Who is she looketh forth
as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as with banners?
Songs of Songs 6,10
The Feminine
Countenance of God
is veiled. God may allow us a glimpse of Truth through the veil of the existential world, but the Essence remains hidden behind it ...
Oh Thou,
I have loved Thee with two loves:
a selfish love and a love that is worthy of Thee.
As for the love which is selfish,
I occupy myself therein with remembrance of Thee
to the exclusion of all others.
As for that which is worthy of Thee,
therein Thou raisest the veil that I may see Thee
and enfoldest me with glory.
Yet is there no praise to me in this or that,
but the praise is to Thee,
whether in that or this.
Words attributed to the Sufi Saint Rabi'a
al-Adawiyya of Basra (Iraque), 8th century AD.
