Describe an ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti)
 
 
Zan-noon was asked who is an ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) and he replied, “He was here a moment ago, just left”. Sheikh (?) interpreted this as following:
 
‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) can never maintain the same disposition & proclivity from one moment to another. This is because he is not his own director, the Lord is his director and he has no control of which direction he is steered towards next.
 
He is not poised with any certain tendency; therefore describing his characteristics is not possible & proper. If you do attempt to describe the ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) indeed you described him in a moment in the past and if you characterize him accordingly that is a lie (since his attitude & disposition have long changed and will never be the same). Indeed being without any recognizable characteristics & descriptions is the only truth about the ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti).
 
And if the ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) seeking after the Sifat (Divine Attribute) of Haqq (The Absolute True Reality), how could he ever maintain a fixed Sifat (Attribute)? (In other words Beloved Creator is constantly showing a different face to the Lovers (universe) and how could ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) maintain a fix disposition if he is following the will of the Lord and facing the ever-changing Divine Manifest (Zohoor)?)
 
The affairs of the ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) have foundation in Mohdath (Nascence, Transience & Temporalness) therefore can never remain the same for two different points of time. Indeed as soon as you give news of ‘Aref (Divine Cognoscenti) his characteristics & disposition have already evanesced (Fanaa).
 

End.

Source (Sharh Ta’r-rof)


© 2004-2002,  Dara O. Shayda