As for His word—the Almighty—recounting the speech of Moses: {He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep with it and I have therein other uses"}1. The "sheep" are the believers. Moses—exalted be his glory—shepherds and guards them in word and deed. And His word—the Sublime and Exalted—regarding Moses—exalted be his glory: {Then when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the side of the mount a fire. He said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there some information or a burning brand from the fire that you may warm yourselves"}2.
(364) It has been related that this Fire is the Name here, and the one who perceived it was Moses ibn Ashyam—peace be upon him—the Informed One. Our sheikh and lord Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi—may God brighten his face—said in his poem:
When in the Fire blazing do you see me, while the Negus or Satih turns me over.
Another aspect: the Tree is the Name, and the Fire perceived from it is the Meaning—exalted be his glory. Yet another aspect, higher than the previous: the Tree from which the Fire emerged is the Essence of the Meaning—exalted be His power—which does not resemble other essences. Toward it Moses (who is the Name) found intimacy, for the like of him finds intimacy only with the True Meaning—Exalted. This is the report of the Lord Abu Abd Allah al-Khasibi—may God sanctify his soul—who is our jurist.
His word, the Mighty and Sublime: {But when he came to it, he was called from the right bank of the valley in the blessed spot from the tree, "O Moses, indeed I am God, Lord of the worlds."}3 He is the Gate, as our sheikh—may God ennoble his station—stated that among the letters he is the Ya.