humanity, where he witnesses therein hardships, monuments [of toil], and humiliation after might, poverty after wealth, destitution after riches, enslavement after freedom, weakness after strength, fear after security, and dispersion after familiarity. Much like this exists, the explanation of which is long, the description of which is vast, the extent of which is far, and the harvesting [attainment] of which is impossible. Allah has given you sincere counsel, and I have counseled you through His tongue; so be among His servants who accept His counsel and my counsel, and do not be among those regarding whom Allah said: {But I counseled you, but you do not like counselors} ¹ ."

I said, and the group said: "We seek refuge in Allah and in you, O our Master, from being among those who turn away from you. Rather, each of us is mindful of what the Caller has called toward; we shall not return from right guidance to misguidance, nor from gnosis to denial, nor to doubt after certainty, nor to disputation after submission. We ask Allah, and we ask our Master for steadfastness upon that which He has guided us to, and of Him we ask to hold fast to the gnosis of Him with which He has graced us, and for success in what pleases Him, and for aid and assistance in His obedience and the seeking of His pleasure.