Reports Concerning the Month of Ramadan

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, a manifold praise as He has commanded. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, in defiance of those who deny and disbelieve. I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the best of mankind; may the blessings of Allah be upon him and his Family as long as an eye connects with a sight and an ear with a report. And may His peace be upon his Noble Gate (al-Bab), through whom whoever knows him is saved, and whoever lags behind him goes astray and perishes. And [peace be] upon the Orphans of His Sovereignty (Aytam Mulkihi), the lamps in the darkness and the guides of creation in pre-eternity. And [peace be] upon those who follow them from the people of the lofty ranks (Ahl al-Maratib al-’Alawiyyah) and the brilliant celestial bodies—a perpetual and pleasing prayer. May He, through His kindness and mercy, make us their followers; indeed, He is High, Great, Pre-eternal, and Ancient.

As for what our exemplar, Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi (may Allah brighten his face), explained in his treatise al-Rastabashiyyah in response to the seeker when he said: "The blessing has become magnificent and the favor has become great, and it remains for me to ask you about the Seven Existences (al-Akwan al-Sab‘a); you have mentioned them and explained wonders concerning them, but it remains for you to name their personified essences (Ashkhas).