Whatever high proofs and wondrous allusions are recounted herein, concern but a single Letter, a single Point. “Such hath been the way of God ... and no change canst thou find in the way of God.”(134) I began this epistle some time ago, in thy remembrance, and since thy letter had not reached me then, I began with some words of reproach. Now, thy new missive hath dispelled that feeling and causeth Me to write thee. To speak of My love for thine Eminence is needless. “God is a sufficient witness!”(135) For his Eminence Shaykh Muḥammad—May God the Exalted bless him!—I shall confine Myself to the two following verses which I request be delivered to him: I seek thy nearness, dearer than sweet Heaven; I see thy visage, fairer than Paradise bowers.(136) When I entrusted this message of love to My pen, it refused the burden, and it swooned away. Then coming to itself, it spoke and said, “Glory be to Thee! To Thee do I turn in penitence, and I am the first of them that believe.”(137) Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds! Let us tell, some other day This parting hurt and woe; Let us write, some other way, Love’s secrets—better so. Leave blood and noise and all of these, And say no more of Shams-i-Tabríz.(138) Peace be upon thee, and upon those who circle around thee and attain thy meeting. What I had written ere this hath been eaten by the flies, so sweet was the ink. As Sa’dí saith: “I shall forbear from writing any longer, for my sweet words have drawn the flies about me.” And now the hand can write no more, and pleadeth that this is enough. Wherefore do I say, “Far be the glory of thy Lord, the Lord of all greatness, from what they affirm of Him.”(139) FOOTNOTES 1 The Manifestation. 2 Muḥammad, Aḥmad and Maḥmúd are names and titles of the Prophet, derived from the verb “to praise,” “to exalt.” 3 Qur’án 17:110. 4 Sermon by ‘Alí. 5 Qur’án 2:282. 6 Qur’án 16:71. 7 Qur’án 16:71. 8 The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means “goal.” 9 Qur’án 29:69: “And whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways will We guide them.” 10 The holy Sanctuary at Mecca. Here the word means “goal.” 11 Literally, Majnún means “insane.” This is the title of the celebrated lover of ancient Persian and Arabian lore, whose beloved was Laylí, daughter of an Arabian prince. Symbolizing true human love bordering on the divine, the story has been made the theme of many a Persian romantic poem, particularly that of Nizámí, written in 1188–1189 A.D. 12 Arabian proverb. 13 Refer to the story of Joesph in the Qur’án and the Old Testament. 14 Farídu’d-Dín Attár (ca. 1150–1230 A.D.), the great Persian Súfí poet. 15 Persian mystic poem. 16 Persian mystic poem. Cf. The Hidden Words, No. 7, Arabic. 17 Qur’án 50:29.