The Manifest Veiled by Nothingness

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn ‘Abbad ar-Rundi (r.a.) wrote Sharh al-Hikam ‘Atha’illah, a commentary on Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s (q.s.) Hikam. 

Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (q.s.) wrote, 

“How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He Manifests everything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He Appears through everything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He is Evident in everything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He is Apparent to everything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He is the Manifest before the existence of everything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while he is more Evident than anything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He is the One alongside Whom is nothing else?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while He is Closer to you than everything?

How can it be imagined that something could veil Him while, if not for Him, nothing would exist?

Is it possible for Existence to appear in nothingness?

Or is it possible for things that have a beginning to hold their ground with Him Who has the quality of beginninglessness?”

Imam ibn ‘Abbad ar-Rundi (r.a.) expounded on this.  He wrote, “He has Endowed everything with the light of existence while it was before in the darkness of nothingness as was mentioned before.

Thus, the deducers prove His Existence with created things: 

سُوۡرَةُ حٰمٓ السجدة / فُصّلَت

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ … (٥٣) 

Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the Earth), and in their own souls until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. … (Surah Fuswswilat:53) 

He Endows everything with His Beautiful Attributes and Names. 

He is Apparent in the aura of that thing.  For this reason, it is prostrating to Him and glorifying His Praise, but we do not understand it. 

The Manifest is a Permanent Name for Him, before time and forever. 

True existence is undoubtedly more evident than nothingness in every situation. 

Everything besides Him is nothingness and has no true existence. 

He Encompasses you and Holds Up your being. 

The beholders of Allah (s.w.t.) use Him to Prove the existence of created things as Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ حٰمٓ السجدة / فُصّلَت

… أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ (٥٣) 

... Is it not enough that your Lord Does Witness all things? (Surah Fuswswilat:53) 

Nothingness is darkness and Existence is light.  They are mutually exclusive opposites. 

Falsehood cannot hold its ground when the truth becomes apparent as Allah (s.a.w.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء

وَقُلۡ جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلُ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقً۬ا (٨١) 

And say, “Truth has (now) arrived, and falsehood perished: for falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish.” (Surah al-Isra’:81) 

Allah also (s.a.w.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنبیَاء

بَلۡ نَقۡذِفُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ عَلَى ٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ فَيَدۡمَغُهُ ۥ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ۬‌ۚ … (١٨) 

Nay, We Hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold falsehood does perish!  ... (Surah al-Anbiya’:18) 

I say: In this section of the book from the statement, ‘Created things in essence are darkness ...’ to here, the author has done an outstanding job.  He has brought what eyes find comfort in and ears relish. 

He mentioned all of things connected with the Manifestation of Allah (s.w.t.) and falsified the veiling qualities of every darkness and light.  He has shown you in it the Truth with the sight of an eyewitness.  He has raised you from the station of faith to the highest ranks of spiritual excellence.  All of this has been done using the briefest of words, the most eloquent of expressions, the most perfect clarification, and the most subtle motions.  If there were nothing but this section in the book, it would have been a sufficient healing.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Reward him well on our part.”