outwardly Manifest. Since He is, by meaning, the spirit of
whatever is outwardly manifest, He is also the Inwardly Hidden. His relation to whatever is
manifested of the forms of the world is the relation of the governing spirit to the form. The
definition of man, for example, includes both his inward and outward; and it is the same with
every definable thing. Allah is defined in every definition, yet the forms of the universe are
not held back and He is not contained by them. One only knows the limits of each of their
forms according to what is attained by each knower of his form. For that reason, one cannot
know the definition of Allah, for one would only know His definition by knowing the
definition of every form. This is impossible to attain, so the definition of Allah is impossible.
Similarly, whoever connects without disconnection has given limits to Allah and does not
know Him. Whoever combines connection and disconnection in his gnosis, and describes
Allah with both aspects in general – because it is impossible to conceive in detail because we
lack the ability to encompass all the forms which the universe contains – has known Him in
general and not in particular, as he knows himself generally and not in particular. For that
reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, linked knowledge (ma’rifa) of
Allah to knowledge of oneself and said, “Whoever knows himself knows his Lord.” Allah
says, “We will show them Our signs on the horizons (what is outside of you) and in
themselves (what is your source) until it is clear to them (the contemplators) that it is the
Truth,” (41:53) inasmuch as you are His form and He is your spirit. You are to Him as your
body-form is to you, and He is to you as the spirit which governs the body.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
every graspable sense, and He is the Inwardly Hidden from every understanding except the
understanding of the one who says that the universe is His form (4) and His He-ness
(huwiyya), and it is the name, the Outwardly Manifest. Since He is, by meaning, the spirit of
whatever is outwardly manifest, He is also the Inwardly Hidden. His relation to whatever is
manifested of the forms of the world is the relation of the governing spirit to the form. The
definition of man, for example, includes both his inward and outward; and it is the same with
every definable thing. Allah is defined in every definition, yet the forms of the universe are
not held back and He is not contained by them. One only knows the limits of each of their
forms according to what is attained by each knower of his form. For that reason, one cannot
know the definition of Allah, for one would only know His definition by knowing the
definition of every form. This is impossible to attain, so the definition of Allah is impossible.
Similarly, whoever connects without disconnection has given limits to Allah and does not
know Him. Whoever combines connection and disconnection in his gnosis, and describes
Allah with both aspects in general – because it is impossible to conceive in detail because we
lack the ability to encompass all the forms which the universe contains – has known Him in
general and not in particular, as he knows himself generally and not in particular. For that
reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, linked knowledge (ma’rifa) of
Allah to knowledge of oneself and said, “Whoever knows himself knows his Lord.” Allah
says, “We will show them Our signs on the horizons (what is outside of you) and in
themselves (what is your source) until it is clear to them (the contemplators) that it is the
Truth,” (41:53) inasmuch as you are His form and He is your spirit. You are to Him as your
body-form is to you, and He is to you as the spirit which governs the body.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Allah saved him from the grief of the ark, so he pierced natural darkness by what Allah gave
him of divine knowledge, while he did not depart from nature. He tested him with many trials
(9) and gave him experience in many places so that he might realize patience in himself in the
trials Allah gave him.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
him of divine knowledge, while he did not depart from nature. He tested him with many trials
(9) and gave him experience in many places so that he might realize patience in himself in the
trials Allah gave him.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“The truth of passion is
that passion is the cause of passion.
If there had not been passion in the heart,
passion would not have been worshipped.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
that passion is the cause of passion.
If there had not been passion in the heart,
passion would not have been worshipped.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Had we discussed the station of Sulayman in its entirety, you would have seen a matter
whose revelation would have struck you with terror. Most of the men of knowledge of this
Path have no knowledge of the state and rank of Sulayman. The business is not as they claim.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
whose revelation would have struck you with terror. Most of the men of knowledge of this
Path have no knowledge of the state and rank of Sulayman. The business is not as they claim.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“The Prophet related that when Allah loves the voice of His slave when he makes supplication
to Him, He delays the answer to his supplication so that the slave will repeat the supplication.
This comes from His love for the slave, not because He has turned away from him. For that
reason, the Prophet mentioned the name of the Wise, and the Wise is the one who puts
everything in its proper place, and who does not turn away from the qualities which their
realities necessitate and demand; so the Wise is the One who knows the order of things.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
to Him, He delays the answer to his supplication so that the slave will repeat the supplication.
This comes from His love for the slave, not because He has turned away from him. For that
reason, the Prophet mentioned the name of the Wise, and the Wise is the one who puts
everything in its proper place, and who does not turn away from the qualities which their
realities necessitate and demand; so the Wise is the One who knows the order of things.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Creation is intelligible and Allah is felt and witnessed with the believers and the
people of unveiling. Allah is intelligible with other classes, and creation is witnessed.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
people of unveiling. Allah is intelligible with other classes, and creation is witnessed.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Whenever a person of unveiling sees a form which communicates to him
gnosis which he did not have and which he had not been able to grasp before, that form is
from his own source, no other. From the tree of himself he gathers the fruits of his
cultivation, as his outer form opposite the reflected body is nothing other than himself, even though the place of the presence in which he sees the form of himself presents him with an
aspect of the reality of that presence through transformation. The large appears small in the
small mirror and tall in the tall, and the moving as movement. It can reverse its form from a
special presence, and it can reflect things exactly as they appear, so the right side of the
viewer is his right side, while the right side can be on the left. This is generally the normal
state in mirrors, and it is a break in the norm when the right side is seen as the right and
inversion occurs. All this is from the gifts of the reality of the Presence in which it is
manifested and which we have compared to the mirror.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
gnosis which he did not have and which he had not been able to grasp before, that form is
from his own source, no other. From the tree of himself he gathers the fruits of his
cultivation, as his outer form opposite the reflected body is nothing other than himself, even though the place of the presence in which he sees the form of himself presents him with an
aspect of the reality of that presence through transformation. The large appears small in the
small mirror and tall in the tall, and the moving as movement. It can reverse its form from a
special presence, and it can reflect things exactly as they appear, so the right side of the
viewer is his right side, while the right side can be on the left. This is generally the normal
state in mirrors, and it is a break in the norm when the right side is seen as the right and
inversion occurs. All this is from the gifts of the reality of the Presence in which it is
manifested and which we have compared to the mirror.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Every self-manifestation bestows a new creation and removes a preceding creation. Its removal is the essence of annihilation (فناء) in the passing self-manifestation and subsistence (بقاء) in the bestowal of the following self-manifestation.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Therefore, since existence is from an intelligible movement which transported the universe
from non-existence to existence, the prayer encompasses all movements. There are three
movements: vertical, which is the state of standing in the prayer, the horizontal, which is the
state of bowing, and the downward movement, which is the state of prostration. The
movement of man is vertical, the movement of the animal is horizontal, and the movement of
plants in downward. The inanimate does not have a movement from its essence. If a rock
moves, it moves by other means than itself.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
from non-existence to existence, the prayer encompasses all movements. There are three
movements: vertical, which is the state of standing in the prayer, the horizontal, which is the
state of bowing, and the downward movement, which is the state of prostration. The
movement of man is vertical, the movement of the animal is horizontal, and the movement of
plants in downward. The inanimate does not have a movement from its essence. If a rock
moves, it moves by other means than itself.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“He called them women (an-nisâ’) which is a plural which does not have a singular form. For
that reason, he said, “He made me love three things in your world: women…” and he did not
say, “woman”. He took note of the fact that they came after him in existence. The word an-
nisa’ also means postponement. Allah says, “The month postponed is an increase in
disbelief,” (9:37) and the sale of “nasi’a” is said to be by postponement, that is, by credit. That
is why he said an-nisa’. He loved them only by rank, and they are the place of the passive.
They are to him as nature is to Allah in which Allah opened the forms of the world by the
projection of the will and the divine command which is marriage in the world of elemental
forms, and aspiration (himma) in the world of luminous spirits, as in the order of premises
and their meanings through deduction. All of that is the marriage of the first uniqueness in
each of these aspects. Whoever loves women in this measure, loves with a divine love.
Whoever loves them in respect to natural appetite in particular, deprives himself of the
knowledge of this appetite. For him it is a form without a spirit (rûh). That form in the heart
of the matter is the essence of a spirit, but it is not witnessed by the one who comes to his
wife or any woman by pure gratification, and he does not perceive the one it is for even so, he
has no knowledge of himself, as others have no knowledge of him, since he has not been
verbally named so that he could be known.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
that reason, he said, “He made me love three things in your world: women…” and he did not
say, “woman”. He took note of the fact that they came after him in existence. The word an-
nisa’ also means postponement. Allah says, “The month postponed is an increase in
disbelief,” (9:37) and the sale of “nasi’a” is said to be by postponement, that is, by credit. That
is why he said an-nisa’. He loved them only by rank, and they are the place of the passive.
They are to him as nature is to Allah in which Allah opened the forms of the world by the
projection of the will and the divine command which is marriage in the world of elemental
forms, and aspiration (himma) in the world of luminous spirits, as in the order of premises
and their meanings through deduction. All of that is the marriage of the first uniqueness in
each of these aspects. Whoever loves women in this measure, loves with a divine love.
Whoever loves them in respect to natural appetite in particular, deprives himself of the
knowledge of this appetite. For him it is a form without a spirit (rûh). That form in the heart
of the matter is the essence of a spirit, but it is not witnessed by the one who comes to his
wife or any woman by pure gratification, and he does not perceive the one it is for even so, he
has no knowledge of himself, as others have no knowledge of him, since he has not been
verbally named so that he could be known.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“When man witnesses Allah in women, his witnessing is in the passive; when he witnesses
Him in himself, regarding the appearance of woman from Him, he witnesses Him in the
active. When he witnesses Him from himself without the presence of any form from him, his
witnessing is in the passive directly from Allah without any intermediary. So his witnessing
of Allah in the woman is the most complete and perfect because he witnesses Allah inasmuch
as He is both active and passive. Regarding himself, He is passive in particular. For this
reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, loved women because of the
perfection of the witnessing of Allah in them since one does not ever witness Allah free of
matter. Allah by His essence is independent of the worlds. So from this aspect, the business
is impossible, yet witnessing only occurs in matter. The witnessing of Allah in women is the
greatest and most perfect witnessing. The greatest union is marriage.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
Him in himself, regarding the appearance of woman from Him, he witnesses Him in the
active. When he witnesses Him from himself without the presence of any form from him, his
witnessing is in the passive directly from Allah without any intermediary. So his witnessing
of Allah in the woman is the most complete and perfect because he witnesses Allah inasmuch
as He is both active and passive. Regarding himself, He is passive in particular. For this
reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, loved women because of the
perfection of the witnessing of Allah in them since one does not ever witness Allah free of
matter. Allah by His essence is independent of the worlds. So from this aspect, the business
is impossible, yet witnessing only occurs in matter. The witnessing of Allah in women is the
greatest and most perfect witnessing. The greatest union is marriage.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Here is a great secret! He mentioned the “act” in giving the answer to the one who asked for a
definition of essence. He made the essential definition the source of the attribution to what
appeared of Him in the forms of the universe, or what appeared in Him of the forms of the
universe. In answer to, “What is the Lord of the worlds?” he said that He is the One in whom
the forms of the universe are manifest on high which is the heaven – and below – which is the
earth, “if you but have certainty,” (18) or He who is manifest by them.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
definition of essence. He made the essential definition the source of the attribution to what
appeared of Him in the forms of the universe, or what appeared in Him of the forms of the
universe. In answer to, “What is the Lord of the worlds?” he said that He is the One in whom
the forms of the universe are manifest on high which is the heaven – and below – which is the
earth, “if you but have certainty,” (18) or He who is manifest by them.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“When they searched for Musa (after he had killed the Copt), he left in flight, fearful
outwardly and in the meaning, it was love of deliverance for movement is always by love, but
the onlooker is veiled from it by other causes, which are not the movement. This is because
the root is the movement of the universe from non-existence which was immobile in
existence. That is why it is said that the matter is movement from immobility. The movement
which is the existence of the universe is the movement of love. The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, quoting Allah, “I was a hidden treasure, therefore I
wanted (lit. loved) to be known.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
outwardly and in the meaning, it was love of deliverance for movement is always by love, but
the onlooker is veiled from it by other causes, which are not the movement. This is because
the root is the movement of the universe from non-existence which was immobile in
existence. That is why it is said that the matter is movement from immobility. The movement
which is the existence of the universe is the movement of love. The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, quoting Allah, “I was a hidden treasure, therefore I
wanted (lit. loved) to be known.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“When the family of Pharaoh found him in the river by the tree, Pharaoh called him Musa. Mu
is water in Coptic and sha is tree. He named him by where he found him, for the ark stopped
by the tree in the river. Pharaoh wanted to kill him. His wife, speaking by divine articulation
in what she said to Pharaoh about Musa since Allah had created her for perfection as Allah
said about her when He testified that she and Maryam, daughter of ‘Imran, have the
perfection which men have (8) – said, “he may be a source of delight for me and for you.”
(28:9) She would be consoled by him with the perfection which she received as we have said.
The consolation of Pharaoh was with the belief Allah gave him when he was drowning. So
Allah took him pure and purified. There was no impurity in him since He took him in his
belief before he had acquired any wrong actions. Islam effaces what was before it. He made
him a sign of His concern so that none might despair of the mercy of Allah, for “no one
despairs of solace from Allah except for the unbelievers.” (12:87) If Pharaoh been of those
who despair, he would not have embarked on belief. Musa, peace be upon him, was, as the
wife of Pharaoh said, “a source of delight for me and for you. Do not kill him. It may well be
that he will be of use to us.” That is what happened. Allah gave them use of Musa, although
they were not aware that he was a prophet who would destroy the kingdom of Pharaoh and
his family.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
is water in Coptic and sha is tree. He named him by where he found him, for the ark stopped
by the tree in the river. Pharaoh wanted to kill him. His wife, speaking by divine articulation
in what she said to Pharaoh about Musa since Allah had created her for perfection as Allah
said about her when He testified that she and Maryam, daughter of ‘Imran, have the
perfection which men have (8) – said, “he may be a source of delight for me and for you.”
(28:9) She would be consoled by him with the perfection which she received as we have said.
The consolation of Pharaoh was with the belief Allah gave him when he was drowning. So
Allah took him pure and purified. There was no impurity in him since He took him in his
belief before he had acquired any wrong actions. Islam effaces what was before it. He made
him a sign of His concern so that none might despair of the mercy of Allah, for “no one
despairs of solace from Allah except for the unbelievers.” (12:87) If Pharaoh been of those
who despair, he would not have embarked on belief. Musa, peace be upon him, was, as the
wife of Pharaoh said, “a source of delight for me and for you. Do not kill him. It may well be
that he will be of use to us.” That is what happened. Allah gave them use of Musa, although
they were not aware that he was a prophet who would destroy the kingdom of Pharaoh and
his family.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Similarly, the existence of Allah has multiplicity and the many Names. It is this or that
according to what appears from it of the universe which demands the realities of the Divine
Names by its development. They are doubled by it and stand in opposition to the unity of
multiplicity. It is one by source in respect to its essence, as the primal substance (hayûla) is a
single source in respect to its essence, while it has many forms which it supports by its
essence. It is the same with Allah through the forms of tajalli which are manifested from
Him. So the locii of the tajalli are the forms of the universe, in spite of the intelligible unity
(ahadiyya). Look at the excellence of this divine instruction which Allah gives by granting its
recognition to whoever He wishes among His slaves.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
according to what appears from it of the universe which demands the realities of the Divine
Names by its development. They are doubled by it and stand in opposition to the unity of
multiplicity. It is one by source in respect to its essence, as the primal substance (hayûla) is a
single source in respect to its essence, while it has many forms which it supports by its
essence. It is the same with Allah through the forms of tajalli which are manifested from
Him. So the locii of the tajalli are the forms of the universe, in spite of the intelligible unity
(ahadiyya). Look at the excellence of this divine instruction which Allah gives by granting its
recognition to whoever He wishes among His slaves.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Guidance is that man is guided to bewilderment (hayra). He knows that the business is
bewilderment. Bewilderment is being unsettled and movement. Movement is life. There is no
non-movement nor death. There is existence and not non-existence. It is the same with the
water which gives life to the earth. Its movement is His word, “so it quivers” and conceives,
“and swells” with pregnancy, “and sprouts plants in beautiful pairs.” (7) It only gives birth to
what resembles it, i.e. has a nature like it. It has being linked in pairs (zawjiya) which is the
state of being doubled by what is born from it and what appears from it.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
bewilderment. Bewilderment is being unsettled and movement. Movement is life. There is no
non-movement nor death. There is existence and not non-existence. It is the same with the
water which gives life to the earth. Its movement is His word, “so it quivers” and conceives,
“and swells” with pregnancy, “and sprouts plants in beautiful pairs.” (7) It only gives birth to
what resembles it, i.e. has a nature like it. It has being linked in pairs (zawjiya) which is the
state of being doubled by what is born from it and what appears from it.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Allah says, “He has made everything
that is in the heavens and the earth subservient to you. It is all from Him.” (22:65) All that is
in the universe is subject to man. He who knows that from his knowledge is the Perfect Man.
He who is ignorant of that is the Animal Man.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
that is in the heavens and the earth subservient to you. It is all from Him.” (22:65) All that is
in the universe is subject to man. He who knows that from his knowledge is the Perfect Man.
He who is ignorant of that is the Animal Man.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“All this is part of the effect of the young on the old. That is due to the strength of his station.
The young has a new covenant with his Lord because he has newly come into being. The old
person is further from Him. Whoever is nearer to Allah subjects whoever is further away
from Him, just as the elite of the near angels subject the further ones. The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to expose himself to the rain when it
came down and to uncover his head so that it would fall on him. He said that it has a new
covenant with Allah. Look at this recognition of Allah on the part of this Prophet! What is
more glorious, more sublime and clearer than this? The rain subjected the best of men due to
its proximity to its Lord. That is a likeness of the Messenger on whom the revelation
descends. The rain called him by its own state, (2) and so he exposed himself to the rain in
order to receive from it what it brought from his Lord. If he had not received this divine
benefit from it by the rain, he would not have exposed himself to it. This is the message of
water from which Allah has fashioned every living thing”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
The young has a new covenant with his Lord because he has newly come into being. The old
person is further from Him. Whoever is nearer to Allah subjects whoever is further away
from Him, just as the elite of the near angels subject the further ones. The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to expose himself to the rain when it
came down and to uncover his head so that it would fall on him. He said that it has a new
covenant with Allah. Look at this recognition of Allah on the part of this Prophet! What is
more glorious, more sublime and clearer than this? The rain subjected the best of men due to
its proximity to its Lord. That is a likeness of the Messenger on whom the revelation
descends. The rain called him by its own state, (2) and so he exposed himself to the rain in
order to receive from it what it brought from his Lord. If he had not received this divine
benefit from it by the rain, he would not have exposed himself to it. This is the message of
water from which Allah has fashioned every living thing”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
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“Musa was only born being a synthesis of many spirits. He was a concentration of effective
forces since the young have an effect on the old. Do you not see how the child has an effect
on the older person by the special quality the child has? The older person descends from his
leading position to play with the child and rock him in his arms and to show himself at the
child’s level of intellect he descends to the level of the child’s intellect. He is under
subjugation even though he is not aware of it. He occupies himself with instructing and
protecting the child, seeing to his needs and consoling him so that the child is not distressed.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
forces since the young have an effect on the old. Do you not see how the child has an effect
on the older person by the special quality the child has? The older person descends from his
leading position to play with the child and rock him in his arms and to show himself at the
child’s level of intellect he descends to the level of the child’s intellect. He is under
subjugation even though he is not aware of it. He occupies himself with instructing and
protecting the child, seeing to his needs and consoling him so that the child is not distressed.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
——————————————————————————————————————————
“The wisdom of the killing of the male children in respect to Musa was in order to give him
the support of the life of each of those killed for his sake because each of them was killed for
being Musa. There is no ignorance, so the life of the one killed for his sake had to return to
Musa. It is pure life in the natural state (fitra). The desires of the self have not soiled it; rather,
it is in its natural state of “Yes (bala).” (1) Musa was the sum of the lives of those killed for
being him. All that was prepared for the murdered ones in the way of the predisposition of
their spirits was in Musa, peace be upon him. This is a divine favour to Musa which no one
before him had.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
the support of the life of each of those killed for his sake because each of them was killed for
being Musa. There is no ignorance, so the life of the one killed for his sake had to return to
Musa. It is pure life in the natural state (fitra). The desires of the self have not soiled it; rather,
it is in its natural state of “Yes (bala).” (1) Musa was the sum of the lives of those killed for
being him. All that was prepared for the murdered ones in the way of the predisposition of
their spirits was in Musa, peace be upon him. This is a divine favour to Musa which no one
before him had.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
——————————————————————————————————————————
“One of the gnostics was hungry and wept. Someone who had no tasting (dhawq) in that area
censured him for that. The gnostic said, “But Allah makes me hungry so that I might weep.
He tests me by affliction so that I might ask Him to remove it from me. This does not lessen
my being patient.” We know that patience is holding the self back from complaint to other-
than-Allah.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
censured him for that. The gnostic said, “But Allah makes me hungry so that I might weep.
He tests me by affliction so that I might ask Him to remove it from me. This does not lessen
my being patient.” We know that patience is holding the self back from complaint to other-
than-Allah.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
——————————————————————————————————————————
“It is ignorance if, when Allah afflicts someone by what gives him pain, he does not call
on Allah to remove that painful matter from him. The one who has realization must
supplicate and ask Allah to remove that from him. For that gnostic who possesses unveiling,
that removal comes from the presence of Allah. Allah describes Himself as “hurt”, so He
said, “those who hurt Allah and His Messenger.” (33:57) What hurt is greater than that Allah
test you with affliction in your heedlessness of Him or a divine station which you do not
know so that you return to Him with your complaint so that He can remove it from you?
Thus the need which is your reality will be proven. The hurt is removed from Allah by your
asking Him to repel it from you, since you are His manifest form.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
on Allah to remove that painful matter from him. The one who has realization must
supplicate and ask Allah to remove that from him. For that gnostic who possesses unveiling,
that removal comes from the presence of Allah. Allah describes Himself as “hurt”, so He
said, “those who hurt Allah and His Messenger.” (33:57) What hurt is greater than that Allah
test you with affliction in your heedlessness of Him or a divine station which you do not
know so that you return to Him with your complaint so that He can remove it from you?
Thus the need which is your reality will be proven. The hurt is removed from Allah by your
asking Him to repel it from you, since you are His manifest form.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
——————————————————————————————————————————
“Lubb: In Arabic there is no word for mind. However, in the Qur’an the word that
designates a central locus of awareness in the human being is lubb, which means core. It is
the heart viewed as an organ of gnosis and not merely as a valave which pumps blood to the
head. Ibn al-‘Arabi says that it is that part of knowledge which is protected from the hearts
which are attached to phenomenal being.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
designates a central locus of awareness in the human being is lubb, which means core. It is
the heart viewed as an organ of gnosis and not merely as a valave which pumps blood to the
head. Ibn al-‘Arabi says that it is that part of knowledge which is protected from the hearts
which are attached to phenomenal being.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
——————————————————————————————————————————
“When Allah undertakes the destruction of this organism by what is called “death”, that is not
negation (i’dam) , but rather separation. He takes man to Him, and what is meant is only
Allah’s taking man to Him, “and to Him the whole affair will be returned.” (11:123) When He
takes him to Him, He fashions him a different composition than this composition. The new
composition is from the genus of the abode to which he has moved, that is, the Abode of
Going-on, because equilibrium exists. The creature thus will never die, i.e. his parts will
never be separated.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom
negation (i’dam) , but rather separation. He takes man to Him, and what is meant is only
Allah’s taking man to Him, “and to Him the whole affair will be returned.” (11:123) When He
takes him to Him, He fashions him a different composition than this composition. The new
composition is from the genus of the abode to which he has moved, that is, the Abode of
Going-on, because equilibrium exists. The creature thus will never die, i.e. his parts will
never be separated.”
― The Bezels of Wisdom