Ibn Arabi's Mishkatul Anwar

I was just browsing through one of the books I’ve read quite a long time ago; it seems that for most books, we need to, time and time again, refer to them to refresh our memories and put into practice the bezels of wisdom contained therein. Remembrance, and putting the right amount of emphasis.

One of my personal favourites, Ibn ‘Arabi’s collection of 101 Hadith Qudsi, the Mishkatul Anwar, Niche of Lights. Easy to read, nonetheless very impactful.

I have not typed everything very detailed to the letter, which would be rather taxing; I just typed the essence or the gist.

The veiling of Paradise and the Fire (5th)

God had made Paradise full of desirable pleasures, and thus ordered it be surrounded by unpleasant and hateful things.

God had made the Fire very undesirable, and thus ordered it circled by many pleasing and desirable things.

The cloak and loincloth of God (15th)

God, ever exalted is He, said: “Pride(kibriyya) is My cloak, and Grandeur (’azama) is My loincloth. Whosoever wrestles with Me over either of these, I shall cast him into the Fire.”

On the Station of the Child of Adam who gives to Charity (25th)

Angels asked “O Lord, is there anything in Your Creation more powerful than the mountains?”

He replied, “Yes, iron.”

“O Lord, is there anything in Your Creation more powerful than the iron?”

He replied, “Yes, fire.”

“O Lord, is there anything in Your Creation more powerful than the fire?”

He replied, “Yes, water.”

“O Lord, is there anything in Your Creation more powerful than the water?”

He replied, “Yes, wind.”

“O Lord, is there anything in Your Creation more powerful than the wind?”

He replied, “Yes, the child of Adam, who gives charitably with his right hand whilst concealing it from his left hand.”

As for the tafsir of this hadith, I am bewildered. I have yet to understand the relationships established in this hadith qudsi. Where or what is the link? Mountain, iron, fire, water, wind, the child of Adam who donates sincerely…


The servant-Master dialogue in Surah Fatihah (31st)

God, ever mighty and majestic is He, says: “I have divided the Prayer (Surah Fatihah) into 2 halves between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have that which he asks”

When the servant says “Praise be to God, Lord of the Universes”,
God says: “My servant has praised Me.”

When the servant says “The All-Compassionate, the Most Merciful”,
God says: “My servant has repeated My Praises.”

When the servant says “Sovereign King of the Day of Judgment”,
God says: “My servant has glorified Me; My servant has given himself over to Me.”

When the servant says “It is You whom we worship and You whom we ask for help”,
God says: “This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have that which he asks.”

When the servant says “Guide us along the straight path, the path of those whom You have favoured; not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor those who are astray”,
God says: “This belongs to My servant, and My servant shall have that which he asks.”

Subahanallah, what perfect flow of dialogue! Ijab and Qabul. Sidi Ahmad ibn Idris ra advised to pause after every ayat in Al-Fatihah instead of continuous recitation, in reflection of exactly this dialogue.

The rights of the Lovers (54th)

God, ever exalted and majestic is He, says: “O child of Adam, it is your right from Me that I be a lover for you. So, by My Right from you, be for Me a lover.”

The Treasuries are full (65th)

God, ever exalted and majestic is He, says: “O child of Adam, do not fear the lack of nourishment, for My treasuries and full and they shall never be exhausted.”

God is Time (79th)

God, ever exalted and majestic is He, says: “The child of Adam wrongs Me when he curses the time, for I am Time! In My Hand is the Order. I cause the night and day to turn, one upon the other.”

Subhanallah, what modern physics can reveal about the Nature of Time is truly fascinating…forever without end.

God’s orders to this Dunia (93rd)

God, ever exalted and majestic is He, says to this world: “O world, serve the one who serves Me, and wear out the one who serves You.”

May we all benefit, Amin!