LII

The Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, by Ibn al-Arabi, tr. Reynold A. Nicholson, [1911], at sacred-texts.com

LII

1. I am content with Raḍwá as a meadow and a lodging-place, for it has a pasture in which is cool water.

2. May be, those whom I love will hear of its fertility, so that they will take it as an abode and lodging-place.

3. For lo, my heart is attached to them and listens silently whenever the camel-driver urges them on with his chant.

4. And if they call to one another to set out and cross the desert, thou wilt hear its wailing behind their camels.

5. And if they make for az-Zawrá, it will be in front of them, and if they are bound for al-Jar‘á, it will alight there.

6. No fortune is found except where they are and where they encamp, for the bird of Fortune has fledglings in their tribe.

7. Fear for myself and fear for her sake battled with each other, and neither gave way to its adversary.

8. When her splendours dazzle mine eyes, the sound of my sobbing deafens her ears.

p. 139

COMMENTARY

1. 'Raḍwá,' with reference to the station of Divine satisfaction (###).

'A pasture,' i.e. spiritual nourishment.

2. 'Those whom I love,' i.e. gnostics like himself.

4. 'The desert,' i.e. the stations of abstraction (###).

'Their camels,' i.e. the aspirations journeying away from the body.

5. 'Az-Zawrá,' i.e. the presence of the Quṭb.

'In front of them': he means that he anticipates them in his thoughts and wishes.

'Al-Jar‘á,' i.e. a place where they suffer painful self-mortification.

6. The gnostic seeks only that which is akin to himself.

7. 'Fear for myself,' i.e. fear lest my eyes should be dazzled by the manifestation of my Beloved's glory.

'Fear for her sake,' i.e. fear lest her ears should be deafened by the noise of my sobbing.