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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 9

Chapter on the lengthening of the Ba’

(47) The Ba’ was lengthened after dropping the Alif and after replacing it with the warning that it [would only be], from all the letters, the alternative substitute to the Alif.

Before that, in the same way, the All Compassionate has been described by attributes that are [nothing more than] alternative substitutes of His name “God” - in the context of the beautiful names [employed] to give a name to Him. Creation by the One God therefore is not intelligible except in the context [of the attribute] “All Compassionate”. Furthermore the created order does not possess in itself any scope at all; again, nothing except the unique pure presence that is [the divine] countenance that transcends all things. The Most High says, “All things will perish except His countenance. To Him pertains the authority and to Him you will [all] return”. There is no authority except in this Oneness [present] in all these manifestations of existence and mercy, and He is the countenance of all things.

He has clearly stated, “Wherever you turn, there is the countenance of God”. With your eyes, that is - as far as the things perceptible through the senses are concerned - or with your minds, as far as intelligible things are concerned. There God’s countenance is, and of its meaning we have already spoken.

(48) There is no one in Naqa like Su‘ad
Indeed, she is the water springs and she is the one who drinks [from them].
She is the Ba_qi,
She is Ma_*ab
She is the plants and all the bodies.
She is the souls, the animals, the inanimate bodies.
She is the substances and the accidents all together.
She is the offspring, the fathers and the son.
Say to those who have gone purposely from me to Ka‘aba:
I am the way and my heart is that hill.
O Salm! Was it not for you my agony would not exist; so be kind
And there is no other prey but that lion.
I seek God’s forgiveness as purification for my [lowly] rank
Which is what is united between a creature and God.