Plato (Exalted be his might) said: "Those descending upon the Estuary of the Euphrates Water 1 have surpassed the dense bodies to the Simple Type (Al-Naw' al-Basit) of the World, by seeking help from the movement of the Celestial Figures (Al-Ashkhāṣ al-'Ulwiyya).
Footnotes
1The Estuary of the Euphrates Water (Masabb Ma' al-Furat):Symbolism: It is the Absolute Abstract Light (Al-Nur al-Mujarrad al-Mutlaq), and in the Science of the Inward, it is the Foundation of Gnosis (Iss al-Ma'rifa).The "Descenders" upon it: Are those who won the degree of Purity (Safa), rid themselves of the density of compound, dense bodies, and became Simple Lights in the Upper World.They sought help from the Existential Movement (Al-Haraka al-Wujudiyya), whose names and attributes apply to the Name (Ism), the Gate (Bab), and the Great Orphan (Yatim). Thus, they knew the quiddity of its movement—the Pure, Witnessed [Movement].Ibn Sina said in his book Al-Isharat wa al-Tanbihat: "It is possible that the quiddity of a thing is a cause for one of its attributes."Therefore: The quiddity of the Existential Movement of the Name, the Gate, and the Great Orphan was a cause for the appearance of the Light, the Radiance, and the Shadow in External Existence.Perceiving the Quiddity of Movement: This is done by the Soul, because the Soul perceives sensory forms through the senses, and perceives their intelligible forms through the mediation of their sensory forms.As for the Intellect: It perceives the Intelligible from its causes and reasons without the mediation of its sensory form.Philosophical Note: Modern science has proven that there is no stillness in existence. Philosophers before them confirmed this matter by saying: "Motion is eternal (Sarmadi), so there must be an Eternal Mover, which is the Sphere (Falak)."They said: Since the planets are perfect in everything except in their Posture (Wad') and Where-ness (Ayn), and they desired completion (Istikmal) to have resemblance to the First, motion became necessary for them.Thus, Motion is a completion/perfection for them. This motion resembles stability (Thabat) in that it is the very perfection sought.They said: "The motion of the Sphere is its perfection, not [merely] a means to seek its perfection. If its perfection were other than its motion, it would stop upon reaching it. Thus, motion in it is like natural stability in the natural place for bodies moving in a straight line; for this reason, it moves always..."And they said: "The Celestial Motion, even if renewed, is One by connection and continuity. From this perspective, it is like the Fixed."I say: Since the Name, the Gate, and the Great Orphan are the closest to Allah, it is necessary that their movement be the fastest of movements and the closest to the First Principle.It is upon the Wayfarer (Salik) knowing Allah: To follow the example of those "descending upon the Estuary of the Euphrates," and to know the Ranks of Existence (The Light, the Radiance, and the Shadow) and the Ranks of Representation in the vision of Abraham the Friend (Khalil). He must know their Fixed Realities and ascend to the knowledge of their Quiddities as they are [in reality], not [just] as they appear. The Relative Ranks of Existence (Maratib al-Wujud al-I'tibariyya) according to logical sequence are: Rank of Essential Existence (Special): Which none knows "What He is" except Him.The Theophany by Light: Being the Name. The Theophany by Radiance: Being the Gate.The Theophany by Shadow: Being the Great Orphan. The Theophany to the Luminous Ranks: The General Manifestation, which is the rank of External Existence.