Iqazh al-Himam fi Sharh al-Hikam, Chapter Two, Part Three
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is taken from the first chapter of Iqazh al-Himam fi Sharh al-Hikam , a commentary on al-Hikam of Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ), by Shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ajibah ( q.s. ). Then Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) mentioned the third adab , which is to abide where Allah ( s.w.t. ) has Made him abide: “Do not ask Him to Remove you from one state in order to Use you in another. If He Wanted to, He could Use you without Removing you.” Part of the adab of the gnostic is be satisfied with the knowledge of Allah ( s.w.t. ) so that he can dispense with other than Him. When Allah ( s.w.t. ) Establishes him in a state, he does not disdain it and seek to leave it for another state. If Allah ( s.w.t. ) had Wanted to Remove him from that state and to Use him in another, He would Use him without being asked to Remove him. ...