The Meccan Revelations

Manuscript volume 16 · Page 113

Konya manuscript

Open Arabic sourceOpen English translation

Arabic

فيستتر به المدعي الكاذب أو الجاهل بحاله وإن لم يقصد الكذب.

الباب الرابع والثمانون ومائة في معرفة مقام الكرامات

بعض الرجال يرى كون الكرامات

دليل حق على نيل المقامات‏

وأنها عين بشرى قد أتتك بها

رسل المهيمن من فوق السماوات‏

وعندنا فيه تفصيل إذا علمت

به الجماعة لم تفرح بآيات‏

كيف السرور والاستدراج يصحبها

في حق قوم ذوي جهل وآفات‏

وليس يدرون حقا أنهم جهلوا

وذا إذا كان من أقوى الجهالات‏

وما الكرامة إلا عصمة وجدت

في حال قول وأفعال ونيات‏

تلك الكرامة لا تبغي بها بدلا

واحذر من المكر في طي الكرامات‏

English

behind whom a false claimant may conceal himself, or someone ignorant of his own state, even if he does not intend to lie.

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Four: Knowing the Station of Charismatic Gifts

Some men consider the occurrence of charismatic gifts

a true proof of attaining the stations,

and deem them the very glad tidings brought to you

by the messengers of the Guardian from above the heavens.

For us the matter has distinctions which, if known

to the company, would leave them no joy in signs.

How can there be joy when gradual enticement accompanies them

for people beset by ignorance and ailments,

who do not truly know that they are ignorant?

This, then, is among the strongest forms of ignorance.

A charismatic gift is nothing but a protection found

in the state of speech, deeds, and intentions.

That is the charismatic gift: seek no substitute for it,

and beware the ruse folded within charismatic gifts.

Manuscript imageManuscript volume 16 · Page 113

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Cairo source reference

Ibn al-Arabi, The Meccan Revelations — Manuscript volume 16 · Page 113 — https://www.futmak.com/english/konya/pages.php?id=4807&text=both