and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a manifest record»1.
Along with his — Exalted Glory — saying in the Sermon of the Essence (Khuṭbat al-Jawhara): 'I am the Knower of the Unseen and the Dispeller of doubt; no secret is hidden from me. I am the one who knows everything, secretly and openly. I am the one who encompassed everything in knowledge. I raised its heaven, flattened its earth, anchored its mountains, flowed its rivers, caused its trees to grow, and ripened its fruits. I am the Seeker; I am the Victor; I am the Perceiver; I am the Destroyer. I am the Qibla of the religion; I am the Leader (Ya'sūb) of the believers.'2
The idolater said: "That suffices, O noble Sheikh. Has He appeared to the world as He truly is in the reality of Manifestation?" The Muslim said: "If He had appeared to the world contrary to how He is, He would have had differing manifestations contradicting one another. The Wise One is not in one state and then its opposite is found; for if that were required of Him, then movement from state to state would be required, and He would descend from the essence of perfection. He — may His secret be hallowed — appeared to the world as He is in the reality of Manifestation, and the world looked at Him as He is."
The idolater said: "Are they differing in speech, or are they of one rank?" The Muslim said: "Rather, they differ in speech as they differed in their vision of Him." He asked: "Explain to me their differences and their sayings."
The Muslim said: "The people of elevation (al-irtifā') say: 'That which was seen is a "Station" (Maqām) that Allah manifested from His light; He manifested His power within it and made it manifest through His wisdom. From it He is sought, at it He is found, and by it He is known. No one reaches His gnosis except through it.' Some say: 'That which they saw is His Most High Name, His Greatest Sign, His Mightiest