“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord” [al-Anʿam 6:106], and do not incline with their inclination.
I created you as one to be followed, not a follower[4]: a passive participle, not an active participle. Hence, when mentioning the prophets, He said to him, “Follow their guidance” [al-Anʿam 6:90], not them. Their guidance is nothing other than God’s Revealed Law. He said, “He has prescribed for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah” [al-Shura 42:13], and mentioned those He mentioned. The Lawgiver for us is therefore God, who legislated for them. Had he received from them, he would have been a follower. Understand.
(The Poles and the Solitaries)
This community’s Poles are twelve. The community revolves around them, just as the corporeal and bodily world in this world and the Hereafter revolves around twelve zodiacal signs. God has entrusted them with the appearance of the customary and extraordinary coming-to-be and passing-away within the two Abodes.
The Solitaries, however, are many, and the two Seals are among them—that is, among the Solitaries—so the two are not Poles. None of these Poles is upon Muhammad’s heart, God’s blessings and peace be upon him. Among the Solitaries, however, are those upon Muhammad’s heart, and the Seal is among them: I mean the particular Seal of the friends of God.
The twelve Poles are upon the hearts of prophets, peace be upon them. Each is upon a heart—or, if you wish, say upon a foot, which is preferable. This is how I saw it through unveiling in Seville, and it shows greater courtesy toward the messengers. Courtesy is our station, and it is what
Notlar
[4]
(The two words have been vocalized according to the author’s explicit statement: the first is a passive participle and the second an active participle.)
