three paired faculties [thalathat azwaj] reach completion within it: the spirit of strength [ruh al-quwwah], the spirit of desire [ruh al-shahwah], the spirit of life [ruh al-hayat].'"

[150] And a parable illustrative of this is the saying of the Prophet—His glory is mighty: 'Verily, the parable of the believer is like that of the bee: if it consumes, it consumes what is wholesome; if it drinks, it drinks what is wholesome; and if it deposits, it deposits what is wholesome.' Thus, when the newborn emerges from its mother’s womb, the pure soul descends—which is the luminous spirit of faith created from the light of Allah. It then diffuses [fantashat / faintasharat] throughout the body after its delivery from the womb and the belly. At that exact moment, the infant grieves and cries; that is a sign of goodness, for the pure soul has only descended from a realm of comfort, fragrant breeze, and proximity to the All-Merciful, to be confined within this body, which is the prison of the believer. For this reason, it grieves upon its descent. So, if you see the child grieving upon its delivery from its mother’s womb, know that this is a sign of faith. Then, if its esoteric knowledge reaches completion and it endures the earthly trial in its entirety, it achieves ultimate deliverance.