the areas where it grows are like fertile land, the areas where hair does not grow are like barren salt flats, his front-facing countenance is like inhabited civilization, his back is like desolate ruins, the space before his face is like the East, the space behind his back is like the West, his right side is like the South, his left side is like the North, his breathing is like winds, his speech is like thunder, his vocal cries are like thunderbolts, his laughter is like the brightness of day, his weeping is like rain, and his misery and his sadness is like the darkness of night, his sleep is like death, his wakefulness is like life, the days of his childhood are like the days of spring, the days of his youth are like the days of summer, the days of his maturity are like the days of autumn, and the days of his old age are like the days of winter. His movements and actions are like the movements and revolutions of the stars; his birth and presence are like the rising celestial bodies (al-tawali'), and his death and absence are like the setting ones (al-gawarib). The rectitude of his affairs and conditions is like the direct progression of the planets; his falling behind and setbacks are like their retrograde motions (ruju'atiha); his illnesses and ailments are like their combustions (ihtiraqatiha); his hesitation and deep deliberation in matters are like their stations (tawaqqufiha);