khutba bab

7/24/2019 Khutba Bab

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Khuṭba on the `ilm al-ḥurūf

("The Sermon on the Science of the Letters").

Translated from I!# $%& '-'. See also I!# *& ++,-+''.

Stehen Lambden +*-, (nder re/ision).

Last re/ised +%0%%0*

The often fault1 2rabic te3t here is4raduall1 bein4 modi5ed and corrected...

(I)

رح ل ا ن محر ل ا ا سب

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

و ه شت ر غ ب د ا ؤ ف ل ا ز ع ي ة جم ل ا ه ت ب ه ت ا ! " رع ال &% $# ال ' م #( ل ال,+* )( ي /.-# 012 ب الف5* +34 ي /.-# ال6* ل ش#0 7رفت

89,:

[1] Praised be to God Who hath enabled the gnosis of is!ssence to be reali"ed through is #erses $hich e%presstheophanic self&disclosure 'al&muta(alli))a* $ithin the grandeurof the inmost heart '+i"" al&f-d*, though $ithout hint of either



anthropomorphism 'tashbi))a* or di/erentiation 'tafr0* [$ithinh)postatsis&personna of the Godhead]. [2] 3his such that allmight bear $itness $ithin the 4ocus of the 5i#ine 6ount)'ma+ad al&fa7l* unto the ordered andi$or8 of their Creator inthe citadel of 9eunion 'ma+ad al&$a:l*. No God is there e%ceptim.

; و ة ف +,لا ب= />* / ن 7 > لا 71 . ح ي ة # حا / $# )ب #? />*( ل دة ) , -لا ي : 6* ة ب ,ب ر ل ا ح6 ) ; *@ ي 7 > لا - ل ة #A5لا

و 89 ة ر :,جلا B-C =ب 7رفلا ي @* جم 3 ل ا ر : D/ ?ر Eا و $# ,: F . ت ي د ,G,لا Hا2! *@ ن $, ل ة Iر -لا J2,+ K+,ل ا ة ر ب د , -م ل ا ه G و

ا ح # لوجود عن ا نعت ل ا يمسهلأ

[3] He generated the likeness of Divine Oneness (al-aḥadiyya) within the realities of Creation (haqāiq al-khalq) tho!gh

devoid of even the si"ilit!de of any de#i$tion [of His %eality] orany hint of #ossi&le des$ri#tion [thereof]' to the end that $reatedthings "ight' on every level' realie that the ordinan$e of ordshi#e*ists within the +e"#le of servit!de (h!k" al-r!&!&iyya f, haykalal-!&!diyya) [for there is indeed] no .od' e*$e#t Hi"/

[0] He indeed originated the 1anifestations ofCo"#rehensiveness ("a2āhir al-a") within every sing!larity(tafr,q) tho!gh witho!t any des$ri#tion of [His] 4ssential %eality(niat al-awhariyya) and witho!t any for" of dis$los!re [of His%eality] (s5rat al-ar6iyya) to the end that He "ight i"#ress$ertainty !#on every ato" of e*isten$e [when] $onfronted withthe Co!ntenan$e of the One 7orshi##ed [.od] (al-"a&!d) at [the"o"ent of] the #er$e#tion of !nion (&i-tatriyyat al-wasl) [e*istsonly] at the very li"it of [dis$los!re fro" the s#here of] the Divine8a"es (ḥadd al-as"āiyya) for s!$h is [nothing other than] these"&lan$e of e*isten$e (niat al-w!5diyya)' for ' there is no .odis there other than Hi"/

ق ر ف ه ر ق ز ع ب شإ ق

و / اLب #ا? 2,+ F 4 سلا Jرج ; #$ / و )M ر . ل ا ي N ر م / ح6 حر " ال- د @* *@ Oر > ل 0 م 6ن

لرحم ا عP ح(هلأ ! ال #" $% ف &' ق

() لا" ي * +, - ./ 0 عب ال ه ف 2ن 1 3أ % و4 ل 56ف ال ه &' ق / 73 ال 89 $% ف:( يل ال % و4

أ; ه ل أ ; أ> 4=ا >(?*

[9] He generated thro!gh the 1ight of His :ower in the leaves of



the ;inaiti$ +ree (waraqat al-shaarat al-s,nā) the for"s of the$reative generation (<!war al-i&dā) and whatsoever $a"e to &etherein to the end that all of the servants (al-i&ād) draw o!t of itevery letter (k!ll al-ḥarf) whi$h is a token (ḥ!k") of whatsoeverwas de#osited in the =!rān/ >nd no one hath en$o"#assed theknowledge of the >ll-1er$if!l' e*$e#t .od' [no .od is there]e*$e#t Hi"/ [?] He indeed $reated thro!gh the o$!s-:oint of the

[>l#ha&eti$al] ;$ri#t (@l-n!qAa al-khaAA) the s$ien$e of the letters(il" al-ḥ!r5f) and all things &esides/ +his that any so!l "ight give!tteran$e and de$lare so"ething of the handiwork of .od (<an>llāh) [B] and envision in a [ogos-]:oint (n!qAa) He 7ho de$reedthat whi$h .od $reated in the :ri"ordial +ree (shaarat al-awwal)/8o .od is there e*$e#t Hi"/

(II)

! @3 ل ABين ا فCA .! Dويلا:( % ل <يعل ب E جا 73 س 6+ ق / عب ق ('ا F () لا

! $% ./ م 73 <ي G لا $% ./ ( س + أ> د ر H ف

73 ق B ف < (Iن ل ا E شيل ق ('ا F () لا J($ لاK! ألهالش ?)<

+ معيفL لM+N/<أ L لن ل ( م ) ا- ا ر و ./ -O و 0 لا" ي ' P(3 إMا أ; الع /و>

< E شي ل -م B لا + أ ./ ال Bور و> ف ي Qع %.أف & ./ - 0 ي G لا" ي ' R و S ال Bمو أف & ف<فوملا

T يلا ب Kا4ال Bودا- ق + E يف ل ?45 ا ر و ./ UG' VWزع ; ق ('ا F() لا ! ل / 7 نييلK بر32

-K* +,-K* ! مه ف/.

X ي A3 W Y,ف Zن 0 ف [] 7e have indeed this day have o&served a #erson in the &oat[ark] (sa@nat) [with a] love of the s$ien$e of the letters and their$!l"ination [f!l@ll"entes$haton] (ḥ!&& il" al-ḥ!r5f waakhiratihā)/ ;!&seq!ently he had enq!ired a&o!t the "ode of their a##ointed ti"e (ḥ!k" aalihā) as o&serva&le #heno"ena(&il-iyān)/ [E] ;o it was desired that 7e dis#at$h a resol!tion(ḥ!k" an ) [of the enq!iry] fro" the :oint of the Fayān (n!qAat al-



&ayān)' fro" the :oint of the s$ien$e of the letters (n!qAat il" al-ḥ!r5f) [G the Fa&] and their $!l"ination (akhirati-hā)/ +his thatthe o&servers of their reading (tilāwatihā) "ight &ear witness !ntothe !dg"ent of the +ree !#on the [;inaiti$] 1o!nt (h!k" shaaratalā al-A5r)' no .od is there e*$e#t Hi"/ [3] >nd [that they "ay]realie that their likeness is even as the a$tivity of $a!sativeagents (al-a"il5n)' save that is' when the thread of res#lendent

light (al-khayt al-6iwā) is set in "otion thro!gh the $ri"son ight(al-n5r al-ha"rā)/ [0] >t this the ;inaiti$ dwellers [lit/ "o!ntites](al-A5riyy5n) a"ong the deniens of the Divine Clo!d (ahl al-a"ā) are ass!redly "ade to swoon away and the #ro#onents of Divine oneness (al-"awḥid5n) at the horion of heaven (!fq al-sa"ā) &ear witness !nto the rising !# of the snow-white thread(khayt al-&ay6ā) fro" the &la$k horion (!fq al-sawdā)/

[9] Has not the Dawn ti"e (al-s!&ḥ) &roken thro!gh the ightof .lory (n5r al-alāl) therein [?] ;ayI JeaK Fy "y ordK that 7e"ight indeed deliver !nto thee the !niverse of the s$ien$e of theletters (ala" il" al-ḥ!r5f) and their $!l"ination [es$haton](akhirati-hā)/ [B] +here is nothing that lieth o!tside of Hisknowledge/ >nd 7e have indeed disting!ished all things (k!llishay) in a Fook :reserved (kitā& ḥaf,2)/

(III)

ال- م Q ف C( B I و * $ ن / Fم 6' لا R, . ع H2ح#$ ة S.4 لا T ت ي )( وF

R R#-ل ب $ U وا ر $( و :مع بل- جز / ن ال6* اعر " ح* $# ب-# / ن Fي ; *@ Vع ا ) @ و ا Fش )( W( XYش / B ب ; ن م ل و ا

M2# ./* 1د, -م ل ا ن / B-C و ب ة الرب, ي : 6* J, 4 لا BE( -لا T ل! د ( ( ! / ةم ح6 ز ز -ل ا Cه ا F ; / ب- م( 0ح # ) Z '/ ن ل ة #Cا ي : 6*

ل,$2 ا ي ) س C9 7SCF / [;2 #$ Xا,6; رعو # ل ا ا &: ) ا ا ,. تا )( 0 ع ا ب\!( ي ش م و ر <@ و ر <@ 7 E 0 و $# ^ ر[ ) ل ا ة ف ل ( _ S م `

C,ف a ف ع ا ) ' b و ا ا . ع - ة $ ة A

[] 7ith res#e$t to this :oint (al-n!qAa) the intelle$ts of the#hiloso#hers of old (h!ka"ā "in qa&l) are &ewildered and the!la"a (divines) of s!&seq!ent ti"es have gone astray/ +his !ntilall &e$a"e well aware of the weakness of their !la"a andgained sola$e on a$$o!nt of its esta&lish"ent in !sti$e thro!ghthe fa"ily of .od for who"soever they will for they [the L"a"s]do not will save .od Hi"self hath willed/ >nd .od hath ever &een:owerf!l over all things/ [E] Ls it not the $ase that this s$ien$e [of the letters] (il") is the sister of #ro#hethood in the +e"#le of



ordshi# (!kht al-n!&!wwa @l-haykal al-r!&5&iyya) as well as anas#e$t of servit!de in the +e"#le of the Divine Oneness (niat "inal-!&!diyya @ haykal al-aḥadiyya)/ [3] >nd no so!l $anen$o"#ass the knowledge of this s$ien$e save s!$h as .odHi"self' the 1ighty' the 7ise' doth will/ [0] 7herefore doesh!"ankind (al-insān) $ry o!t thro!gh the Dove [Fird] (al-warqa)'MNear ye .odK +his is indeed the :ath (al-s!lk) so CH4C +HL;/ [9]

+here hath s#rinkled forth fro" the &illowing sea of .od (Aa"aAa">llāh) the Fayan (4*#osition) and "any "!ltit!des of $reat!reshave drowned therein/ [?] >nd with the #er"ission of .od L shall#ro$eed with res#e$t to it' [dis$losing] &!t the "erest shadow fornone is aware of [the e*tent of] its "agnit!de save .od/ >nd.lori@ed &e .od a&ove that whi$h they s!##ose/

(I6)

ت-.# و 71 $رلا تر[ و T 4 ع cم ^( و ال a ر K+و ال D4ر ت #[ و ال d 4ر 0( U 7 $# لا Hا2 ;9 ن / *1مشل ا و T4 م ي / 7ل( و 71 .' لا O2 -/ ي

( 2# . ح # )( )+, - b Rة -لا X&0ل ر " )( ع ا P ار 5لا Vع . bا e ر ' ل ا ا &: ن / Oر > 33 / ) . Lا و 0ر -/ #-ب ( Fم ل ا ن / Jر S$ دا الم,

2 :ر EM ي ة CملWا و ة Cا2,S لا و " ر ح ع و 0ل و ا ي ة S.4 لا ح7 اعر " )(ي @*و Gه /04 الف-* f تار / ع

[] ;o O tho! OnlookerK 4*a"ine $aref!lly' re@ne the gae and

&lind thine eyesK so as to render deli$ate the sensitive feelings (al-raqāiq) then &e restrained over reality generating "irā o!rneys("aari al-haqāiq) and $ast forth what in in thy right hand and inwhat is thy left of the s!&tle all!sions a&o!t things intri$ate(ishārāt al-daqāiq)/ [E] +hen rise !# !#on the :ath (al-sirat) andknow that for this s$ien$e (il") are seven fo!ndations (!<5l)/ [3]Lt is not #ossi&le for anyone to draw o!t of this o$ean even thosewaves whi$h $onstit!te &!t a dro# of the Cos"i$ 7atery 4*#anse(al-"a)' save' that is' s!&seq!ent to attaining into its gnosis("arifat) and a state of $ertit!de regarding it/ [0] now then[so"ething of] the reality of the :oint (al-n!qAa) in its very&eginning (@ awwaliha) and the [nat!re of] the l!"ino!s etters(h!r!f al-n!raniyya) and those of darkness (al-!ll"aniyya) withres#e$t to their !lti"a$y (akhiriha) as well as the knowledge of their "odes of a$tivity on every level (wah)/

(6)

_( ح6 و gس ' لا ع #د او Cي ال, B < ب-# اع #اد &E( #4 ع F 0ل ا ع و



S.4 ل ا ع ي ا 6ح T ل! ة -سلا f@ا,@ Vل9 0س C و. %ا2 #$ م / &E ر @Wا 2ا% !ل 2 Tب / 3م / H&E( ن -Gفر / داؤفلا g&@ / و بل '7 الفؤاد

ر @ش ل ا ن / ن @ و ال # B . ل( / ا J,. ب

[9] >nd [know also that] the s$ien$e of the letter : MHM (al-ha)is realied thro!gh a $o!nting of s!$$essive n!"&ers [thro!gh

ge"atria I 9 G -E-3-0-9] (ind adha al-adād)/ [?] +hen the[letter]

M7M (al-wāw) is realied thro!gh n!"eri$al $al$!lation[9PG?G a&ad wāw] (f, adad al-ḥisā&) for He de$reed the days(al-ayyā") and their "eas!re (nis&a) relative to the seven stars(al-kawāki& al-sa&a)/ [B] ;!$h is the de$ree of .od relative to thes$ien$e of the :oint (il" al-n!qAa) sin$e the in"ost heart (al-f5ād) [of the Fa&] hath' in very tr!th' seen and the in"ost heart(al-f5ād) does not liet not a&o!t what it seeth ($f/ =/93I)/[Q];!$h is a s#rinkling [of knowledge] derived fro" what was taken

fro" the .reatest [Rqā ;ayyid] Safar [i&n >&, Lshāq ash@ Darā&,](d/E?BQ9T-) (Safar al-ak&ar)/ +ake ye then' thro!gh the #owerof .od (&i-q!wwat >llāh)' what hath &een $ast !#on thee and &en!"&ered a"ong the thankf!l/

76I8

^ رب ة $# و ة $ر ; Jرج ; ي : G ة S.4 لا h2ا ي ي م 6ح 3 تا عن )(

@ ة غلا K ل( 0 ل ( gر $Wا ^ ة )( / Vل9 " رح *@ :ر : D/ Hر b

U ة ال#5 ي )حر " ة Iر -لا U ة Cا2,لا ي )حر " ة ر :,جل ا U ة 4 # لا / g 6ل ا ي 0م 6ح ) حر " *@ Rو( ي K لWا U N ر ' ملا U ن @ا,سلا

#:ش C. رش -ل ا و ة Cم < لا ي )حر " K لWا ح6 ب-# ر " ع ا و ة 4 سلا ./ م >*

ل6* و )( 0 @ش دو ( />* ب 4فس / 0ن ا 0a Eا لي ا " رح دو ( 0 < م /

ز ع ه Cا F ; ن / و ا ا # حW - ح6 :ر : D/ ي ال S.4ة حر " / ن

e33 " رح ا / J#AWن @* *:( - ل 00G و و / i 0Gن ا !@ ر C( : و ح6 2 0م 6ح

[] ;o follow 1y de$ree in the real" of the :oint (ar6 al-n!qAa) for it is indeed a +ree neither 4astern nor 7estern ($f/ =/E0I39)/ Lts "anifestations have set in "otion every one of theletters [ of the al#ha&et] in a "anner witho!t @nality/ [E] 1ost#ro*i"ate thereto is the hidden [letter] M>M (alif al-ghay&iyya)

then the MsoftM ones (al-l,niyya) [G wāw' and : yā] and thoses!&stantive [] (al-awhariyya) a"ong the l!"ino!s letters (aḥraf



al-n5rāniyya)/ [3] +hen are those evident (al-ar6iyya) a"ong theletters of o##osition (aḥraf al-6iddiyya)' [0] then those "otionless[G vowelless "edial $onsonants] (al-sākin) [9] and then those setin "otion [G the vowelied $onsonants] (al-"!taḥarrik)/

[?] +hen the letter M>M (al-alif) whi$h is at the &eginning of every letter' the wisdo" thereof &eing in the Fook (al-kitā&)

whi$h 7e eviden$e &y the e*a"#le of the tradition (s!nna)/ [B];o &e aware that the after the de$ree regarding the letter M>M (al-alif) whi$h is [s$ri&ed] within the eighteen letters after its [own]likeness there is so"ething other than a letter whi$h .od singledo!t for His Own ogos-;elf and whi$h has other than the likenessof their for" [ $f/ al->hsai' Sawā"i al-kali" vol/ LLI 3E]/[Q] Norevery letter derived fro" the :oint (al-n!qta) there is a wisdo" toits "anifestations whi$h none $an fatho" aside fro" .od Hi"self and who"soever He willeth for He is the 1ighty' the 7ise/ [U] Ofs!$h [wisdo"s] L shall "ention &!t one of their as#e$ts in orderthat the #eo#le of the in"ost heart (ahl al-afida) "ight know what["anner of] wisdo" lieth within every letter/

[\]]^

U Jدا2Lا ح6 F 0ل U 0 :( و j ود ر ف ل ا ح6 K لWا gر ' ل 7 E #$ ا )( )!Wا ح6 " 6ل + 0 </ و F 5. لا ح6 F S ل :#4G و ال .2# ح6 ل -ن

T ت 0 6; و *GWا ح6 " . ل U 00 ; و g 6لا ح6 ل=_ U 0 E( وح7 Vع P ار + ن / k,ل ي ر @ f1 @ :ر : D/ ي B لز C / و الس -ة

ش ع و ة -ب2( ة Cا2ر 4 لا ت( T حر " Cمس 6ه

[] now that .od $reated for the letter ا M>M (harf al-alif)[Ga&ad ] for :aradise and its #eo#le (ḥ!k" @rdaws wa ahlihā)/

[E] Nor the [letter] : MHM (al-haG a&ad 9) He allotted the Divine

Lntention (al-irada)/ [3] Nor the letter ?

ayn [G a&ad BT] Heallotted of the Divine Destiny (al-qadar) and its host (al-qadr wa

andiha)/ [0] +hen for the [letter] P MVM (al-Aā) [G a&ad U] Heallotted the Divine >$$o"#lish"ent (al-qi6a) and its like/ [9] Nor

the [letter] N MM (al-kāf) He allotted the Divine >!thoriation (al-

idhn) and its sister (!kht) [?] Nor the [letter] R MM (al-lā") [a&ad3T] is allotted the Fook (al-kitā&) and its rese"&lan$e (sha&ah)/

[B] Nor the [letter] ] M=M (al-qāf) [a&ad TT] He allotted the>##ointed +i"e (al-aall)/ [Q] >nd their res!ltant (shakl) is [the



n!"&er] seven (al-sa&a)/ [Q] >nd that whi$h was sent down of its"anifestations is a 1ighty Fook in a 1anifest +a&let' a :athway!nto the the %eal +r!th (al-haqq)/ [U] +heir ["athe"ati$al]do!&ling [s!&"ersion gha"asaka ) of these !"ino!s etters(ahraf al-n!raniyya) yields fo!rteen [B* E G0]/

[\]]]^

ع ح6 Oر > ت ت .2# )( 0 Hر ;( / " ر -ت B4@ )( ر d 4 لا 0( الس -ة ب / gن )حر " ن 4Uا ي T ل ( B . ل( / ح6 T ل! 0 E( و ال S.4ة

ال 5فة f@,@ Q/شلا )( f@ا,6لا الف-* f تار / ن / T ل ( V. C / /( / c-ب ي ا 6' ل *# ت ة س م > لا 'C ةسم > لا و Jدا2Lا ج C رم . لااWح # _Wا ع ي Hر ;( / ح6 /( و ز ز ع ل .,% T ب2 ا ) @ 2 FV شلا

2 F 5/=ل Q م > لا و F 5 . ل -ب2Wا و 2#. ل ال > < ي و Jدا2lل 4Uن ا و ة A شمل

ا لس 4ة #G( / و 0 ا ح6 T ل! g 6ل B سل ا و *GWا _, الجم- ة m,' ت ال ' رو " ب- / cن ي

*

ا 7 E #$ / ح6 T ل! e35 _ا ة b ي

)!Wا / ن

[T] ;o O +ho! OnlookerK Lf tho! did know what is all!ded totherein tho! wo!ld re$kon that the res!lt wo!ld a$$ord with thewisdo" of the knowledge of the :oint (ḥ!k" il" al-n!qAa) andits $onseq!ent realities [al#ha&eti$al MsistersM] (!kht)/ [] ;!$h isthe wisdo" whi$h L $ast !nto thee regarding the d!al di"ensions

of the [word] Fā& (ithnayn al-&ā&) [G its E letter g MFM s] res!ltingfro" the seven letters [ this d!ality gب G FPF with MaM ise*#ressed as Fa& G >li P 1!ha""ad G 3P0 G B letters]/

[E] 8ow regarding that whi$h 7e [now] $ast !#on thee a&o!tthe "odes of a$tivity asso$iated with the $elestial or&s [stars]("arāti& al-@l al-kawāki&)/ +he ;!n is the or& [#lanet] e*#ressiveof al-"ashiyya (Mthe Divine 7illM) while the 1oon (al-qa"ar) is thestar of al-Lrāda (Mthe Divine LntentionM (na" al-irāda)/ [3] +he

@ve stars [#res!"a&ly / ;at!rn' / S!#iter' 3/ 1ars' 0/ Wen!s and9/ 1er$!ry] [$orres#ond to] the other @ve for no $hange is there inthe de$ree of .od with res#e$t to a single thing/ >nd .od' thy ordis ass!redly One :owerf!l' 1ighty/

[+he other @ve hy#ostati$ #oten$ies are [3] qadar (Mthe DivineNoreordain"entM)X [0] qi6ā (Mthe Divine >$$o"#lish"entM)X [9]idhn (Mthe Divine >!thoriationM) [?] kitā& (Mthe Cos"i$] FookMX [B]aal (Mthe Divinely alotted +i"eM)' see !layn,' al-āf,' I0U]



[3] 8ow regarding the wisdo" a&o!t what is indi$ated of thedays [of the week] (al-ayyā")/ +he @rst [day $on@g!res to] is al-"ashiyya (the Divine 7ill)' the se$ond to al-irāda (the DivineLntention)' the third to al-qadar (the Divine Noreordain"ent)' thefo!rth to al-qi6ā (Mthe Divine >$$o"#lish"entM)' the @fth to al-i"6ā (the Divine %ealiation) and the [si*th] to Nriday whi$h is theDay of al-aal (the Divinely allotted +i"eM) while the seventh (al-

sa&t) [;at!rday] $on@g!res to the [Cos"i$] Fook (al-kitā&)/ [0];!$h then is the de$ree of .od in this $onne$tion and L have notfo!nd in for the ways (al-s!nna) of .od with res#e$t to the etters(al-ḥ!r5f) [of the >l#ha&et] any alteration/ [9] ] +his is thewisdo" res#e$ting the fa$t that .od $reated [everything] in si*days fro" the Divine >!thoriation ("in al-idhn)/

[]_^

السد '4/ jر " n U ح6 ب-# F 0لا ح6 ل / Tن ( V. ل( / ح6 /( وعم 7 عم 7 ل ' ر ا و 7 $2 7 $2 gج ' لا ) J2 ;Lا o رع Vع . bر

بل- رب اWحر " ح6 &E( -لا Jرم U &E\ت )( Hد2( )( 7 C( 7 C( ال '6 f تار / Vل9 هس C و T/, p ف ح ا U " ور ' لا ع #د Vع # ر ت / ع / ن

q و j دسل ا ن / n < لا ع #د ر ش ع *@ j ا2ن / kر `ا U f@ا,6لا و الف-* p ف ح ا و ج ل ا n U ن / د ع # و F 0لا حر " / ن عشر - b Jة / ن ب-# @* ب-#

K ع I و د ح Wا &E " رحWا B-م G ا !r kر S ل ا ن ح د ا # عا ي < < لا. 0 < م / T ب2 )!\ب ال '6 Oر > Hارش -لا N ر ت ا و * $ ن / T ل Hر ;( م / ر ح ة - b

ا و Fش ن / ه تؤ ا *5 T ل! * $ ن / f . ب S> ر و ن ع sر ت /

i /# ع *5 !و

[] 8ow regarding the wisdo" whi$h 7e $ast !nto thee

res#e$ting the de$ree a&o!t [letter] : MHM (h!k" al-ha) followingthe de$ree a&o!t threefold si*th a"ong the letters [the threefold

letterو

wāw Gا

wPaPw' a&ad n!"eri$al val!e G ? [3])/ [E];o [it is ne$essary that yo!] rise !# !#on the throne of all!sion(arsh al-ishārat) and if the [$elestial] veil (al-hiā&) is es#e$ially@ne and deli$ate (raq,q wa raq,q)' the [$os"i$] o$ean dee# andi"#enetra&le (a",q a",q) and the de$ree (ḥ!k") $o"#le* andintri$ate (an,q an,q) then desire that tho! #artake of the fr!it of that knowledge (tha"arat al-il") whi$h involves o&taining of thewisdo" [de$ree] (h!k") res#e$ting the >ra&i$ letters (&il-ahraf al-ara&iyya) thro!gh the knowledge that res!lts fro" [an awareness



of] the n!"eri$al val!e of the letters (adad al-ḥ!r5f)/

[3] ;o #reserve [safeg!ard-"e"orie///] thy day and itsdesignation (nis&a) relative to the levels of a$tivity (ilā "arāti& al-@l) and the $elestial or&s (al-kawāki&) then s!&tra$t fro" thehead of all the tens the n!"&er of the three fro" the si* (G wāwG ?) adding ["!lti#lying] there after all the seventeen letters

fro" a letter fro" the letter MHM ("in harf "in al-hā) !nto then!"&er of the threefold si*th (G wāw G ?) and $o!nt fro" thethreefold letter SM (th!lth al-i") and #reserve [divine] the twothirds of the n!"&ers (th!lthā al-adād) at the "o"ent of s!&tra$tion/ [0] +hen when [yo! have] added !# [gatheredtogether] the [val!e of the] letters are gathered together [added!#] take the !nits [$ardinal n!"&ers (al-iḥād) and the do!&le["!lti#le] (6āif) for in their i"age (&i-"ithlihā) are seven lettersthe like of whi$h hath &een indi$ated !nto thee &efore/ [9] [+hen]relinq!ish [o"it] the tens and there shall e"erge the val!ation(ḥ!k") with the #er"ission of thy ord' that whi$h the eye dothnot see nor had ever o$$!rred to the heart aforeti"e/ [?] ;!$h isthe &o!nty of .od (fadl >llah) whi$h He &estoweth !#onwho"soever He willeth for .od is the One #ossessed of .reatFo!nty (fadl ai")/

[_^

_ ./ Vل9 ن @ _ ./ ن / B لز C #$ ر /Wا عر " )( J, 4 لا BE( ح6 /( و

U نجلا.

ي / ل '6 ا م T ب2 ح6 / / م / B $ ن

ع T ب2 # ز ت و د ا ؤ ف ل ا Fe ر /Wا V5$ #. R < ملب R < ملا B6ح ا! / R </Wا و F ;Wا3) @ و

و )( Xر /( g 6ل Va ح( / *6ب ل ع *@ ي T ل&@ و i /, '/ ال '6 ح # Vع ه س ^ا U نفلا j(2ن / F 4 سلا Jرج ; &E _ -لا /. &: n /ا ),6 ب # )( ال < bر F / H&E( ا !r Hار / ة -ب2( 01 / &E U ي a لا

Fز G ن / 0@رت ب-# B ر @ 3 با2ن :د د: ن / ن &E و ف Dه ح ا U 7 $2 Fارف + 0D السب- ة Vل9 #' لا t ب !rا RوWا و />* !ل ; Tه *G ا Fم ل ا ن -لوWا

ا c فل #G( / و ا c ع / BA; / 2#$ Vن kر S ت u' ل ا ا bا* S-ت

[] 8ow regarding the "atter (ḥ!k") of the sister of #ro#hethood (!kht al-n!&!wwa)' know that the divine Co""and(al-a"r) was [ in this res#e$t] sent down fro" the level of [the$reative i"#erative] MFeKM (k!n) !nto the level of the inn(Ms#iritsM) and then in line with what #re$eded it a$$ording to the



de$ree (h!k") of thy ord/

[E] >nd as for the "atter (ḥ!k") #ertaining to the world of the in"ost-heart (ala" al-f!ad) and the a&ility to gli"#se [](tatriyya) thy ord a&stra$ted fro" e*isting things and likenesses(al-i"thal)/ [3] 7hen the si"ilit!de is narrated as si"ilit!de[#ara&le] (al-"ithāl &il-"ithāl) the "atter is [divinely] a!thoried

[san$tioned] and the [vera$ity of the] "atter was' in this$onne$tion' sealed !# ("akht5"an)/ [0] 7herefore is it that inevery world whatsoever #ertains to whatever is $o"#!ted has$on@r"ation thro!gh the Fook (lil-kitā&) whi$h is His Co""and(a"r) [see =/ 3?IEX 9QI?X BEIEQXBQIEU]/

[9] %egarding thy station ("aqā") whi$h #ertains to thisworld/ [?] O&tain the ;inati$ +ree (shaarat al-s,nā) fro" the headof the Jo!th (ras al-fatā)K than $leanse [wash] (gh-s-l) it at thevery a#e* of #!rity (alā ḥadd al-<āfā) [B] +hen e*tra$t its liq!id-water ("ā) [G "er$!ry] fo!r ti"es/ [Q] Lf yo! e*tra$t a @fth #artthe liq!id (khā"is al-"ā) witho!t fail it will &e a s!&tle yellow(<afrā raq,q)/ [U] +hen #reserve it and e*tra$t oil fro" that oilwhi$h is a fo!rth #art s!l#h!r (d!hn "in d!hn rā&i ki&r,t) [T]after yo! have a&andoned the @rst #ortion of the initial liq!id[G"er$!ry] (al-"ā al-awwal) and the likeness of that @rstse"&lan$e ("ithl dhalik sh!&&a al-awwal)/ [] 7hen yo! haveattained that li"it [a#e*] (hadd) at seven [ti"es] there will &e"anifest the 8a"e of .od' the iving One (al-ḥayy) [G a&ad Q]

[E] then a&andon-divide thro!gh the Fo!nty of .od (fay6 >llāh)a$$ording to the e*tent that yo! desire for there is not fo!nd forthe Fo!nty of .od any interr!#tion/

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

S9: 9T:S

;. <adith from Imam =a`far al-Sadi>&

[] 1ashiyya (Mthe [Divine] 7illM)X [E] irāda (Mthe [Divine]LntentionM)X [3] qadar (Mthe [Divine] Noreordain"entM)X [0] qi6ā(Mthe Divine >$$o"#lish"entM)X [9] idhn (Mthe Divine]>!thoriationM) [?] kitā& (Mthe [Cos"i$] FookM)X [B] aal (Mthe[Divinely] alotted +i"eM)/ >nd whoso $lai"s to &e a&le to violatethis !nitative s$he"ata is ass!redly an in@del/M (!layn,' al-āf,'I0U)/



In its ;itb al&ta$<0d '6oo8 of the 5i#ine =nit)* the centralit) of

mashi))a as a theological&cosmological concept is e#ident.

9eferences to al&mashi))a in 6b0&6ah-0 scripture are most

centrall) rooted in a number of 8e) >h0-0 traditions deri#ing from

#arious of the the 't$el#er* Imams. ?mong them the follo$ing

tradition related from ?b0 +?bd&?llh [@ Imam Aa+far al&>adi] 'd.

c. 1BDEF* $hich is freuentl) cited and commented upon b)

the 6bH

M+here is not a single thing in the heavens or on the earth

&!t $a"e to &e thro!gh these seven fa$tors (khi<āl) I

[] `abcdeea (Mthe [Divine] 7illM)X [E] dfgha (Mthe [Divine]

LntentionM)X [3] iahaf (Mthe [Divine] Noreordain"entM)X [0]

idjgk (Mthe Divine >$$o"#lish"entM)X [9] dhcl (Mthe Divine]

>!thoriationM) [?] mdngo (Mthe [Cos"i$] FookM)X [B] apaq (Mthe

[Divinely] alotted +i"eM)/ >nd whoso $lai"s to &e a&le to

violate this !nitative s$he"ata is ass!redly an in@del/M

(!layn,' al-āf,' I0U)/

>n al"ost identi$al had,th to the a&ove' narrated thro!gh >&5l-Zasa

15sā i&n Safar' readsI

M+here is not a single thing in the heavens or on the earth &!t $a"

to &e thro!gh these seven [fa$tors]I

[] idjgk (Mthe Divine >$$o"#lish"entM)X



[E] iahaf (Mthe [Divine] Noreordain"entM)X

[3] dfgha (Mthe [Divine] LntentionM)X

[0] `abcdeea (Mthe [Divine] 7illM)X

[9] mdngo (Mthe [ar$hety#al-$os"ogoni$] FookM)X

[?] apaq (Mthe [Divinely] alotted +i"eM)X

[B] dhcl (Mthe Divine] >!thoriationM)/

>nd whoso s!##oses [the $entrality] other than this [s$he"a]ass!redly attri&!tes a lie !nto .od or dis#!tes with .od who is to

&e e*alted and glori@ed (i&id I0U-9T)/

Nollowing these two traditions ($ited a&ove) there is a se$tion in al-ā

entitled' &a& al-"ashiyya wal-irāda (M;e$tion on the Divine 7ill an

the Divine LntentionM) whi$h $ontains si* traditions (see i&id I9T

9E)/ Ln the @rst of the" >&, >&d >llāh [GL"ā" Safar al-ādiq] i

$ited as having said'

M+here is na!ght that hath $o"e into &eing save that whi$h

.od hath willed (shaa >llāh) and intended ($f/ irāda) 'foreordained ($f/ qadar ) and a$$o"#lished ($f/ qi6ā)/ L

enq!ired' 7hat is "eant &y He [.od] hath willed He [the

L"a"] re#lied' Lt is the $o""en$e"ent of a$tion/ L then

enq!ired' 7hat is "eant &y His foreordaining/ He [the

L"a"] re#lied' Lt is the deter"ining of so"ething in ter"s of



its length (t5l) and its width (ar6)/ L f!rther enq!ired' 7hat

is "eant &y the [Divine] a$$o"#lish"ent He [the L"a"]

re#lied' 7hen so"ething is ordained s!$h is [ass!redly]

$arried o!t/ +his then is what $annot &e ann!lled/ (i&id)/

+he ne*t tradition set down in !laynis al-āf, is !n!s!al in that

re$ords L"a" Safar re#orting that .od had no #arti$!lar liking whe

He was involved in willing' intending' foreordaining and a$$o"#lishin

($f/ -\0 in the @rst tradition $ited)/ +his enig"ati$ ḥad,th is #ro&a&l

intended to indi$ate .ods re"oteness' his a&stra$tion fro" thes

#ro$esses in the light of His trans$enden$e and in$o"#rehensi&ility

stuvw

6I&x/ M;o &e aware that the after the de$ree regarding the letterM>M (al-alif) whi$h is [s$ri&ed] within the eighteen letters after its[own] likeness there is so"ething other than a letter whi$h .odsingled o!t for His Own ogos-;elf and whi$h has other than thelikeness of their for"/M

3here $ould seem to be allusion to the tradition ascribed to theJfth Imam, Muhamad al&6air also ecorded in the =sul al&;aJ of ;ula)niH

KGod created a Name b) means of unpronounced letters and b)means of an unuttered WordK .

3his m)steries KWordK is described as the KComplete WordK. It isfundamental to created e%istence 'for details see al&?hsa-i,

Aa$mi+ al&;alim #ol. IIH L12* 3his has been noted b) Cole,1BH1 and othes.

?dd here complete te%t and translation.

khutba bab

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