The men, though you verify their descent
from one father, are sons of different mothers.
If you say “They,” then they; or if you say “No,” then they,
for they are between pains and pleasures.
For His loci of manifestation do not annihilate them;
these are what are called curtains.
(Departure from Nature and Forced Motion)
Know, God grant you success, that our shaykh Abu al-ʿAbbas al-ʿUraybi was among those who realized this Abode. We discussed it with him repeatedly. His footing within it was firm, God have mercy upon him.
Know that this Abode combines intense hardship, matters attained only through severe force, and afflictions preventing apprehension of what is sought, with gentleness, the removal of afflictions, and attaining what is sought through pleasurable repose ardently loved by selves. Between these two descriptions lie tremendous hardships.
The first science this Abode contains is knowledge of departing from nature. Know that some motions are natural and others forced. Do not imagine natural motion yields pleasure and forced motion pain because you depart from nature. The matter may be
Notlar
Translator’s note TN6100-1: The poetic line repeats hum, “they,” after both the affirmative and negative expressions without supplying a further predicate. The English retains that ellipsis rather than assigning an unstated identity.
