The Meccan Revelations

Manuscript volume 26 · Page 5

Konya manuscript

Open Arabic sourceOpen English translation

Arabic

ولما علمنا أنه من تأخر عن أمر فقد انقطع عنه، علمنا أن كل واحد قد تميز في رتبته عن الآخر بلا شك، وإن أطلق على كل واحد ما أطلق على الآخر فيتوهم الاشتراك، وهو لا اشتراك فيه؛ فإن الرتبة قد ميزته؛ فيقبل كل واحد ذٰلك الإطلاق على ما تعطيه الرتبة التي تميز بها.

(اشتراك الأسماء واختلاف النسبة)

فإنا نعلم قطعا أن الأسماء الإلهية التي بأيدينا تطلق على الله وتطلق علينا. ونعلم قطعا بعلمنا برتبتنا وبعلمنا برتبة الحق أن نسبة تلك الأسماء التي وقع في الظاهر الاشتراك في اللفظ بها إلى الله غير نسبتها إلينا؛ فما انفصل عنا إلا بربوبيته، وما انفصلنا عنه إلا بعبوديتنا. فمن لزم رتبته منا فما جنى على نفسه، بل أعطى الأمر حقه:

فقد بان لك الحق

وقد بان لك الخلق

فقل ما شئت أو سمه

فكل قوله حق

فما في كونه مين

وما في كوننا صدق

وفي هٰذا المعنى قول لبيد: «ألا كل شيء ما خلا الله باطل». قال رسول الله ص في هٰذا البيت: «أصدق بيت قالته العرب قول لبيد»، يعني هٰذا النصف منه.

(الذكر واستحضار العبودية)

قلنا: وهذه رتبة ما خص الله بها أحدا من الناس وأثنى عليه بها

English

When we know that one who comes after an affair has become separated from it, we know that each has undoubtedly become distinguished in rank from the other. Even if what is applied to one is applied to the other, suggesting sharing, there is no sharing, since rank has distinguished it. Each receives that application according to the rank through which it is distinguished.

(Shared Names and Differing Relations)

We know with certainty that the divine Names we possess are applied to God and to us. Through knowing our rank and the Real’s rank, we know with certainty that these Names, apparently shared in wording, have a relation to God other than their relation to us. He is separated from us only through His Lordship, and we are separated from Him only through our servanthood. Whoever among us maintains his rank has not wronged himself but given the affair its due:

The Real has become distinct for you,

And creation has become distinct for you.

Say what you will, or name Him:

Every saying of His is true.

His being contains no lie,

And our being contains no truth.

In this meaning is Labid’s saying, ‘Everything apart from God is false.’ The Messenger of God, God’s blessings and peace be upon him, said concerning this verse, ‘The truest verse the Arabs have said is Labid’s saying,’ meaning this half of it.

(Remembrance and Making Servanthood Present)

We say: this is a rank with which God has singled out and praised no one among people

Manuscript imageManuscript volume 26 · Page 5

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Cairo source reference

Ibn al-Arabi, The Meccan Revelations — Manuscript volume 26 · Page 5 — https://www.futmak.com/english/konya/pages.php?id=7753&text=both