Summary of the Discussion on the Issue

Know, O righteous, successful, and felicitous brother—to whom this gift of mine is directed, not to the one of stubbornness, deviation, ignorance, slander, and arrogance, who is far from the mercy of Allah and His pleasure—

Indeed, the scholars before us alerted [people] to the Ranks (Maratib) and defined for the people the Figures (Ashkhas) of every station.

And they defined the Figures of Prayer, Zakah, Fasting, Hajj, Jihad, the Days, and the Nights.

And they alerted [people] to the Figures of the Festivals (A'yad) and Seasons, and spoke much regarding it, in order to sharpen the minds (Qara'ih) in seeking Knowledge, to urge [them] to increase in virtue, and to know the loci of Happiness.

So they made the Human Figures a parable, and applied them to what is more ancient in sense and intellect—which is the High Celestial World, the Simple [World] in which there is no composition.

And it is the Permanent, Eternal, Everlasting [World] from which Time appeared, and from its Shadow the World of Being (Alam al-Kawn) occurred.

[...and from its Shadow occurred the World of Being], Corruption, Alteration, and Forgetfulness.