Observations placeholder

Ibn El-Arabi - The Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, tr. Reynold A. Nicholson, [1911]

1. O my two friends, pass by al-Kathíb and turn towards La‘la‘ and seek the waters of Yalamlam,

2. For there dwell those whom thou knowest and those to whom belong my fasting and my pilgrimage and my visit to the holy places and my festival.

3. Never let me forget at al-Muḥaṣṣab of Miná and at al-Manḥar al-A‘lá and Zamzam certain grave matters.

4. Their Muḥaṣṣab is my heart, because of their casting the pebbles, and their place of sacrifice is my soul, and their well is my blood.

5. O camel-driver, if thou comest to Ḥájir, stop the beasts a little while and give a greeting,

6. And address to the red tents on the side of the guarded pasture the salutation of one who longs for you and is distraught.

7. And if they return thy greeting, once more let the East wind bring thy salaam to them; and if they are silent, journey on with thy camels and advance

8. To the river of Jesus, where their riding-camels halted and where the white tents lie beside the river-mouth,

9. And call Da‘d and ar-Rabáb and Zaynab and Hind and Salmá and Lubná, and listen,

10. And ask them whether at al-Ḥalba is She, the limber one who shows thee the radiance of the sun when she smiles.

COMMENTARY

1. 'O my two friends,' i.e. his reason and his faith.

'Al-Kathíb,' the place of contemplation.

'La‘la‘,' the place of bewilderment and amazement, that he may no more be conscious of love and longing.

'The waters of Yalamlam,' i.e. the fountain of life, since water is the source of every living thing.

2. 'Thou knowest': he addresses Faith, not Reason, for knowledge of the Essence and of its attributes is gained solely by means of Faith.