received by way of heart-inspiration [ilham qalbi]
and spiritual disclosure [kashf ma'nawi]
 

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
Bismi'llahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Rahim.

 Praise be to Allah, the Remover of distress,
 al-hamdu li'llahi Kashifi 'l-ghumma: 

 and blessings upon the best of human creatures. 
 wa 's-salawatu 'ala khairi 'l-bariyya.

 Well then, it was the Supreme Helper, he who was estranged
 qala 'l-Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-mustawhishu

 from all apart from Allah, but intimately friendly with Allah, who said:
 'an ghairi 'llahi wa 'l-musta'nisu bi'llah:

 Allah (Exalted is He) said:  "O Supreme Helper!" 
 qala 'llahu (ta'ala) ya Ghawtha 'l-A'zam:

 I replied:  "Doubly [outwardly and inwardly] at your service,
 qultu labbaika

O Lord of the Helper!
 ya Rabba 'l-Ghawth.

 He said:  "Every stage between the Realm of Humanity
 qala kullu tawrin baina 'n-Nasuti 

 and the Realm of Sovereignty is a Sacred Law.
 wa 'l-Malakuti fa-huwa Shari'a:  

 Every stage between the Realm of Sovereignty
 wa kullu tawrin baina 'l-Malakuti 

 and the Realm of Dominion is a Spiritual Path
 wa 'l-Jabaruti fa-huwa Tariqa: 

 Every stage between the Realm of Dominion
 wa kullu tawrin baina 'l-Jabaruti 

 and the Realm of Divinity is a Reality
 wa 'l-Lahuti fa-huwa Haqiqa." 

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I have not manifested Myself in anything
 ma zahartu fi shai'in

 like My Self-manifestation in the human being."
 ma zahartu fi shai'in ka-zuhuri fi 'l-insan.

 Then I asked:  "O my Lord, do you have a location?"
 thumma sa'altu ya Rabbi hal la-ka makan.

 He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I am the Creator of location, and I have no location." 
 Ana Mukawwinu 'l-makani wa laisa li makan.

 Then I asked:  "O my Lord, do You have food and drink?"
 thumma sa'altu ya Rabbi hal la-ka aklun wa shurb.

 He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the food and drink of the pauper are My food and drink."
 aklu 'l-faqir wa shurbu-hu akli wa shurbi.

 Then I asked:  "O my Lord, from what thing did You create the angels?"
 thumma sa'altu ya Rabbi min ayyi shai'in khalaqta 'l-mala'ika.

 He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I created the angels from the light of the human being,
 khalaqtu 'l-mala'ikata min nuri 'l-insani

 and I created the human being from My Light."
 wa khalaqtu 'l-insana min nuri.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I have made the human being My riding animal,
 ja'altu 'l-insana matiyyati

 and I have made the rest of the universe a riding animal for him."
 wa ja'altu sa'ira 'l-akwan matiyyatan la-h.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 what an excellent Seeker am I! 
 ni'ma 't-Talibu Ana

 What an excellent object to be sought is the human being! 
 wa ni'ma 'l-matlubu 'l-insan:

 What an excellent rider is the human being,
 wa ni'ma 'r-rakibu 'l-insan:

 and what an excellent means of transport are the entities of the universe!"
 wa ni'ma 'l-markubu la-hu 'l-akwan.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper, the human being
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-insanu

 is My secret, and I am his secret.  If the human being was truly aware
 sirri wa Ana sirru-hu law 'arafa 'l-insanu

 of his situation in My sight, he would say, with every single breath: 
 manzilata-hu 'indi la-qala fi kulli nafasin min al-anfasi

 'To whom does the supreme authority belong today?'"
 li-mani 'l-mulku 'l-yawm.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper, the human being
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu ma akala 'l-insanu

 does not eat anything, nor does he drink, nor does he stand,
 shai'an wa ma shariba shai'an wa ma qama

 nor does he sit, nor does he speak, nor does he keep silent,
 wa ma qa'ada wa ma nataqa wa ma samata

 nor does he do any deed, nor does he turn toward anything,
 wa ma fa'ala fi'lan wa ma tawajjaha li-shai'in

 nor does he move away from anything, except that I am in him,
 wa ma ghaba 'an shai'in illa wa Ana fi-hi

 dwelling within him and causing him to move." 
 sakinu-hu wa mutaharriku-h.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the physical body of the human being, his instinctive self, his heart,
 jismu 'l-insani wa nafsu-hu wa qalbu-hu

 his spirit, his hearing, his sight, his hand, his foot, and his tongue—
 wa ruhu-hu wa sam'u-hu wa basaru-hu wa yadu-hu wa rijlu-hu wa lisanu-hu

 all of that I have presented to him by Myself, for Myself. 
 wa kullu dhalika azhartu la-hu bi-Nafsi li-Nafsi

 It is nothing other than I, and I am not other than it."  
 la huwa illa Ana wa la Ana ghairu-h.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 when you see someone burning in the fire of poverty,
 idha ra'aita 'l-muhtariqa bi-nari 'l-faqri

 and devastated by the enormity of need, you must draw close to him,
 wa 'l-munkasira bi-kathrati 'l-faqati fa-taqarrab ilai-hi

 because there is no barrier between Me and him."
 li-anna-hu la hijaba baini wa baina-h.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 you must not eat any food, nor drink any drink,
 la ta'kul ta'aman wa la tashrab sharaban

 nor sleep a wink of sleep, except in the presence 
 wa la tanam nawmatan illa 'inda 

 of a heart that is fully aware, and of an eye that is watching. 
 qalbin hadirin wa 'ainin nazir.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if someone is excluded from My journey in the inner, he will be tried
 man hurima 'an safari fi 'l-batini 'btuliya

 with the outer journey, and he will receive no provision from Me,
 bi-safari 'z-zahiri wa lam yazdad min-ni

 except distance in the outer journey."
 illa bu'dan fi safari'l-batin. 

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper, spiritual coalition is a state
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-ittihadu halun

 that cannot be expressed by the tongue of speech. 
 la yu'abbaru bi-lisani'l-maqali

 If someone professes belief therein, 
 fa-man amana bi-hi

 before experiencing the existence of the state, he is guilty of unbelief. 
 qabla wujudi 'l-hali fa-qad kafara

 If someone wishes to practice formal worship after the attainment of direct contact,
 wa man arada 'l-'ibadata ba'da 'l-wusuli

 he is guilty of attributing partners to Allah the Almighty."  
 fa-qad ashraka bi'llahi 'l-'Azim.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper, if someone is blessed
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 with the good fortune of eternity-without-beginning,
 man sa'ida bi's-sa'adati 'l-azaliyyati

 congratulations are due to him!  He will never be disappointed. 
 tuba la-hu lam yakun makhdhulan abada:

 If someone must suffer the misfortune of eternity-without-beginning,
 wa man shaqa bi'sh-shaqawati 'l-azaliyyati

 woe unto him!  He will never be accepted after that."  
 fa-wailun la-hu lam yakun maqbulan ba'da dhalika qatt.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I have made poverty and need the means of transport for the human being. 
 ja'altu 'l-faqra wa 'l-faqata matiyyata 'l-insani

 If someone rides on them, he will surely reach the camp site,
 fa-man rakiba-ha fa-qad balagha 'l-manzila

 before crossing the wastelands and the deserts."
 qabla an yaqta'a 'l-mafawiza wa 'l-bawadi.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper, if the human being
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu law 'alima 'l-insanu

 knew what is after death, he would not wish for life in this world. 
 ma kana ba'da 'l-mawti ma tamanna 'l-hayata fi 'd-dunya

 Before each moment and every instant, he would say: 
 wa yaqulu baina yadai kulli lahzatin wa lamhatin

 'O my Lord, cause me to die!'"
 ya Rabbi amit-ni.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 creatures will be confounded in my presence
 hujjatu 'l-khala'iqi 'indi Yawma 'l-Qiyamati 's-summu 'l-bukmu 'l-'umyu

 on the Day of Resurrection, the deaf, the dumb and the blind. 
 thumma 't-tahassuru wa 'l-buka'u

 Then there will be distress and weeping,  and in the grave it will be likewise." 
 wa fi 'l-qabri ka-dhalik.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper, love is a veil
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-mahabbatu hijabun

 between the lover and the Beloved,
 baina 'l-muhibbi wa 'l-mahbubi

 so when the lover becomes extinct to love,
 fa-idha faniya 'l-muhibbu 'an al-mahabbati

 he will come in contact with the Beloved."
 wasala bi'l-mahbub.

 Then He said to me:  "O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I have seen the spirits waiting inside their physical forms,
 ra'aitu 'l-arwaha yatarabbasuna fi qawalibi-him

 after His saying:  'Am I not your Lord?'—until the Day of Resurrection."
 ba'da qawli-hi a-lastu bi-Rabbi-kum ila Yawmi 'l-Qiyama.

 Then the Helper said:  "I saw the Lord (Exalted is He),
 thumma qala 'l-Ghawthu ra'aitu 'r-Rabba (ta'ala)

 and He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa  qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if someone asks Me about the vision after the knowledge,
 man sa'ala-ni 'ani 'r-ru'yati ba'da 'l-'ilmi

 he is veiled by the knowledge of the vision. 
 fa-huwa mahjubun bi-'ilmi 'r-ru'ya:

 If someone supposes that the vision is other than the knowledge,
 fa-man zanna anna 'r-ru'yata ghairu 'l-'ilmi

 he is bedazzled by the vision of Allah (Exalted is He).'
 fa-huwa maghrurun bi-ru'yati 'llahi (ta'ala).

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if someone sees Me, he is relieved of the need to ask, in every situation. 
 man ra'a-ni 'staghna 'ani 's-su'ali fi kulli hal:

 If someone does not see Me, asking is of no avail to him,
 wa man lam yara-ni fa-la yanfa'u-hu 's-su'al:

 for he is veiled by the act of speech.' 
 wa huwa mahjubun bi'l-maqal.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the pauper in My sight is not someone who has nothing. 
 laisa 'l-faqiru 'indi man laisa la-hu shai':

 No, the pauper is he who has a power of command in everything,
 bali 'l-faqiru 'lladhi la-hu amrun fi kulli shai':

 so that, when he says to a thing, "Be!" it comes into being.' 
 idha qala li-shai'in kun fa-yakun.

 "Then He said to me:  'There is no friendship and no bliss
 thumma qala li la ulfata wa la ni'mata

 in the Gardens [of Paradise] after My appearance in them,
 fi 'l-jinani ba'da zuhuri fi-ha

 and there is no loneliness and no burning torment
 wa la wahshata wa la hurqata

 in the Fire [of Hell] after My address to its inhabitants.' 
 fi 'n-nari ba'da khitabi li-ahli-ha. 

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I am More Generous than any generous person,
 Ana Akramu min kulli karim:

 and I am More Merciful than any merciful person.'
 wa Ana Arhamu min kulli rahim.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 you must sleep in My presence, not as the common folk sleep,
 nam 'indi la ka-nawmi 'l-'awammi

 for then you will see Me.' 
 tara-ni. 

 "To this I replied:  'O my Lord, how should I sleep in Your presence?'
 fa-qultu ya Rabbi kaifa anamu 'inda-k.

 "He said:  'With utter detachment of the body from pleasures,
 qala bi-khumudi 'l-jismi 'ani 'l-ladhdhat:

 with utter detachment of the self from the desires of the flesh,
 wa khumudi 'n-nafsi 'ani 'sh-shahawat:

 with utter detachment of the heart from thoughts and emotions,
 wa khumudi 'l-qalbi ani 'l-khatarat:

 with utter detachment of the spirit from all distracting glances,
 wa khumudi 'r-ruhi ani 'l-lahazat:

 and with the extinction of your essence in the Essence.'
 wa fana'i dhati-ka fi 'dh-Dhat.  

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 you must tell your companions and your friends [that I say]: 
 qul li-ashabi-ka wa ahbabi-ka

 "If anyone among you wishes for My close presence,
 man arada min-kum janabi

 it is incumbent upon him to choose poverty, then the poverty of poverty. 
 fa-'alai-hi bi-'khtiyari 'l-faqr: thumma faqri 'l-faqr:

 Once that poverty is complete, there will be nothing there but I."'
 fa-idha tamma 'l-faqru fa-la thamma illa Ana.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 congratulations are due to you, if you are kind to My creatures,
 tuba la-ka in kunta ra'ufan 'ala bariyyati

 and congratulations are due to you, if you are forgiving to My creatures!'
 wa tuba la-ka in kunta ghafuran li-bariyyati.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 tell your friends and your companions [that I say]: 
 qul li-ahbabi-ka wa ashabi-ka 'ghtanimu

 "You must seize the appeal of the paupers as an opportunity,
 da'wata 'l-fuqara'i

 for they are with Me, and I am with them."'
 fa-inna-hum 'indi wa Ana 'inda-hum.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I am the refuge of every single thing, and its dwelling
 Ana ma'wa kulli shai'in wa maskanu-hu

 and its watchtower, and to Me is the homeward journey.'
 wa manzaru-hu wa ilayya 'l-masir.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 do not look toward the Garden [of Paradise] and what it contains,
 la tanzur ila 'l-Jannati wa ma fi-ha

 for you can see Me without indirect means. 
 tara-ni bi-la wasita:

 Do not look toward the Fire [of Hell] and what it contains,
 wa la tanzur ila 'n-Nari wa ma fi-ha

 for you can see Me without indirect means'.
 tara-ni bi-la wasita.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the people of the Garden [of Paradise] are preoccupied with the Garden,
 ahlu 'l-Jannati mashghuluna bi'l-Jannati

 and the people of the Fire [of Hell] are preoccupied with Me.'
 wa ahlu 'n-Nari mashghuluna bi.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 some of the people of the Garden [of Paradise] will be seeking refuge
 ba'du ahli 'l-Jannati yata'awwadhuna

 from the sheer bliss, just as the people of the Fire [of Hell]
 mina 'n-na'im: ka-ahli 'n-Nari 

 will be seeking refuge from the scorching heat.'
 yata'awwadhuna mina 'l-jahim.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if someone is preoccupied with anything apart from Me, his companion
 man shughila bi-siwa'i kana li-sahibi-hi

 will be wearing an infidel's girdle on the Day of Resurrection.'
 zunnaran Yawma 'l-Qiyama.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the people of nearness seek help from nearness,
 ahlu 'l-qurbati yastaghithuna mina 'l-qurba: 

 just as the people of remoteness seek help from remoteness.'
 ka-ma anna ahla 'l-bu'di yastaghithuna mina 'l-bu'd.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I have certain servants, apart from the Prophets and the Messengers,
 inna li 'ibadan siwa 'l-Anbiya'i wa 'l-Mursalin:

 whose spiritual states are not detected by anyone among the people
 la yattali'u 'ala ahwali-him ahadun min ahli 'd-dunya

 of this world, nor by anyone among the people of the Hereafter,
 wa la ahadun min ahli 'l-akhira:

 nor by anyone among the people of the Garden [of Paradise],
 wa la ahadun min ahli 'l-Jannati

 nor by anyone among the people of the Fire [of Hell],
 wa la ahadun min ahli 'n-Nar:

 nor by [the angel] Malik, nor by [the angel] Ridwan. 
 wa la Malikun wa la Ridwan: 

 I have not assigned them to the Garden, nor to the Fire,
 wa la ja'altu-hum li'l-Jannati wa la li'n-Nari

 nor to reward, nor to punishment, nor to the fair maids of Paradise,
 wa la li'th-thawabi wa la li'l-'iqabi wa la li'l-huri

 nor to its palatial mansions, nor to its youthful attendants. 
 wa la li'l-qusuri wa la li'l-ghilman: 

 Congratulations, therefore, to anyone who believes in them,
 fa-tuba li-man amana bi-him 

even if he fails to recognize them!' 
 wa in lam ya'rif-hum. 

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, you are one of them,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu anta min-hum

 and their distinctive features in this world include the facts
 wa min 'alamati-him fi 'd-dunya

 that their bodies are scorched by the paucity of their food and drink,
 ajsamu-hum muhtariqatun min qillati 't-ta'ami wa 'sh-sharab:

 that their lower selves are scorched by their abstinence from carnal desires,
 wa nufusu-hum muhtariqatun 'ani 'sh-shahawat:

 that their hearts are scorched by their rejection of thoughts and emotions,
 wa qulubu-hum muhtariqatun 'ani 'l-khatarat:

 and that their spirits are scorched by their shunning of distracting glances,
 wa arwahu-hum muhtariqatun 'ani 'l-lahazat:

 for they are the owners of perpetuity, scorched
 wa hum ashabu 'l-baqa'i 'l-muhtariqina

 by the radiant light of the Meeting [with their Lord].'
 bi-nuri 'l-liqa'.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, if a thirsty person 
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu idha ja'a-ka 'atshanun

 were ever to approach you, on a day of fierce heat, while you
 fi yawmin shadidi 'l-harri wa anta

 were in possession of cold water, and you were not in need of water,
 sahibu 'l-ma'i 'l-baridi wa laisa la-ka hajatun bi'l-ma': 

 and if you were to withhold it from him, you would be
 fa-law kunta tamna'u-hu fa-anta

 the most miserly of all misers.  How could I deprive them
 abkhalu 'l-bakhilin: fa-kaifa amna'u-hum

 of My merciful compassion, when I have set the seal upon Myself,
 min rahmati wa Ana sajjaltu 'ala Nafsi

 declaring that I am the Most Merciful of the merciful?'
 bi-anni Arhamu 'r-rahimin.   

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 there is no one, among those guilty of acts of sinful disobedience,
 ma ba'uda 'an-ni ahadun min ahli 'l-ma'asi

 who stays away from Me, and there is no one who draws close to Me,
 wa ma qaruba ahadun min-ni

 among those performing acts of worshipful obedience.'
 min ahli 't-ta'at.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if anyone were to draw close to Me, he would have to be one of those
 law qaruba min-ni ahadun la-kana

 guilty of acts of sinful disobedience, because they are the ones
 min ahli 'l-ma'asi li-anna-hum

 endowed with a sense of inadequacy and a feeling of remorse.'
 ashabu 'l-'ajzi wa 'n-nadam. 

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-'ajzu

 the sense of personal inadequacy is the source of radiant lights,
 manba'u 'l-anwari

 while vain conceit is the source of gloomy darkness.' 
 wa 'l-'ujbu manba'u 'z-zulma.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 those guilty of acts of sinful disobedience are veiled by their acts
 ahlu 'l-ma'asi mahjubuna bi'l-ma'asi

 of sinful disobedience, while those performing acts of worshipful obedience
 wa ahlu 't-ta'ati

 are veiled by their acts of worshipful obedience. 
 mahjubuna bi't-ta'at:

 I have other folk behind them, folk who do not suffer the distress of acts
 wa li wara'a-hum qawmun akharuna laisa la-hum

 of sinful disobedience, nor the anxiety of acts of worshipful obedience.' 
 ghammu 'l-ma'asi wa la hammu 't-ta'at.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 convey to the sinners the good news of grace and generous favor,
 bashshiri 'l-mudhnibina bi'l-fadli wa 'l-karam:

 and convey to the vainly conceited the grim tidings of justice and retribution.'
 wa bashshiri 'l-mu'jibina bi'l-'adli wa'n-naqam. 

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the people of worshipful obedience are mindful of the blessing,
 ahlu 't-ta'ati yadhkuruna 'n-na'im:

 while the people of sinful disobedience are mindful of the All-Compassionate.'
 wa ahlu 'l-ma'asi yadhkuruna 'r-Rahim.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I am Near to the disobedient sinner after he desists
 Ana Qaribun ila 'l-'asi ba'da ma yafraghu

 from sinful disobedience, but I am Distant from the obedient worshipper
 mina 'l-'isyan: wa Ana Ba'idun mina 'l-muti'i

 after he has finished performing acts of worshipful obedience.'
 ba'da ma faragha mina 't-ta'at.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 I created the common folk, but they could not behold the light
 khalaqtu 'l-'awamma fa-lam yutiqu nura

 of My splendor, for I set between Me and them the veil of darkness. 
 baha'i fa-ja'altu baini wa baina-hum hijaba 'z-zulma:

 I also created the privileged few, but they could not come close to Me,
 wa khalaqtu 'l-khawassa fa-lam yutiqu mujawarati

 for I set the lights between Me and them, as a screen.'
 fa-ja'altu 'l-anwara baini wa baina-hum hijaba.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 tell your companions [that I say]:  "If anyone among you wishes
 qul li-ashabi-ka man arada min-hum

 to attain to Me, he must practice detachment
 an yasila ilayya fa-'alai-hi bi'l-khuruji

 from everything apart from Me."'
 'an kulli shai'in siwa'i.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, depart
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'khruj

 from the last remnant of this world, and you will attain to the Hereafter. 
 'an 'uqbati 'd-dunya tasil bi'l-akhira:

 Depart from the last remnant of the Hereafter, and you will attain to Me.'
 wa 'khruj 'an 'uqbati 'l-akhirati tasil ilayya.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, you must become detached
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'khruj

 from the physical forms and the natural instincts.  Then become detached
 'ani 'l-ajsami wa 'n-nufus:  thumma 'khruj

 from the hearts and the spirits.  Then become detached from the law
 'ani 'l-qulubi wa 'l-arwah:  thumma 'khruj mina 'l-hukmi

 and the commandment, and you will attain to Me.' 
 wa 'l-amri tasil ilayya.

 "I then said:  'O my Lord, which ritual prayer [salat] * is closest to You?' 
 fa-qultu ya Rabbi ayyu salatin aqrabu ilai-k.

 "He replied:  'The ritual prayer in which there is nothing apart from Me,
 qala 's-salat allati laisa fi-ha siwaya

 while the one performing the prayer is absent from it
 wa sahibu-ha gha'ibun 'an-ha

 and invisible because of it.'
 wa gha'ibun bi-ha.

 "Then I said:  'O my Lord, which fast is most meritorious in Your sight?'
 thumma qultu ya Rabbi ayyu sawmin afdalu 'inda-ka

 "He replied:  'The fast in which there is nothing apart from Me,
 qala 's-sawmu 'lladhi laisa fi-hi siwaya

 while the one who is fasting is absent from it.' 
 wa 's-sa'imu gha'ibun 'an-h.

 "Then I said:  'Which deed is most meritorious in Your sight?'
 thumma qultu ayyu 'amalin afdalu 'inda-k.

 "He replied:  'The deed in which there is nothing apart from Me,
 qala 'l-'amal alladhi laisa fi-hi siwaya

 no trace of the Garden [of Paradise] and the Fire [of Hell],
 min al-janna wa 'n-nar

 while the one who is doing it is absent from it.'
 wa sahibu-hu gha'ib 'an-hu

 "Then I said:  'O my Lord, which kind of weeping
 thumma qultu ya Rabbi ayyu buka'in

 is most meritorious in Your sight?'
 afdalu 'inda-k.

 "He replied:  'The weeping of those who laugh.'
 qala buka'u 'd-dahikin. 

 "Then I said:  'O my Lord, which kind of laughter
 thumma qultu ya Rabbi ayyu dahkin

 is most meritorious in Your sight?'
 afdalu 'inda-k.

 "He replied:  'The laughter of the penitent weepers.'
 qala dahku 'l-bakina 't-ta'ibin.

 "Then I said:  'O my Lord, which kind of repentance
 thumma qultu ya Rabbi ayyu tawbatin

 is most meritorious in Your sight?'
 afdalu 'inda-k.

 "He replied:  'The repentance of the virtuous.'
 qala tawbatu 'l-ma'sumin.

 "Then I said:  'O my Lord, which kind of virtuousness
 thumma qultu ya Rabbi ayyu 'ismatin

 is most meritorious in Your sight?'
 afdalu 'inda-k.

 "He replied:  'The virtuousness of those who repent.'
 qala 'ismatu 't-ta'ibin. 

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, the seeker of knowledge
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu laisa li-talibi 'l-'ilmi

 has no way forward in My sight, except after his admission of ignorance,
 'indi sabilun illa ba'da inkari-hi

 because, if he did not abandon the knowledge in his possession,
 li-anna-hu law lam yatruki 'l-'ilma 'lladhi 'inda-hu

 he would become a devil.'
 sara shaitana.

 The Supreme Helper went on to say:  "I saw the Lord (Exalted is He),
 qala 'l-Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu ra'aitu 'r-Rabba (ta'ala)

 so I asked Him:  'O my Lord, what is the meaning of ardent love?'
 fa-sa'altu-hu ya Rabbi ma ma'na 'l-'ishq.

 "He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, [it means that] you must love Me
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu ''shaq li

 ardently, and empty your heart of everything apart from Me.'
 wa afrigh  qalba-ka 'an siwaya.

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 once you have experienced the outward form of ardent love,
 idha 'arafta zahira 'l-'ishqi

 you must become extinct to ardent love, because it is a veil
 fa-'alai-ka bi'l-fana'i 'ani 'l-'ishqi li-anna-hu

 between the ardent lover and the ardently Beloved.' 
 hijabun baina 'l-'ashiq wa 'l-ma'shuq.

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 when you intend to make repentance, in is incumbent upon you
 idha aradta 't-tawbata fa-'alai-ka

 to evict the trouble of sin from the lower self, then to rid the heart
 'ani 'n-nafsi thumma bi-ikhraji khatarati-hi 'ani 'l-qalbi

 of its thoughts and emotions, so that you may attain to Me. 
 bi-ikhraji hammi 'dh-dhanbi tasil ilayya

 You must also be patient, for if you do not practice patience,
 fa-'sbir fa-in lam tasbir

 you will be included among the scornful.' 
 fa-anta min al-mustahzi'in

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, when you intend
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu idha aradta

 to enter the Sanctuary, you must not pay any attention to the Kingdom,
 an tadkhula ila harami fa-la taltafit ila 'l-mulki

 nor to the Sovereignty, nor to the Dominion, because the Kingdom
 wa 'l-malakuti wa la ila 'l-jabaruti li-anna al-mulka

 is the devil of the scholar, while the Sovereignty is the devil of him
 shaitanu 'l-'alimi wa 'l-malakutu shaitanu 'l-'arifi

 who learns by direct experience, and the Dominion is the devil of him
 wa 'l-jabarutu shaitanu 'l-waqifi

 who is fully aware.  If someone is satisfied with any one of them,
 fa-man radiya bi-wahidin min-ha fa-huwa 'indi min al-matrudin.

 he is included among the outcasts in My sight.'

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, the spiritual struggle is one
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-mujahadatu bahrun

 of the oceans of direct vision, and it is preferred by those who are fully aware. 
  min bihari al-mushahadati wa 'khtara-hu 'l-waqifun:

 If someone intends to enter the ocean of direct vision,
 fa-man arada 'd-dukhula fi bahri 'l-mushahadati

 it is therefore incumbent upon him to choose the spiritual struggle,
 fa-'alai-hi bi'khtiyari al-mujahadata

 because that struggle is the seed of direct vision. 
 li-anna 'l-mujahadata badhr al-mushahadati

 Direct vision without the spiritual struggle is inconceivable. 
  wa 'l-mushahadatu bi-duna 'l-mujahadati muhal:

 If someone chooses the spiritual struggle,
 man ikhtara 'l-mujahadata

 he will have the direct vision of Me, whether he wishes or not.'  
 fa-la-hu mushahadati in sha' aw aba

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the seekers cannot do without the spiritual struggle,
 la budda li't-talibina min al-mujahada:

 just as they cannot do without Me.'
 ka-ma la budda la-hum min-ni.

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 the dearest of servants to Me is a servant who has a father and a son,
 inna ahabba 'l-'ibadi ilayya 'abdun kana la-hu 'l-walidu wa 'l-waladu

 yet his heart is empty of them.  If his father were to die, he would not
 wa qalbu-hu farighun min-huma law mata la-hu 'l-walidu

 suffer grief because of his father's death, and if his son were to die,
 laisa la-hu huznun bi-mawt walidi-hi wa law mata la-hu 'l-waladu

 he would not suffer distress because of his son's death. 
 laisa la-hu hammun bi-mawt al-waladi

 Once the servant has reached this degree and this station,
 fa-idha balagha 'l-'abdu hadhihi 'l-martabata wa 'l-manzilata

 he is in My presence with neither father nor son,
 fa-huwa 'indi bi-la walidin wa la waladin

 and there is none comparable unto him.'
 wa lam yakun la-hu kufuwan ahad. 

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if someone does not taste the extinction of the father in My affection,
 man lam yadhuq fana'a 'l-walidi bi-mahabbati

 and the extinction of the son in My love,
 wa fana'a 'l-waladi bi-mawaddati

 he will not discover the delight of Unique Singularity.'
 lam yajid ladhdhata 'l-Wahdaniyyati 'l-Fardaniyya.

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper,
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 if you intend to look toward Me in every situation,
 idha aradta an tanzura ilayya fi kulli mahallin

 you must choose a sad heart that is empty of everything apart from Me.'
 fa'khtar qalban hazinan khaliyan 'am-ma siwaya.

 "Then I said:  'O my Lord, what is the knowledge of knowledge?'
 thumma qultu ya Rabbi ma 'ilmu 'l-'ilm.

 "He replied:  'The knowledge of knowledge is the ignorance of knowledge.'
 qala 'ilmu 'l-'ilmi huwa 'l-jahlu 'ani 'l-'ilm. 

 "He also said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, congratulations
 wa qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu

 are due to a servant whose heart inclines to the spiritual struggle,
 tuba li-'abdin mala qalbu-hu ila 'l-mujahadati

 but woe unto a servant whose heart inclines to the desires of the flesh!'
 wa wailun li-'abdin mala qalbu-hu ila 'sh-shahawat.

 "Then I asked the Lord (Exalted is He) about the Heavenly Ascension.
 thumma sa'altu 'r-Rabbi (ta'ala) 'ani 'l-Mi'raj.

 "He said:  'It is the ascension beyond everything apart from Me,
 qala huwa 'l-'uruju 'an kulli shai'in siwa'i

 and the perfection of the Heavenly Ascension is:
 wa kamalu 'l-Mi'raji

  The eye did not turn aside, nor was it overbold.   
  ma zagha 'l-basaru wa ma tagha.  (53:17)

  "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, there is no ritual prayer
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu la salata

 for one who has no Heavenly Ascension in My sight.'
 li-man la Mi'raja la-hu 'indi.

 "Then He said to me:  'O Supreme Helper, he who is deprived
 thumma qala li ya Ghawthu 'l-A'zamu 'l-mahrumu

 of the ritual prayer, he is the one who is deprived
 'ani 's-salati huwa 'l-mahrumu

 of the Heavenly Ascension in My sight.'"
 'ani 'l-Mi'raji 'indi.

* * * * *

 This brings us to the conclusion of al-Ghawthiyya, which is also called al-Mi'rajiyya, through the enabling grace of Allah (Exalted is He and Mighty is His Authority). 

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