Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 32
32 HAQIQATUL-WAḤI-THE PHILOSOPHY OF DIVINE REVELATION Almighty. Just as a piece of iron, being placed in fire, assumes the appear- ance of fire, and the characteristics of fire start to manifest through it, in the same way, a person of this rank figuratively becomes endowed with divine attributes. He is, by nature, so completely lost in the pursuit of the pleasure of God that he speaks while being immersed in God, sees while being immersed in God, hears while being immersed in God, and walks while being immersed in God, as if there is only God inside his cloak. His human nature is overpowered by the manifestations of the Divine. Since this subject is delicate and is beyond ordinary comprehension, I shall, therefore, leave it at this point. In yet another way, I may illustrate this third rank, which is the superior and perfect rank, in the following manner. The perfect reve- lation, which is the third of the three types of revelation and descends upon the perfect individual, is as if the light and the rays of the sun fall on a polished mirror which is perfectly facing it. It is obvious that, though the light of the sun is the same, differences develop in the manner in which it appears according to the various objects [that reflect it]. Thus, when a ray of the sun falls on such a dense area of earth that does not have clean and pure water on its surface-but rather, has black and dark dust, and the surface is also uneven-then [the reflection of] the ray is very weak, particularly in the event that a cloud should be intervening between the sun and the earth. But when that same ray, in front of which there is no intervening cloud, falls on clear water that shines like a polished mirror, then the same ray is intensified tenfold in its appearance, so much so, that the eye cannot even bear it. In the same manner, when revelation descends upon a soul that has attained purification, having been cleansed of all impurities, its lustre is manifest to an extraordinary degree. The reflection of divine attributes upon that soul becomes complete, and the countenance of the One True God is fully revealed. It is obvious from this inquiry that when the sun rises, its light falls on every pure and impure surface, even to the extent that the outhouse, which is a place of filth, partakes of it. However, the full benefit of that light is obtained by that clean mirror