true effacement is their affirmation. Veiling is a general divine mercy toward ordinary people because of the opposition to His commands decreed upon them, which He must bring about. With unveiling and self-disclosure it never occurs, so veiling is indispensable.
Hence restriction is lifted from the people of self-disclosure in knowledge. No limitation remains concerning them: whatever they wish in their conduct is permitted them. It occurs in the sound report that God says to one who sinned and knew he had a Lord who forgives sin and takes to task for sin, “Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.”
He permitted one so described what He restricted for another. He cannot command him to perform what He restricted him from performing, for “God does not command indecency.” He lowered the veils before those under restriction. This is His ruling concerning ordinary people. Concerning the elect is the saying:
You are the heart’s veil from its unseen secret; without you its seal would not be stamped upon it.
(Humanness as the Form’s Veil)
He made you His very veil over you. Without this veil you would not seek increased knowledge of Him. You are the one spoken to and addressed from behind the veil of the form from which He spoke to you. Consider your humanness and find it your very veil from behind which He addressed you. He says, “It is not for a human being that God speak to him except by revelation or from behind a veil” [42:51].
He may speak to you from yourself,
Notes
Translator’s note TN5557-1: The unvocalized al-mukallam/al-mukallim permits “one spoken to” or “speaker.” The main reading takes the former alongside “addressed,” following the subsequent statements that He speaks to you from behind the veil and may speak to you from yourself.
