THE PERFECT MAN (INSAN AL-KAMIL) the perfect man is the pole (qutb) around which evolve the spheres of existence/being from the first to the last. He is unique from the beginning of existence until eternity. He puts on different forms and appears in many places of worship and that is why he is given a name according to his garb of the time and not corresponding to different garbs. The original name that belongs to him is Muhammad, his nickname is Abu’l-Qasim, the name showing his qualities is ‘Abdallah and his honarary title is Shamsaddin. In regard to other garbs he has other names. In every epoch, he has the garb which corresponds to his garb of the time. The name Muhammad is only used for the reality of Muhammad. Don’t you know that when he showed himself in the shape of Shibli, Shibli said to his disciple: “Testify to the fact that I am the messenger of God!” This disciple was a man of mystical disclosures and that is why he recognised him and said: “I testify that you are the messenger of God!” There is nothing to remark. It can be compared to the situation when a dreamer sees A in the shape of B. The lowest stage of inner disclosure is this that with him in his waking consciousness the same is possible as when in sleep. There is a difference however between sleep and inner disclosure and it is this one: The name of the form in which one sees Muhammad in dreams is not used - when being awake - for the reality of Muhammad, because the explanation is based on the world of similitudes and that is why when being awake one speaks of the reality of Muhammad as the reality of the form [seen in dreams]. In case of an inner disclosure it is different. When it is disclosed to you that the reality of Muhammad reveals itself in the shape of a certain person, then you must give to the reality of Muhammad the name of this figure. You have to deal with the owner of this form with the same good manners as with Muhammad, as it has been disclosed to you that Muhammad has assumed this outward shape. After recognising him you cannot behave in the same way as before. Know that the perfect man comprises in himself correspondences with all the realities of existence. But do not imagine that there is, in my words, some allusion to metempsychosis. May God keep us from that idea! And may the messenger keep me far from such intentions! It is more like this that the messenger of God is able to assume all kinds of outward shapes to reveal himself therein.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 09:51:05 +0000
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