al-Ghayb

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: 

“How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is the One Who Manifests everything?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is the One Who is Manifest through everything?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is the One Who is Manifest in everything?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is the Manifest to everything?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He was the Manifest before the existence of anything?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is more Manifest than anything?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is the One alongside of whom there is nothing?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since He is Nearer to you than anything else?

How can it be conceived that something veils Him,

Since, were it not for Him, the existence of everything would not have been manifest?

It is a marvel how Being has Manifested in non-being,

And how the contingent has been established alongside of Him Who Possesses the attribute of Eternity!”