Divine Actions Point to Divine Names

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (q.s.) wrote, in al-Hikam, “His Actions point to His Names.  His Names point to His Attributes.  His Attributes point to His Essence, since it is impossible for an Attribute to be Existent all by Itself. 

Subjects of Divine attraction have His Essence Revealed to them.  Then, He Makes them see His Attributes.  Then, He Makes them return to a deep understanding of His Names.  Then, He Makes them see His Actions.  Those traveling the Path under a teacher experience these things in the reverse order.  The place where the second group ends up, is where the first group started.  And the place where the second group starts, is where the first group ends.  But, each experiences the stages slightly differently.  So, perhaps the two groups may meet on the Path, these going up, and those going down.”