He is the Prince of the Bees—eternally His Essence

Is in a form that transcends any likeness to be seen.

[The form] is not His totality, not at all; nor is the Creator

Anything other than it when He appears through the Essence."

He said: "Then what did He manifest?" I said openly:

"He manifested five and three to mankind."

He said: "What are they?" I said: "They are five

In which appeared [the semblance of] poverty, illness, and sleep,

Which bleary-eyed those who spread [false] rumors;

And death, when it was said that 'He has passed away.'

And eating, drinking, discharging waste,

Urination, and marriage—five He initiated.

Then He veiled Himself with the father and mother together,

And the son, the brothers, and the spouse—He was hidden."

And He—Exalted and High—is completely transcendent

Above these [human] descriptions among the masses.

Indeed, that was but a concealment (Talbis) meant for