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116 THE TARJU.MAX AL-ASH W AQ (X X X , X X X l)

robe of honour which God conferred on the Black Stone,
and knows the stone, will know what I mean. Tin's was
the station of Abu Yazid and of my Shaykli, Abu Madyan.
34. How often did we beg for power over the .spiritual
states, so that we might rule them without fear of losing
them !
35. ‘ O sons of az-Zawni’ : az-Zawra is a name of Brtghdad,
which is the residence of the Qutb in the visible world.
The author refers to those who are in the presence of the
Qutb and under his aegis (<0y lo
‘ A moon,’ etc., i.e. an essential manifestation which appeared
among you through the existence of the Qutb, and vanished
in me, i.e. it is my inward being and mysteiy
He makes himself to be one of the nonpareils
36. ‘ Behind it,’ although it is within himself, indicating
that it is not circumscribed (rfJsU-Ul jl -A j), but that
it is with him in the category of additional, as the Prophet
said, ‘ 0 Lord, let me increase in knowledge.’
37. ‘ A dove,’ , i.e. the .spirits of the intermediate world,
the bearers of the inspiration that comes at the tinkling
sound G_i,aL=n)> which is like the noise of a chain when
it strikes a rock. They cause this heart to vanish, even as
they themselves vanish on hearing that sound. Hence
the Prophet said that this manner of inspiration was the
most grievous to him, and he used to pass away from his
senses, and wrap himself until it departed, after he had
understood its meaning. A portion of this belongs to his
(spiritual) heirs. XX XI

1. A lightning-cloud gleamed at Dluit al-Ada, with light
flashing over the plain thereof,
2. And the thunder of its secret converse cracked, and its
i-ain-cloud let fall copious showers.
3. They called to one another; ‘ Make the camels kneel ! ’
but they did not listen, and I in my pa.ssion cried
out; ‘ O driver.