even though it did not exist. The mark is among the world, according to its ruling and rank. It is witnessed by Him in beginningless eternity, proceeding according to how it is in endless eternity. This is the realization of its affair. So too is the trace.
Everything the world is in endless eternity is only in the form in which it appeared in beginningless eternity, since the Real’s witnessing of it does not differ. It was witnessed by Him in beginningless eternity, when it had no existence as an entity. He witnessed this trace and mark in beginningless eternity proceeding in the world just as they are in it in endless eternity. Understand this. Neither mark nor trace is originally made by a maker. Rather, they appear here in endless eternity through the making of a maker, who is God, exalted is He.
Every state, witnessing, and station must have an effect in the one in whom it subsists. This effect is the trace[15]. In respect of its appearing in the thing affected—al-muʾaththar fīhi, with a fatḥa on the thāʾ—the effect is called a trace. This very same effect, in respect of its indicating the truthfulness of the possessor of that state, witnessing, station, or whatever it may be, is called a mark.
(Different Rulings and One Named Object)
The very named object of mark is the very named object of trace, while they differ in respect of ruling. From one perspective, the mark is the very trace; from another, it is not, if you consider the ruling. The trace in the divine Side from which this trace in the cosmos issues is the Real’s having the effect appear within Him of
Notes
[15]
(“لأثر” was corrected to “الأثر,” “the effect,” by comparison with the new edition.)
