7:168 And We cut them up into communities in the earth. Among them are the wholesome and among them other than that. And We tried them with the beautiful things and the ugly things.
In terms of realization in accordance with the tasting of the Folk of Findings this is an allusion to the travelers in the community, the exiles of the Tariqah. They are constantly wandering around the world, from this region to that region, from this cave to that cave, to conceal their present moment from the people and struggle for their religion against the blights of others. Muṣ?afā alluded to this meaning: "There will come a time when those who are religious will not stay safe unless they become averse to people. You will see them like travelers fleeing from people, sometimes in the mountains, sometimes in the desert."
Rushing, running, wailing in the world,
in mountain monasteries, in desert caves,
Totally effaced in the ocean of thought,
of themselves they recite for all, "No home, no possessions."
Bearing witness to this are the stories of the Companions of the Cave and that of the Prophet and Abū Bakr in the cave. God says, "The second of two, when the two were in the cave" [9:40].
Another meaning has also been given for their traveling and exile, namely that they were yearning. In most of their days and the generality of their states the yearnings are without settledness and ease-perhaps they will reach someplace to see the mark of the friend or ask someone about the friend. In this meaning they have sung,
Surely our traces designate us-
after us, look at our traces.
The Pir of the Tariqah said, "O God, the homeland of Your exiles is exile, so when will this business end? How can he who is being tested by You be worthy of relief? How can he whose homeland is exile ever reach home? O God, the yearner is slain by friendship, and the shroud of those slain by friendship is vision of You."
And We tried them with the beautiful things and the ugly things. We tested them with pleasure and disappointment. They are neither deceived by pleasure, nor do they turn away from Us because of disappointment. They have in front of themselves an occupation that is more important than their own pleasure and disappointment. With people they are on loan, with themselves strangers. They are at ease from attachment, their hearts joined with the Patron, their secret cores having reached awareness of Him. They keep on saying with the tongue of poverty and the attribute of brokenness, "O Lord, we have come to the Threshold as servants. If You like, exalt us, and if You like, lay us low."