in the seven regions: each region has a Substitute who is that region’s Pole.
Likewise the four Pegs (awtād), who have four directions that God preserves through them: east, west, south, and north, with one Peg for each direction.
Likewise the Poles of villages. Every village must have a friend of God Most High through whom God preserves that village, whether the village is unbelieving or believing. That friend is its Pole.
Likewise the possessors of stations: the ascetics must have a Pole around whom asceticism revolves among the people of his time. So too in reliance, love, gnosis, and all other stations and states. Every kind of their possessors must have a Pole around whom that station revolves.
(The Pole of Those Who Rely)
God Most High acquainted me with the Pole of those who rely. I saw reliance revolving around him like a millstone revolving around its axis. He was ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Ustadh al-Mawruri, from the city of Mawrur in al-Andalus, the Pole of reliance in his time. I beheld him and kept his company through God’s favor and His unveiling him to me. When I met him, I informed him of this. He smiled and thanked God Most High.
(Meeting the Pole of the Time in Fez)
Likewise, I met the Pole of the Time in the year 593 in the city of Fez. God acquainted me with him in a visionary event and made him known to me.
One day we gathered in Ibn Hayyun’s garden in Fez. He was among the gathering, unnoticed, and was present
