Original content

English translation

One day, Umar was saying to his son: 'How would you know the taste of your faith, my son? I know the taste of faith and I have seen it, because I have also tasted the taste of disbelief.' When the soul saw such grand activity within itself, it cried out like a spring cloud. It said: 'Whether I have been good or bad, in reality I have been the seeker of myself. I have not rested for a single moment from seeking; from day to night, I have been searching for myself. Wherever I went, up or down, everything received its light and beauty from my soul. In reality, since I have been everything, I have been the light-giver of the seven gardens. Why then did I journey outside, and look towards this one and that one? Alas, I traversed a whole world, yet did not know my own worth for a moment. If only I had journeyed entirely within my own soul, I would have become a hundredfold in every single atom.' The bewildered wayfarer came before the spiritual master, describing his soul from the tablet of his mind. [The guide] said: 'Everything that is manifest and hidden, all are the soul-illuminating traces of the soul. In the world, I see only the traces of the soul; I see only the radiance of the soul and the universe. A ray from the Holy appeared with power, casting passion into the world and the soul as well. A truly infinite ray was cast, remaining boundless and endless unto eternity. Whatever was, is, and will be, all have taken the name of 'thing' from that ray. In truth, the name of that ray became 'soul,' and it became the support and sustenance of both worlds. The Holy manifested powerfully in one thing, and oh wonder, that was the spiritual soul! Yet because the soul did not have that state back then, it became manifest in thousands of forms. The soul possessed both attributes and essence, both being honorable and precious like the soul itself. The origin of the soul was only abstract light, meaning it was only the Light of Muhammad. When the essence shone forth, it became the Glorious Throne; when the Throne shone, the Pedestal appeared. Then, when the Pedestal shone from its grand work, the heavens and the stars became manifest. And when the stars and the heavens shone, the four elements became immediate reality in an instant. Thereafter, when the power of its heat was exhausted, it set the four elements to intermingle, so that beasts, birds, animals, and plants obtained their existence along with other compounds. The essence of the soul also had attributes; consequently, it became honorable through knowledge and power. From its knowledge, the Preserved Tablet became manifest, and from its power, the Pen became busy with its work. Since the Will had many primary manifestations, angels without number as well as the bearers of the Throne appeared. From the soul's satisfaction arose the Garden of Eden, and from the anger it held, Hell was made ready. Since the spirit was in origin pure Command, Gabriel quickly manifested from the Command. Then, from the grace and generosity that the spirit possessed, it quickly raised the head of Michael. Then its wrath became the origin of Azrael, and two attributes remained with it which became Israfil. One attribute was creation, and the other annihilation; and the soul remains superior to both existence and non-existence. If the attributes of the spirit arose beyond measure, it is permissible to assign an angel to each one.' When the master became aware of his explanation, he said: 'Now your soul has become a man of the path. Consequently, not an atom of your self-illusion remains, and your only task now is annihilation in annihilation. As long as you saw yourself in the middle, you were far from the manifest secret. Since you saw that the seeking is from the Friend towards the Friend, it is well if you guard this vision.'