55:29 Whatever is in the heavens and the earth asks of Him. Each day He is upon some task.
The faithful are two groups: the worshipers and the recognizers. The asking of each group is in the measure of their aspirations, and the caressing of each is suited to their capacity. The worshipers want everything from Him, the recognizers want Him Himself.
Aḥmad ibn Abi'l-Ḥawārī saw the Real in a dream. He said, 'O Aḥmad, all the people are seeking from Me, except Abū Yazīd-he is seeking Me."
I set out for You seeking the heights,
and others set out for their livelihood.
*
Each has a prayer-niche in some direction,
but SanāÌī's prayer-niche is Your lane. [DS 1004]
At this threshold everyone has a station and each has what is suited for him.
The Pir of the Tariqah said, "O God, everyone indigent has a portion of Your munificence, everyone in pain has a physician from Your generosity, and everyone has a portion from the vastness of Your mercy."
Each He keeps in a place and each He dyes in a color. This is why He says, "Each day He is upon some task." He lifts up one group and puts down others. He puts one at the front of the hall of worth with the attribute of exaltedness, He keeps another at the back with the shoes, in abasement itself. He seats one on the carpet of gentleness, He puts another under the carpet of severity. He pulled Adam the dust-dweller up from the dust of abasement and placed the throne of prosperity on the head of his aspiration, without bias. He pulled down ʿAzāzīl, who was the teacher of the angels, from the celestial world and hung him at the crossroads of the causeless desire from the rack of punishment, without iniquity. To one group He says, "So rejoice!" [9:111], to another group He says, "Die in your rage!" [3:119].
Moses the speaking-companion set off in search of fire. When he left he was a shepherd in a blanket, when he came back he was a prophet, God's speaking-companion. Balaam Beor, who knew the greatest name, went up a mountain as a friend by virtue of form, but came back down as a dog by virtue of attribute and meaning.
Adam was still clay when they made the hat of chosenness. Iblis the miserable had still not refused when they moistened the arrow of the curse with the poison of severity. This one was commanded, "Prostrate yourself," but he did not. That one was commanded, "Don't eat the wheat," but he did. He gave Adam the excuse that he was a friend in the Beginningless, and the slip of friends is not held accountable.
When the beloved comes with one sin,
his beautiful traits come with a thousand interceders.
He placed the brand of the curse on Iblis because he was an enemy in the Beginningless, and the obedience of enemies is not taken into account.
When someone is not worthy for union,
all of his beautiful-doing is sin.