His possessing the attributes He has ascribed to Himself is thus a truth known to people of understanding.
(The Real’s Supreme Greatness in the Servant’s Heart)
From this Presence some servants obtain what they find in their hearts of the Real’s supreme greatness, which others lack: the disobedient, those who are audacious toward God, and people who repent of some contraventions. One whose heart is dominated by the Real’s supreme greatness is distinguished from them. For He has assumed greatness within this servant’s very self, acquiring it after not having been described by this attribute. The servants of the Supremely Great are therefore few.
As for those emboldened to contravene by the pardon and forgiveness the Real has ascribed to Himself, and by His forbidding them to despair of God’s mercy, they have not a scent of the divine attribute of assuming greatness through which He is Supremely Great in His servants’ hearts. Had He been great in their estimation, they would not have dared do any of that, nor would these Names that made them hopeful have ruled over them.
When the Real’s supreme greatness becomes established in the servant’s heart—and this is assuming greatness—it is impossible for him to contravene the Real’s command in any respect. Ruling belongs to the possessor of the locus at its time. The occurrence of a contravention therefore indicates the absence of this ruler. The Real as Supremely Great is only within the self of this compliant, obedient one, who is truly God’s servant. This is the highest aspect of this Presence in acquiring supreme greatness.
(Dread in Attributing the Act)
Even the servant for whom committing what is forbidden has been decreed, if
Notes
Translator’s note: Takabbur may also be read as a noun here: “an assumption of greatness within this servant’s self.” The preceding discussion concerns the Real’s acquisition of this Name through His relation to the servant.
