بخش 175 - فرق میان دانستن چیزی به مثال و تقلید و میان دانستن ماهیت آن چیز

The effects and fruit of His mercy are manifest, but how should any one except Him know its quiddity?

None knows the quiddities of the attributes of (Divine) Perfection except through (their) effects and by means of comparison.

The child does not know the quiddity of concubitus, except that you say, “It is like sweetmeat to thee.”

How should the quiddity of the pleasure of sexual intercourse be like the quiddities of sweetmeat, O master?

But, since you are childish, that intelligent man offered you the analogy respecting the sweetness (of it),

In order that the child might know it by comparison, though he does not know the quiddity or essence of the matter.

Therefore, if you say “I know,” ’tis not far (from the truth); and if you say, “I do not know,” ’tis not a lie and a falsehood.

If some one say (to you), “Do you know Noah, the Messenger of God and the Light of the spirit?”—

And if you reply, “How should not I know (him)? for that (spiritual) Moon is more celebrated than the sun and moon:

The little children at school and all the Imáms in the mosques

Recite his name distinctly in the Qur’án and tell plainly his story (as it has come down) from the past”—

You, veracious man, know him by way of description, though the quiddity of Noah has not been revealed (to you).

And if you reply, “How should I know Noah? (Only) one like him can know him, O youth.

I am a lame ant. How should I know the elephant? How should a gnat know Isráfíl?”—

This saying (answer) is also true in regard to the fact that you do not know him in his quiddity, O so-and-so.

To be unable to perceive the quiddity, uncle, is the condition of common men: do not say it absolutely,

Inasmuch as quiddities and their inmost secret are clearly visible to the eyes of the Perfect.

Where in existence is (anything) more remote from understanding and mental perception than the consciousness and essence of God?

Since that does not remain hidden from (His) familiars, what is the essence and attribute that should remain concealed?

The intellect of the scholastic theologian says, “This is far (from reasonable) and deeply involved (in error): do not listen to an absurdity without some explanation.”

The Qutb (the Head of the Saints) replies, “To thee, O infirm one, that which is above thy (spiritual) state seems absurd.”

The visions which are now revealed to you, is it not the case that at first they seemed absurd to you?

Inasmuch as the (Divine) Bounty has released you from ten prisons, do not make the (wide) desert an oppressive prison to yourself.