Introduction

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Praise be to God, the Exalted, the One, the Singular, the Eternal Refuge, who neither begets nor is born, and there is none co-equal unto Him. The Originator of Pre-eternity (al-Azal), the Perpetuator of Ever-eternity (al-Abad); the First, not in number, and the Last, without end. The Outward (al-Zahir) in His creation so that He may be found, the Inward (al-Batin) who is never lost. He transcends all encompassment and perception, and is sanctified beyond peers and association. Regions do not contain Him, and epochs and ages do not exhaust Him.

He appeared to His creation like their own likeness, out of affinity; He drew near to them with His kindness as a comforter, watched over them as an intimate, and resembled them in species and forms. He displayed miracles and decrees through them, yet remained distinct from them in Reality (al-Haqiqa) and Essence (al-Gawhar). To Him, intellects testify by necessity. He is unique in His primordiality and permanence, deified through His Eternal Oneness. Among His eternal signs: His manifestations are His sanctification, His veils are His words, and His lights are His stations (Maqamat). He has no limit to be reached, nor any form for which parables could be struck.