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118 THE TARJUMAX AL-ASHWAQ (XXXI, X X X ll)

not for their own sake but only for the sake of that on
which they are dependent, he saj’s that he desires to
approach that by means of them.
5. ‘ A woman,’ etc., i.e. a Divine attribute which manifested
itself in the world of similitude.
7, 8. Her sublimity exalts everyone in whom .s]ie dwells.
‘ A high mountain,’ i.e. the heart of the gnostic.
' He who looks enviou.sly,’ etc.: the Divine e.ssence is
unknowable.
9. ‘ Every desert,’ i.e. every heart laid waste by forgetful­
ness of God.
10. ‘ Wine,’ i.e. spiritual delight.
11. He says: ‘ I have gained knowledge of the invisible
world from her hair, and knowledge of the visible wox’ld
from her face, and my visible world produces her as an
invisible being to th6 eye,’ i.e. I have the power of appearing
in different forms, like al-J^hadir and some saint.s, e.g. Qadib
al-Biin.
12. ‘ The Cleaver,’ i.e. God, iii I'eference to Kor. vi, 95, 96.
13. ‘ Was cloven,’ etc., i.e. by the .sciences and manifesta­
tions of the Divine Ideas.
14-16. The most unlucky pf all things is any ec.stasy
that intervenes between thee and this Divine attribute, for
ecstasy takes possession of the heart, so that the mystery
of the Almighty which was illuminated by this Essential
Manifestation is left neglected and without power to retain
that which has already been revealed to it.
1. Our talk between al-IIaditha and al-Karkh recalls to me
X X X II

the period of youth and its prime.
2. I said to myself: ‘ After fifty years, when through long
meditation I have become as weak as a young bird,
3. It recalls to me the neighbourhood of Sal' and I.lajir, and
brings to rny mind the period of youth and its
prime,
4. And the driving of the camels up hill and down dale, and