The Rabble and Scum: they are the "Shortcomers" (al-muqassira) for whom God has no regard; they are followers of every croaker of misguidance. They are an impurity, as God the Mighty and Sublime said: {O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean (najas), so let them not approach the Sacred Mosque after this, their [final] year. And if you fear poverty, God will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, God is Knowing and Wise}1.
The Sacred Mosque is the Name. The polytheists do not approach it because they are quit of him, just as the believers are quit of the Second outwardly and inwardly, for they are from other than his element and nature. They find no comfort in him nor realize anything of his science; rather, they are repelled by him and curse him. Likewise, the polytheists toward the believers: they hate them and curse them and find no comfort in them. This is supported by the words of God the Sublime and Exalted: {Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while God promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And God is all-Encompassing and Knowing}2.
Just as the Prayer is men, whose personages are an interpretation.
Fifty persons and one, a holy, joyous person.
The Prayer is the Lord Muhammad — exalted be his glory — and it is five [prayers] according to the number of his personages. Likewise, they are the personages of the units (rak’at) of every obligatory prayer according to the number of letters in his name. Whatever is besides that of the supererogatory prayers (al-nawafil) is the completion of the fifty-one units.
As our Sheikh and Lord Abu Abd Allah al-Khasibi — may God brighten his face — stated in his epistle in prose, and then clarified and presented in his discourse in verse; he said in prose: