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ABD AL-KARIM AL-JILI: Tawid, Transcendence and Immanence – Dr Nicholas Lo Polito [University of Birmingham] - The Cave and the Inscription

SECTION 4

The Alif

(34) As the [term] union (Ulfa) derives from the Alif, [the Alif] joins the letters together. Indeed it joins some in their essence - such as for the Alif found between the Ba’, [like] a stretched Alif and each in it is the same as the others. And it joins some according to their phonetic expression, such as when you say [the letters] _a’ [_] and Kha’ [_] [the Alif] appearing at the end of both, thus being their essence in writing and in form. And no difference remains other than in their pronunciation. It joins all [the letters] by virtue of its form and its essence for the reasons discussed [above] that all letters are linked and that [the letter Alif] is present in the spelling of each letter. In the same way the Truth - Glorified and Most High - says, “If you laid out all the things that are on Earth you could not possibly join together their hearts, but God did.”

It would not have been possible even for you, O Muhammad, and possibly [this] message is [addressed] to anyone listening intending to join together the hearts of all the things that are on Earth, by laying them out. But the Truth by His perfection and by His word has united them in their bodies, in their essence and in their attributes. He has joined together a number of them by His essence. He has joined a number of them by His attributes. He has joined a number of them by His actions and His forms. Indeed He has joined them all by His essence and all His attributes.

POETRY

(35) Although this existence may appear multiple

By your lives! Nothing is in it except you.