MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 2/41)
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d commanded the Pen to write. “What shall I write, oh Lord?” asked the Pen. The Lord of the Worlds then said, “Write that which will be until the Day of Judgment!” Said the Pen, “Oh Lord, with what shall I begin?” Said the Lord, “With these words you shall commence: Bismillah al- Rahman al-Rahim.” In perfect respect and deference, the Pen then set out to write these words upon the Tablets, and it completed writing them in seven hundred years.
When the Pen had written these words, the Almighty spoke and said, “It has taken you seven hundred years to write three of My Names; the Name of My Majesty, My Mercy and My Compassion. These blessed words I have made as a present to the nation of My Beloved Muhammad . By My Majesty I pledge that whenever any servant from this nation pronounces the words of the Bismillah with a pure intention, I will write seven hundred years of countless reward for this servant, and seven hundred years of sins I will erase.”
Now, the fourth part of this Light I have again divided into four parts: from one part I have created the Throne-bearing Angels (hamalat al-`Arsh); from the second I have created the Kursi, the Divine court (the upper Heaven supporting the Divine Throne, the `Arsh); from the third I created all the other heavenly angels; and the fourth part I have partitioned once more into four: from its first part I made the skies, from its second I made the earths, from its third I made the Jinn and the fire. Its fourth part I have again divided into four parts: from one part I made the light upon the faces of the believers; from the second part I made the light within their hearts, imbuing them with knowledge of the divine; from the third the light upon their tongues which is the light of Tawhid (the Unity of Allah), and from the fourth part I made the different lights of the soul of Muhammad .
This lovely soul came into being 360 thousand years before the creation of the world, and it was shaped most beautifully and made of incomparable matter. Its head was made from guidance, its neck from humility, its eyes from modesty, its forehead from closeness (to Allah), its mouth from patience, its tongue from truthfulness, its cheeks from love and admonition, its belly from abstemiousness and other worldliness, its feet and knees from following the straight path, and its noble heart was filled with mercy. This much-honored soul was taught with mercy and equipped with all manner of wondrous powers. It was given its message and its prophetic qualities were installed. Then the Crown of Divine Proximity was placed upon its blessed head, eminent and exalted above all else, embellished with Divine Pleasure and given the pure, holy name of Habibullah
(Beloved of Allah).
The Twelve Veils
After this the Lord Almighty, blessed be He, created twelve Veils. The first of these was the Veil of Power within which the Prophet’s soul remained for twelve thousand years, reciting Subhana rabbil-’ala (Glory be to my Lord, the Lofty). The second was the Veil of Grandeur in which he was veiled for eleven thousand years, saying, Subhanal ’Alim al-Hakim (Glory be to my Lord, the All-Knowing, the Wise). Ten thousand years he remained shrouded in the Veil of Kindness, saying Subhana man huwa da’im, la yaqta (Glory to Him who is perpetual, who never ends). The fourth veil was the Veil of Mercy, therein the noble soul remained for nine thousand years, praising Allah, saying: Subhana-rafi’-al-`ala (Glory be to the Elevated, the High). The fifth veil was the Veil of Bliss, and therein he remained for eight thousand years, glorifying the Lord and saying, Subhana man huwa qa’imun la yanam. (Glory to Him who is ever existent, who sleeps not).
The sixth veil was the Veil of Munificence; he remained enfolded in it for seven thousand years, praising, Subhana-man huwal-ghaniyu la yafqaru (Glory be to Him who is rich, who never grows indigent). Then followed the seventh veil, the Veil of Rank. Here the enlightened soul remained for six thousand years, praising the Lord and saying: Subhana man huwal Khaliq-an-Nur (Glory to Him who is the Creator, the Light). Next, He veiled him in the eighth veil, the Veil of Guidance where he remained for five thousand years, praising Allah and saying, Subhana man lam yazil wa la yazal. (Glory to Him whose existence does not cease, who does not vanish).
Then followed the ninth veil, which was the Veil of Prophethood where he stayed for four thousand years, glorifying the Lord: “Subhana man taqarrab bil- qudrati wal-baqa.” (Glory to Him who draws nigh to His Omnipotence and Immortality). Then came the Veil of Eminence, the tenth veil where this enlightened soul remained for three thousand years, reciting praises on the Creator of all Causes, saying, “Subhana dhil-’arshi ‘amma yasifun.” (Glory be to the Owner of the Throne, above all else attributed to Him). The eleventh veil was the Veil of Light. There he remained for two thousand years, praying, “Subhana dhil-Mulk wal-Malakut.” (Glory to the Lord over the heavenly and earthly Kingdoms). The twelfth veil was the Veil of Intercession, and there he remained for one thousand years, saying “Subhana-rabbil-’azhim” (Glory to my Lord, the Sublime).
Creation of the Beloved
Thereafter the Lord created a tree which is known as the Tree of Certainty. This tree has four branches. He placed this blessed soul upon one of its branches, and it continued to praise Allah for forty thousand years, saying, Allahu dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram. (Allah, Possessor of Might and of Kindness). After it had thus praised Him with many and varied praises, the Almighty created a mirror, and He placed it so as to face the soul of Habibullah, and commanded his soul to gaze into this mirror. The soul looked into the mirror and saw itself reflected as possessing the most comely and perfect form. He then recited five times, Shukran lillahi ta’ala (thanks be to Allah, Exalted be He), and fell down in prostration before his Lord. He remained in each sajda for one hundred years, saying Subhanal-aliyyul-azhim, wa la yajhalu. (Glory be to the High, the Sublime, who ignores nothing); Subhanal-halim alladhi la yu’ajjalu. (Glory be to the Mild One who hastens not); Subhanal-jawad alladhi la yabkhalu. (Glory be to the Generous who is unstinting). Therefore the Causer of all Being obliged the nation of Muhammad to perform sajda (prostration) five times a day – these five prayers in the course of one day and night were a gift of honor to the nation of Muhammad .
From the Light of Muhammad
Next the Lord created a lamp of green emerald from the Light, and attached it to the tree by a chain of light. Then He placed the soul of Muhammad inside the lamp and commanded it to praise Him with the Most Beautiful Names (Asma al- Husna). This it did, and it began to recite each one of the Names for one thousand years. When it reached the Name ar-Rahman (the Merciful), the gaze of Mercy fell upon it and the soul began to sweat from modesty. Drops of sweat fell from it, as many as there were to be prophets and messengers, each drop of rose-flavored sweat turning into the soul of a prophet.
They all assembled around that lamp in the tree, and the Almighty addressed the soul of the Prophet Muhammad , “See here this multitude of prophets whom I have created from the pearl-like drops of your sweat.” Obeying this command, he gazed upon them, and as the light of the eye enfolds the object, so the souls of all these prophets were suddenly engulfed in the light of Muhammad , and they cried, “Oh Lord, who has wrapped us in light?” The Lord answered them, “This is the Light of My Beloved Muhammad, and if you will believe in him and confirm his prophetic message, I will grant you the honor of prophethood.” Thereupon all the souls of the prophets declared their belief in his prophethood,
and the Lord said, “I bear witness to your acknowledgment,” and they all assented. As it is declared in the Holy Quran:
And when God took compact with the Prophets: That I have given you of Book and Wisdom; then there shall come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you–you shall believe in him and you shall help him; do you agree? He said. And do you take My load on you on that condition They said, ‘We do agree.’ God said, ‘Bear witness so, and I shall be with you among the witnesses.’
(The House of Imran, 3:75-76)
Then this pure, holy soul took up its recital of the Most Beautiful Names again. When it came to the Name al-Qahhar, its head began to sweat once more from the intensity of His Divine Majesty and Awe, and from these beads of sweat the Almighty created the souls of the blessed angels. From the sweat on his face, the Almighty created the Throne and the Divine Court, the Tablets and the Pen, the sun, the moon and the stars. From the sweat of his chest He created the scholars, the martyrs and the righteous believers. From the sweat on his back were made the Bayt-al-Ma’mur (the heavenly house), the Kabatullah (the Kaba), and the Bayt-al-Muqaddas (the Haram of Jerusalem), and the Rauda-i-Mutahhara (the Tomb of the Holy Prophet at Madinah), as well as all other mosques in the world.
From the sweat on his brows were made the souls of all the believers, and from the sweat of his lower back (the coccyx) were made the souls of all the unbelievers, fire worshippers and idolaters.
From the sweat of his feet was made all the ground from east to west, and all that is within it. From every drop of sweat the soul of one believer or unbeliever was created. That is the reason the Holy Prophet is referred to as “Abu Arwah”, Father of Souls. All these souls gathered round the soul of Muhammad , circling round him with praise and glorification for one thousand years; then the Lord commanded these souls to look at the soul of Muhammad . The souls all obeyed.
Who Gazed at the Soul of Muhammad
Now, those among them whose gaze fell upon his head were destined to become kings and heads of state in this world. Those who gazed at his forehead became just chiefs. Those who gazed at his eyes would become hafiz of the Word of Allah (i.e. one who commits it to memory). Those who saw his eyebrows
became painters and artists. Those who saw his ears were to be of those who accept admonition and advice. Those who saw his blessed cheeks became performers of good and reasonable works. Those who saw his face became judges and perfumers, and those who saw his blessed lips became ministers.
Whoever saw his mouth was to be of those who fast much. Whoever looked at his teeth would be of comely appearance, and whoso saw his tongue was to become the ambassador of kings. Whoever saw his blessed throat was to become a preacher and mu’adhdhin (who calls the adhan). Whoever looked at his beard was to become a fighter in the way of Allah. Whoever looked at his upper arms was to become an archer or a diver in the sea, and whoever saw his neck became a merchant and a trader.
Whoso saw his right hand became a leader, and who saw his left hand became a dispenser (who holds the scales and measures out provisions). Whoso looked at the palms of his hands became a generous person; whoso looked at the backs of his hands became a miser. Whoso saw the inside of his right hand became a painter; who saw the fingertips of his right hand was to be a calligrapher, and who saw the tips of his left hand would be an ironworker.
Whoso saw his blessed chest would be of the learned, ascetic and scholarly. Whoso saw his back would be a humble person and obeying the laws of the Shari’a. Whoso saw his blessed sides would be a warrior. Whoever looked at his belly would be of the contented ones, and whoever looked at his right knee would be of those who perform ruk’u and sujud. Whoever looked at his blessed feet became a hunter, and who saw the bottom of his soles became one of those who take to the road. Who saw his shadow were to become singers and saz (lute) players. All those who looked but saw nothing were to become unbelievers, fire worshippers and idolaters. Those who didn’t look at all were to become those who would declare themselves to be gods, such as Nimrod, Pharoah and his ilk.
Now all the souls lined up in four rows. In the first row stood the souls of the prophets and messengers, on whom be peace; in the second row were placed the souls of the holy saints, the Friends of God; in the third row stood the souls of the believing men and women; in the fourth row stood the souls of the unbelievers. All these souls remained in the world of spirits in the presence of Allah Almighty until their time had come to be sent into the material world. No one but Allah Almighty knows how much time elapsed from the time of the creation of the Prophet Muhammad’s blessed soul to his descent from the spiritual world into his physical form.
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet Muhammad asked the angel Jibra'il , “How long is it since you were created?” The angel answered, “Oh Rasulullah, I don’t know the number of years, all I know is that every seventy thousand years a tremendous light shines forth from behind the Canopy of the Divine Throne; since the time of my creation this light has appeared twelve thousand times.” “Do you know what this Light is?” asked Muhammad . “No, I don’t know,” said the angel. “It is the light of my soul in the world of the spirit,” replied the Holy Prophet . Consider then, how immense a number it must be if 70,000 is multiplied by 12,000!
Descriptions of the Prophets of God
(from Anwar-al-‘Ashiqin by Ahmet Bijan)
Know then, oh ye who wish to learn divine secrets that I have set forth herein the stories of the prophets as they have been transmitted to us through the traditions and commentaries, in the Torah, the Zabur, the Injil and the Holy Quran in clear language and most pleasing style. It is confirmed beyond doubt in the sublime verses of the Holy Quran, in convincing signs and with evident miracles that the Holy Prophet, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Seal of the Prophets and the Prince among the Messengers.
Let us now mention the decrees of divine ordinance as revealed to various prophets and explanations pertaining thereto; after which we shall discuss the law brought by the Prince of the Universe and the Essence of all Creation, Muhammad, on whom be peace, inshaAllah.
Adam
Let it be known that in the time of Adam , the first man and the first Prophet, judgment was pronounced according to the following procedure: after a sacrificial offering was made, one had only to wait. If a fire came down from Heaven to consume the sacrifice, the claimant was in the right; if, however, he was wrong, no fire came down to consume his sacrificial offering, and thereby he was judged.
Noah
In the time of the Prophet Nuh , judgment proceeded in this way: when two litigants appeared before a court, they were both placed within a fire. If the fire burned one of them, he was judged to be in the wrong; the one who was not burnt by the fire was judged to be in the right.
David
In Da’ud’s time, justice was achieved by the following means: a chain was hung suspended in court. The litigant who was able to reach up to the chain was thought to be in the right, the one who failed to reach it, was judged to be in the
wrong.
Solomon
In the time of Sulayman legal cases were decided as follows: there was a pit in King Sulayman’s retreat. If two people came before the king, they were led to the pit, and he whose foot sank into the pit was judged as being in the right, while the other was judged as being wrong.
Zachariah
In Prophet Zakaria’s time judgment was pronounced thus: Zakaria had two iron pens. When two people came before him seeking a legal decision, he would write their names upon these pens and place them in a container of water. The pen that floated to the surface bore the name of the litigant, who won his case, while the pen that sank to the bottom bore the loser’s name.
Moses
The Prophet Musa was given the Torah and all judgment proceeded according to its law.
Jesus
The Prophet ‘Isa was given the Injil and justice was done according to its precepts.
Then dawned the time of the most perfect being of all creation, our noble Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who brought us the highest and most complete law (Shari’a) that has ever existed, and who said:
It is for the plaintiff to bring forward evidence (for his case), and for the defendant (who protests his innocence) to place himself under oath.
And praise be to Him who has made us to belong to the nation of the Prophet of the best of all religions. Truly, He, Allah is full of Mercy and Compassion.
Oh ye who are versed in holy knowledge! Oh ye who seek to meet your Lord Almighty! Ye who have attained your goal! Who have set out in quest of divine secrets! In this book you will find all the knowledge of truth and the source of divine knowledge, inasmuch as Allah Almighty – exalted be He – has made it plain to the people of perfection through emanations of both general and
particular nature. However, it is not disclosed herein in which aspect any of the prophets may be superior to any other, be it from consideration of the spiritual essence or some other reason, but Allah knows best the truth of any matter and its hidden implications. This humble dervish, Ahmet Bijan, was thrown thereby into a state of confusion and entrusted himself entirely to the guidance of the Almighty and the pure soul of the Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace. The Almighty then made clear to me some matters mentioned in the compiled works of the commentators.
Adam
Now it should be known that each of the prophets was distinguished by attributes from the attributes of Allah, and that emanations of His holy names were manifested in them and that each became known by an unmistakable spiritual flavor and a distinct revelation. Therefore, Adam was the original model, as it were, both in his physical form and his spiritual composition, and Allah willed it so that Adam became the father of mankind.
As regards Adam’s inner truth and spiritual reality, it is from the light of the name of Allah’s essence, and this is His proper name: Allah. His mind and heart are from the light of two divine attributes: one of them is the Merciful (ar- Rahim), and one is the Compassionate (ar-Rahman), inasmuch as Allah Almighty has spoken:
And for Mercy I have created you, oh Adam!
Therefore Adam was distinguished from both high and low through mercy. Adam’s self was created from the light of Allah’s action. Al-Badi’, the Creator, the Originator, whereby the singularity of Adam’s creation is indicated: he was made unlike and not resembling any other created being: he is the original specimen.
Seth
When Seth was given to Adam as a “gift of God”, he was made to resemble his father in form. As regards Seth’s inner truth and spiritual reality, it is made from the light of the Name of divine essence, and it is the name: Malik, the owner, inasmuch as Seth became the owner of the world after his father Adam
. His mind and heart are from the light of the divine attribute: al-Barr, the Pious, the Good, and for that Seth was extremely good and compassionate towards his
parents. Allah sent Seth to Adam and Hawa to make up for the loss of their beloved son Habil (Abel). Seth’s self was from the light of two divine actions: one was al-Jami’, the Gatherer, the other: al-Mughni, the Enriched, the Independent, for after his father it was Seth in whom was gathered all the perfection of mankind, thus he can be said to be rich and independent of all but Allah Almighty.
Idris
The Prophet Idris was granted ascension to the heavens during his lifetime where he mingled with the angels and the insubstantial spirits. For ten years he remained with them, during which time he never once ate, drank or slept at all, so that his mind became free and cut off from all ties of material existence. In this exclusive devotion he was the predecessor of the Prophet Nuh , and such was his holy station in the divine presence. His inner truth and spiritual reality were of the light of Allah’s essence, and this is al-Quddus, the Hallowed, the All-Holy. His mind and heart are from the light of the divine attribute al-Muta’al, the Elevated, the Supreme, which refers to the high station assigned to him by the Almighty, as it is written in the Holy Quran:
We raised him up to a high place. (Maryam, 57)
His self was from the light of two divine actions: one of them ar-Rafi’, that is He who raises aloft, and al-Basit, that is He who spreads, extends, inasmuch as Idris was raised up to the heavens and found his enjoyment in looking down upon the worlds spread out beneath him.
Noah
As for Nuh : when his people began to ascribe human characteristics to Allah and to worship idols, Nuh was sent as a prophet to call them to the Truth and to purify their beliefs, for essentially Allah’s attributes and actions are free from any attribute of form or similitude. Nuh was sent to heal them by proclaiming the message that Allah was free from any defect. His inner truth and spiritual reality are from the light of the name of Allah’s Essence which is as-Salam, the Giver of Safety, for that he made them safe from idolatry (anthropomorphism) and from drowning (in the flood), as it is written in the Holy Quran:
It was said, ‘Noah, get thee down in peace from Us, and blessings upon thee and on the nations of those with thee. (Hud,
50)
His heart and mind are from the light of the divine attributes as-Shakur, the Grateful, as it is written in the Holy Quran:
The seed of those We bore with Noah; He was a thankful servant.
(The Night Journey, 3)
His self is from the light of two divine actions: al-Muntaqim, the Avenger, and al-Hafiz, the Keeper, Protector; for Nuh avenged himself on the enemies of Allah and sent them down to the lowest pits in Hell.
Hud
When Idris through his veneration, and Nuh through his belief in Allah’s freedom from defect had established a true description of divinity, and Allah’s Oneness had become manifest, the Prophet Hud was sent to his people to invite them to the creed of unity; thus his inner truth and spiritual reality are from the light of the Name of Allah's Essence which is al-Mu’min, the Believer. For the path of righteousness lies solely in Iman (faith) and Islam (submission to the divine will).
His heart and mind are from the Light of the divine attribute al-Qahhar, the Overwhelming, the Crushing; thus Hud crushed the pagans with a wasting wind. His self was from the Name of two divine actions: al-Hadi, the Guide and ad-Darr, He who sends harm, for that Hud sought to guide his people upon Allah's paths, while they chose to persist in their stubbornness and Allah therefore punished them with harm, and they remain forever in the darkness of their unbelief.
Salih
After the divinity had manifested through devotion, through purity and unity, the appearance of a cause was decreed, created from the keys to the unseen world. As for Salih , his inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the divine essence, al-Muhaymin, the Guardian, Protector which also means the Witness, for that Allah Almighty saw it fit to show him His creative power. His heart and mind were of the light of the divine attribute al-Muhsi, which is the Reckoner, for that Salih counted three days for his people as the duration of their destruction.
His self is from the name of two divine actions: one is al-Fattah, the Opener, the other is al-Qabid, the Constrictor. His act of opening occurred when he brought forth the camel from the rock, and his constricting lay in his reproaching his people for their excessive love of this dunya and their complete absorption in its pleasures. In the end they perished and were deprived of all they had ever coveted.
Abraham
As for Ibrahim : after the divine perfection had shown itself through the manifestation of devotion, purity, unity and asceticism, divine love made its appearance in Ibrahim Khalil-ullah , the Friend of God. Nimrod, driven by his commanding self, engaged on a dispute with this prophet, and in order to test whether he was truly a prophet and not a liar or impostor, he had him thrown into the fire. Nimrod’s fire, “Nar-i-Ibrahim”, was turned into a garden of light for the Prophet. His inner truth and spiritual reality are from the light of the divine essence, al-Aziz, the Glorious, for that Allah made him great despite the unbelievers' insults. He attained great honor in the divine presence and was shown the heavenly worlds and spiritual kingdom. His heart and mind are from the light of the divine attribute al-Halim, the Clement, as it is written in the Holy Quran:
Abraham was compassionate, clement. (Repentance, 1 5)
Therefore, it was given to Ibrahim to be forbearing towards all and everyone. His self was from the Name of two divine actions: ar-Razzaq, the Provider, and ar-Rashid, the Righteous. Allah Almighty gave to Ibrahim the means for providing, and through him provision became manifest. Regarding his quality of righteousness, it is written in the Holy Quran:
We gave Abraham aforetime his rectitude, for We knew him when he said to his father and his people... (The Prophets, 53)
Ishmail
As for Ismail: after the divine love had manifested in Ibrahim , Ibrahim gave away his life and soul on the path of love; consequently, by divine decree he fathered two prophets to be his successors. One of them was distinguished by his willingness to surrender his very soul, namely the Prophet Ismail , while the Prophet Ishaq was distinguished by his resistance to his carnal impulses.
As for Ismail , his inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the name of the divine essence al-Jabbar, the Compelling, for that he mortified his flesh for the sake of divine love and for that he constrained his soul to comply with the divine will. Therefore, Allah Almighty sent a large ram to be sacrificed in his stead. His heart and mind were from the light of the divine attribute al- Halim, the Mild, Forbearing, for that he showed great forbearance in the face of the divine decree, as it is written in the Holy Book:
Then We gave him good tidings of a prudent boy.... (The Rangers, 101)
His self was of the names of three divine actions: one of them was al-Mujib, He who replies; another was al-Hasib, He who takes account; and finally there was ar-Raqib, He who is on guard, for Ismail replied to the divine command and acquiesced; he bowed to his father’s orders and controlled his lower self through watchfulness.
Isaac
As for Ishaq : when Ibrahim was flung into the ocean of love, his soul was transformed into the precious substance of which are made all the holy spirits. Therefore it was said that no prophet would come to the spiritual world except he be a descendant of Ishaq , the sole exception being our Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace and blessings) who was descended from Ismail , and Allah Almighty alone knows the secret that lies hidden therein.
This much, however, can be said: Ibrahim’s soul was created from the secret of divine unity, while his carnal soul, his self, was made from the plurality of secrets of the divine decrees. Therefore, Allah’s unity was manifested through Ismail , while Ishaq was made to be the wellhead of plurality, the father of multitudes. His inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the divine essence, al-Mutakabbir, the Proud. His heart and mind were from the light of the divine attribute ar-Ra’uf, the Clement, the Benign. Therefore he was of great mildness towards the believers. His ego was of the name of two divine actions: al-Wakil, the Deputy, the Representative; and al-Ba’ith, the Inspirer, the Awakener. Therefore he was made steward over the treasury of blessed souls (i.e. the prophets).
Jacob
As for Ya’qub : When the souls of the prophets began to appear in the material world, the first to come was Ya’qub , for he was made to be the storehouse for the ordinances of the majority of prophets that were yet to come, and he became the father of twelve sons. Allah Almighty deigned to create one of these as the mirror image of the beauty of divine light. Ya’qub perceived this light and fell in love and remained in bewilderment before this divine beauty. When it was later removed from his sight, he fell into a state of grief at this separation, and was beset by an abiding melancholy. For love is the fruit of affection, and grief is one of its necessary adjuncts, wherefore the people of perfection have ever maintained that love requires beauty and beauty necessitates calamity, while calamity brings grief.
Yaqub’s inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the name of the divine essence al-Kabir, the Great, for that he was a begetter of prophets and thus a great treasure for his people, the sons of Israil. His heart and mind were of the light of the divine attribute al-Wadud, the All-Loving; therefore he fell in love when the divine beauty manifested in the person of his son Yusuf. His self was of the names of two divine actions: al-Khaliq, the Creator, and al-Bari, the Maker; therefore he begat a large number of sons.
Joseph
As fo
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d commanded the Pen to write. “What shall I write, oh Lord?” asked the Pen. The Lord of the Worlds then said, “Write that which will be until the Day of Judgment!” Said the Pen, “Oh Lord, with what shall I begin?” Said the Lord, “With these words you shall commence: Bismillah al- Rahman al-Rahim.” In perfect respect and deference, the Pen then set out to write these words upon the Tablets, and it completed writing them in seven hundred years.
When the Pen had written these words, the Almighty spoke and said, “It has taken you seven hundred years to write three of My Names; the Name of My Majesty, My Mercy and My Compassion. These blessed words I have made as a present to the nation of My Beloved Muhammad . By My Majesty I pledge that whenever any servant from this nation pronounces the words of the Bismillah with a pure intention, I will write seven hundred years of countless reward for this servant, and seven hundred years of sins I will erase.”
Now, the fourth part of this Light I have again divided into four parts: from one part I have created the Throne-bearing Angels (hamalat al-`Arsh); from the second I have created the Kursi, the Divine court (the upper Heaven supporting the Divine Throne, the `Arsh); from the third I created all the other heavenly angels; and the fourth part I have partitioned once more into four: from its first part I made the skies, from its second I made the earths, from its third I made the Jinn and the fire. Its fourth part I have again divided into four parts: from one part I made the light upon the faces of the believers; from the second part I made the light within their hearts, imbuing them with knowledge of the divine; from the third the light upon their tongues which is the light of Tawhid (the Unity of Allah), and from the fourth part I made the different lights of the soul of Muhammad .
This lovely soul came into being 360 thousand years before the creation of the world, and it was shaped most beautifully and made of incomparable matter. Its head was made from guidance, its neck from humility, its eyes from modesty, its forehead from closeness (to Allah), its mouth from patience, its tongue from truthfulness, its cheeks from love and admonition, its belly from abstemiousness and other worldliness, its feet and knees from following the straight path, and its noble heart was filled with mercy. This much-honored soul was taught with mercy and equipped with all manner of wondrous powers. It was given its message and its prophetic qualities were installed. Then the Crown of Divine Proximity was placed upon its blessed head, eminent and exalted above all else, embellished with Divine Pleasure and given the pure, holy name of Habibullah
(Beloved of Allah).
The Twelve Veils
After this the Lord Almighty, blessed be He, created twelve Veils. The first of these was the Veil of Power within which the Prophet’s soul remained for twelve thousand years, reciting Subhana rabbil-’ala (Glory be to my Lord, the Lofty). The second was the Veil of Grandeur in which he was veiled for eleven thousand years, saying, Subhanal ’Alim al-Hakim (Glory be to my Lord, the All-Knowing, the Wise). Ten thousand years he remained shrouded in the Veil of Kindness, saying Subhana man huwa da’im, la yaqta (Glory to Him who is perpetual, who never ends). The fourth veil was the Veil of Mercy, therein the noble soul remained for nine thousand years, praising Allah, saying: Subhana-rafi’-al-`ala (Glory be to the Elevated, the High). The fifth veil was the Veil of Bliss, and therein he remained for eight thousand years, glorifying the Lord and saying, Subhana man huwa qa’imun la yanam. (Glory to Him who is ever existent, who sleeps not).
The sixth veil was the Veil of Munificence; he remained enfolded in it for seven thousand years, praising, Subhana-man huwal-ghaniyu la yafqaru (Glory be to Him who is rich, who never grows indigent). Then followed the seventh veil, the Veil of Rank. Here the enlightened soul remained for six thousand years, praising the Lord and saying: Subhana man huwal Khaliq-an-Nur (Glory to Him who is the Creator, the Light). Next, He veiled him in the eighth veil, the Veil of Guidance where he remained for five thousand years, praising Allah and saying, Subhana man lam yazil wa la yazal. (Glory to Him whose existence does not cease, who does not vanish).
Then followed the ninth veil, which was the Veil of Prophethood where he stayed for four thousand years, glorifying the Lord: “Subhana man taqarrab bil- qudrati wal-baqa.” (Glory to Him who draws nigh to His Omnipotence and Immortality). Then came the Veil of Eminence, the tenth veil where this enlightened soul remained for three thousand years, reciting praises on the Creator of all Causes, saying, “Subhana dhil-’arshi ‘amma yasifun.” (Glory be to the Owner of the Throne, above all else attributed to Him). The eleventh veil was the Veil of Light. There he remained for two thousand years, praying, “Subhana dhil-Mulk wal-Malakut.” (Glory to the Lord over the heavenly and earthly Kingdoms). The twelfth veil was the Veil of Intercession, and there he remained for one thousand years, saying “Subhana-rabbil-’azhim” (Glory to my Lord, the Sublime).
Creation of the Beloved
Thereafter the Lord created a tree which is known as the Tree of Certainty. This tree has four branches. He placed this blessed soul upon one of its branches, and it continued to praise Allah for forty thousand years, saying, Allahu dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram. (Allah, Possessor of Might and of Kindness). After it had thus praised Him with many and varied praises, the Almighty created a mirror, and He placed it so as to face the soul of Habibullah, and commanded his soul to gaze into this mirror. The soul looked into the mirror and saw itself reflected as possessing the most comely and perfect form. He then recited five times, Shukran lillahi ta’ala (thanks be to Allah, Exalted be He), and fell down in prostration before his Lord. He remained in each sajda for one hundred years, saying Subhanal-aliyyul-azhim, wa la yajhalu. (Glory be to the High, the Sublime, who ignores nothing); Subhanal-halim alladhi la yu’ajjalu. (Glory be to the Mild One who hastens not); Subhanal-jawad alladhi la yabkhalu. (Glory be to the Generous who is unstinting). Therefore the Causer of all Being obliged the nation of Muhammad to perform sajda (prostration) five times a day – these five prayers in the course of one day and night were a gift of honor to the nation of Muhammad .
From the Light of Muhammad
Next the Lord created a lamp of green emerald from the Light, and attached it to the tree by a chain of light. Then He placed the soul of Muhammad inside the lamp and commanded it to praise Him with the Most Beautiful Names (Asma al- Husna). This it did, and it began to recite each one of the Names for one thousand years. When it reached the Name ar-Rahman (the Merciful), the gaze of Mercy fell upon it and the soul began to sweat from modesty. Drops of sweat fell from it, as many as there were to be prophets and messengers, each drop of rose-flavored sweat turning into the soul of a prophet.
They all assembled around that lamp in the tree, and the Almighty addressed the soul of the Prophet Muhammad , “See here this multitude of prophets whom I have created from the pearl-like drops of your sweat.” Obeying this command, he gazed upon them, and as the light of the eye enfolds the object, so the souls of all these prophets were suddenly engulfed in the light of Muhammad , and they cried, “Oh Lord, who has wrapped us in light?” The Lord answered them, “This is the Light of My Beloved Muhammad, and if you will believe in him and confirm his prophetic message, I will grant you the honor of prophethood.” Thereupon all the souls of the prophets declared their belief in his prophethood,
and the Lord said, “I bear witness to your acknowledgment,” and they all assented. As it is declared in the Holy Quran:
And when God took compact with the Prophets: That I have given you of Book and Wisdom; then there shall come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you–you shall believe in him and you shall help him; do you agree? He said. And do you take My load on you on that condition They said, ‘We do agree.’ God said, ‘Bear witness so, and I shall be with you among the witnesses.’
(The House of Imran, 3:75-76)
Then this pure, holy soul took up its recital of the Most Beautiful Names again. When it came to the Name al-Qahhar, its head began to sweat once more from the intensity of His Divine Majesty and Awe, and from these beads of sweat the Almighty created the souls of the blessed angels. From the sweat on his face, the Almighty created the Throne and the Divine Court, the Tablets and the Pen, the sun, the moon and the stars. From the sweat of his chest He created the scholars, the martyrs and the righteous believers. From the sweat on his back were made the Bayt-al-Ma’mur (the heavenly house), the Kabatullah (the Kaba), and the Bayt-al-Muqaddas (the Haram of Jerusalem), and the Rauda-i-Mutahhara (the Tomb of the Holy Prophet at Madinah), as well as all other mosques in the world.
From the sweat on his brows were made the souls of all the believers, and from the sweat of his lower back (the coccyx) were made the souls of all the unbelievers, fire worshippers and idolaters.
From the sweat of his feet was made all the ground from east to west, and all that is within it. From every drop of sweat the soul of one believer or unbeliever was created. That is the reason the Holy Prophet is referred to as “Abu Arwah”, Father of Souls. All these souls gathered round the soul of Muhammad , circling round him with praise and glorification for one thousand years; then the Lord commanded these souls to look at the soul of Muhammad . The souls all obeyed.
Who Gazed at the Soul of Muhammad
Now, those among them whose gaze fell upon his head were destined to become kings and heads of state in this world. Those who gazed at his forehead became just chiefs. Those who gazed at his eyes would become hafiz of the Word of Allah (i.e. one who commits it to memory). Those who saw his eyebrows
became painters and artists. Those who saw his ears were to be of those who accept admonition and advice. Those who saw his blessed cheeks became performers of good and reasonable works. Those who saw his face became judges and perfumers, and those who saw his blessed lips became ministers.
Whoever saw his mouth was to be of those who fast much. Whoever looked at his teeth would be of comely appearance, and whoso saw his tongue was to become the ambassador of kings. Whoever saw his blessed throat was to become a preacher and mu’adhdhin (who calls the adhan). Whoever looked at his beard was to become a fighter in the way of Allah. Whoever looked at his upper arms was to become an archer or a diver in the sea, and whoever saw his neck became a merchant and a trader.
Whoso saw his right hand became a leader, and who saw his left hand became a dispenser (who holds the scales and measures out provisions). Whoso looked at the palms of his hands became a generous person; whoso looked at the backs of his hands became a miser. Whoso saw the inside of his right hand became a painter; who saw the fingertips of his right hand was to be a calligrapher, and who saw the tips of his left hand would be an ironworker.
Whoso saw his blessed chest would be of the learned, ascetic and scholarly. Whoso saw his back would be a humble person and obeying the laws of the Shari’a. Whoso saw his blessed sides would be a warrior. Whoever looked at his belly would be of the contented ones, and whoever looked at his right knee would be of those who perform ruk’u and sujud. Whoever looked at his blessed feet became a hunter, and who saw the bottom of his soles became one of those who take to the road. Who saw his shadow were to become singers and saz (lute) players. All those who looked but saw nothing were to become unbelievers, fire worshippers and idolaters. Those who didn’t look at all were to become those who would declare themselves to be gods, such as Nimrod, Pharoah and his ilk.
Now all the souls lined up in four rows. In the first row stood the souls of the prophets and messengers, on whom be peace; in the second row were placed the souls of the holy saints, the Friends of God; in the third row stood the souls of the believing men and women; in the fourth row stood the souls of the unbelievers. All these souls remained in the world of spirits in the presence of Allah Almighty until their time had come to be sent into the material world. No one but Allah Almighty knows how much time elapsed from the time of the creation of the Prophet Muhammad’s blessed soul to his descent from the spiritual world into his physical form.
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet Muhammad asked the angel Jibra'il , “How long is it since you were created?” The angel answered, “Oh Rasulullah, I don’t know the number of years, all I know is that every seventy thousand years a tremendous light shines forth from behind the Canopy of the Divine Throne; since the time of my creation this light has appeared twelve thousand times.” “Do you know what this Light is?” asked Muhammad . “No, I don’t know,” said the angel. “It is the light of my soul in the world of the spirit,” replied the Holy Prophet . Consider then, how immense a number it must be if 70,000 is multiplied by 12,000!
Descriptions of the Prophets of God
(from Anwar-al-‘Ashiqin by Ahmet Bijan)
Know then, oh ye who wish to learn divine secrets that I have set forth herein the stories of the prophets as they have been transmitted to us through the traditions and commentaries, in the Torah, the Zabur, the Injil and the Holy Quran in clear language and most pleasing style. It is confirmed beyond doubt in the sublime verses of the Holy Quran, in convincing signs and with evident miracles that the Holy Prophet, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Seal of the Prophets and the Prince among the Messengers.
Let us now mention the decrees of divine ordinance as revealed to various prophets and explanations pertaining thereto; after which we shall discuss the law brought by the Prince of the Universe and the Essence of all Creation, Muhammad, on whom be peace, inshaAllah.
Adam
Let it be known that in the time of Adam , the first man and the first Prophet, judgment was pronounced according to the following procedure: after a sacrificial offering was made, one had only to wait. If a fire came down from Heaven to consume the sacrifice, the claimant was in the right; if, however, he was wrong, no fire came down to consume his sacrificial offering, and thereby he was judged.
Noah
In the time of the Prophet Nuh , judgment proceeded in this way: when two litigants appeared before a court, they were both placed within a fire. If the fire burned one of them, he was judged to be in the wrong; the one who was not burnt by the fire was judged to be in the right.
David
In Da’ud’s time, justice was achieved by the following means: a chain was hung suspended in court. The litigant who was able to reach up to the chain was thought to be in the right, the one who failed to reach it, was judged to be in the
wrong.
Solomon
In the time of Sulayman legal cases were decided as follows: there was a pit in King Sulayman’s retreat. If two people came before the king, they were led to the pit, and he whose foot sank into the pit was judged as being in the right, while the other was judged as being wrong.
Zachariah
In Prophet Zakaria’s time judgment was pronounced thus: Zakaria had two iron pens. When two people came before him seeking a legal decision, he would write their names upon these pens and place them in a container of water. The pen that floated to the surface bore the name of the litigant, who won his case, while the pen that sank to the bottom bore the loser’s name.
Moses
The Prophet Musa was given the Torah and all judgment proceeded according to its law.
Jesus
The Prophet ‘Isa was given the Injil and justice was done according to its precepts.
Then dawned the time of the most perfect being of all creation, our noble Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who brought us the highest and most complete law (Shari’a) that has ever existed, and who said:
It is for the plaintiff to bring forward evidence (for his case), and for the defendant (who protests his innocence) to place himself under oath.
And praise be to Him who has made us to belong to the nation of the Prophet of the best of all religions. Truly, He, Allah is full of Mercy and Compassion.
Oh ye who are versed in holy knowledge! Oh ye who seek to meet your Lord Almighty! Ye who have attained your goal! Who have set out in quest of divine secrets! In this book you will find all the knowledge of truth and the source of divine knowledge, inasmuch as Allah Almighty – exalted be He – has made it plain to the people of perfection through emanations of both general and
particular nature. However, it is not disclosed herein in which aspect any of the prophets may be superior to any other, be it from consideration of the spiritual essence or some other reason, but Allah knows best the truth of any matter and its hidden implications. This humble dervish, Ahmet Bijan, was thrown thereby into a state of confusion and entrusted himself entirely to the guidance of the Almighty and the pure soul of the Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace. The Almighty then made clear to me some matters mentioned in the compiled works of the commentators.
Adam
Now it should be known that each of the prophets was distinguished by attributes from the attributes of Allah, and that emanations of His holy names were manifested in them and that each became known by an unmistakable spiritual flavor and a distinct revelation. Therefore, Adam was the original model, as it were, both in his physical form and his spiritual composition, and Allah willed it so that Adam became the father of mankind.
As regards Adam’s inner truth and spiritual reality, it is from the light of the name of Allah’s essence, and this is His proper name: Allah. His mind and heart are from the light of two divine attributes: one of them is the Merciful (ar- Rahim), and one is the Compassionate (ar-Rahman), inasmuch as Allah Almighty has spoken:
And for Mercy I have created you, oh Adam!
Therefore Adam was distinguished from both high and low through mercy. Adam’s self was created from the light of Allah’s action. Al-Badi’, the Creator, the Originator, whereby the singularity of Adam’s creation is indicated: he was made unlike and not resembling any other created being: he is the original specimen.
Seth
When Seth was given to Adam as a “gift of God”, he was made to resemble his father in form. As regards Seth’s inner truth and spiritual reality, it is made from the light of the Name of divine essence, and it is the name: Malik, the owner, inasmuch as Seth became the owner of the world after his father Adam
. His mind and heart are from the light of the divine attribute: al-Barr, the Pious, the Good, and for that Seth was extremely good and compassionate towards his
parents. Allah sent Seth to Adam and Hawa to make up for the loss of their beloved son Habil (Abel). Seth’s self was from the light of two divine actions: one was al-Jami’, the Gatherer, the other: al-Mughni, the Enriched, the Independent, for after his father it was Seth in whom was gathered all the perfection of mankind, thus he can be said to be rich and independent of all but Allah Almighty.
Idris
The Prophet Idris was granted ascension to the heavens during his lifetime where he mingled with the angels and the insubstantial spirits. For ten years he remained with them, during which time he never once ate, drank or slept at all, so that his mind became free and cut off from all ties of material existence. In this exclusive devotion he was the predecessor of the Prophet Nuh , and such was his holy station in the divine presence. His inner truth and spiritual reality were of the light of Allah’s essence, and this is al-Quddus, the Hallowed, the All-Holy. His mind and heart are from the light of the divine attribute al-Muta’al, the Elevated, the Supreme, which refers to the high station assigned to him by the Almighty, as it is written in the Holy Quran:
We raised him up to a high place. (Maryam, 57)
His self was from the light of two divine actions: one of them ar-Rafi’, that is He who raises aloft, and al-Basit, that is He who spreads, extends, inasmuch as Idris was raised up to the heavens and found his enjoyment in looking down upon the worlds spread out beneath him.
Noah
As for Nuh : when his people began to ascribe human characteristics to Allah and to worship idols, Nuh was sent as a prophet to call them to the Truth and to purify their beliefs, for essentially Allah’s attributes and actions are free from any attribute of form or similitude. Nuh was sent to heal them by proclaiming the message that Allah was free from any defect. His inner truth and spiritual reality are from the light of the name of Allah’s Essence which is as-Salam, the Giver of Safety, for that he made them safe from idolatry (anthropomorphism) and from drowning (in the flood), as it is written in the Holy Quran:
It was said, ‘Noah, get thee down in peace from Us, and blessings upon thee and on the nations of those with thee. (Hud,
50)
His heart and mind are from the light of the divine attributes as-Shakur, the Grateful, as it is written in the Holy Quran:
The seed of those We bore with Noah; He was a thankful servant.
(The Night Journey, 3)
His self is from the light of two divine actions: al-Muntaqim, the Avenger, and al-Hafiz, the Keeper, Protector; for Nuh avenged himself on the enemies of Allah and sent them down to the lowest pits in Hell.
Hud
When Idris through his veneration, and Nuh through his belief in Allah’s freedom from defect had established a true description of divinity, and Allah’s Oneness had become manifest, the Prophet Hud was sent to his people to invite them to the creed of unity; thus his inner truth and spiritual reality are from the light of the Name of Allah's Essence which is al-Mu’min, the Believer. For the path of righteousness lies solely in Iman (faith) and Islam (submission to the divine will).
His heart and mind are from the Light of the divine attribute al-Qahhar, the Overwhelming, the Crushing; thus Hud crushed the pagans with a wasting wind. His self was from the Name of two divine actions: al-Hadi, the Guide and ad-Darr, He who sends harm, for that Hud sought to guide his people upon Allah's paths, while they chose to persist in their stubbornness and Allah therefore punished them with harm, and they remain forever in the darkness of their unbelief.
Salih
After the divinity had manifested through devotion, through purity and unity, the appearance of a cause was decreed, created from the keys to the unseen world. As for Salih , his inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the divine essence, al-Muhaymin, the Guardian, Protector which also means the Witness, for that Allah Almighty saw it fit to show him His creative power. His heart and mind were of the light of the divine attribute al-Muhsi, which is the Reckoner, for that Salih counted three days for his people as the duration of their destruction.
His self is from the name of two divine actions: one is al-Fattah, the Opener, the other is al-Qabid, the Constrictor. His act of opening occurred when he brought forth the camel from the rock, and his constricting lay in his reproaching his people for their excessive love of this dunya and their complete absorption in its pleasures. In the end they perished and were deprived of all they had ever coveted.
Abraham
As for Ibrahim : after the divine perfection had shown itself through the manifestation of devotion, purity, unity and asceticism, divine love made its appearance in Ibrahim Khalil-ullah , the Friend of God. Nimrod, driven by his commanding self, engaged on a dispute with this prophet, and in order to test whether he was truly a prophet and not a liar or impostor, he had him thrown into the fire. Nimrod’s fire, “Nar-i-Ibrahim”, was turned into a garden of light for the Prophet. His inner truth and spiritual reality are from the light of the divine essence, al-Aziz, the Glorious, for that Allah made him great despite the unbelievers' insults. He attained great honor in the divine presence and was shown the heavenly worlds and spiritual kingdom. His heart and mind are from the light of the divine attribute al-Halim, the Clement, as it is written in the Holy Quran:
Abraham was compassionate, clement. (Repentance, 1 5)
Therefore, it was given to Ibrahim to be forbearing towards all and everyone. His self was from the Name of two divine actions: ar-Razzaq, the Provider, and ar-Rashid, the Righteous. Allah Almighty gave to Ibrahim the means for providing, and through him provision became manifest. Regarding his quality of righteousness, it is written in the Holy Quran:
We gave Abraham aforetime his rectitude, for We knew him when he said to his father and his people... (The Prophets, 53)
Ishmail
As for Ismail: after the divine love had manifested in Ibrahim , Ibrahim gave away his life and soul on the path of love; consequently, by divine decree he fathered two prophets to be his successors. One of them was distinguished by his willingness to surrender his very soul, namely the Prophet Ismail , while the Prophet Ishaq was distinguished by his resistance to his carnal impulses.
As for Ismail , his inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the name of the divine essence al-Jabbar, the Compelling, for that he mortified his flesh for the sake of divine love and for that he constrained his soul to comply with the divine will. Therefore, Allah Almighty sent a large ram to be sacrificed in his stead. His heart and mind were from the light of the divine attribute al- Halim, the Mild, Forbearing, for that he showed great forbearance in the face of the divine decree, as it is written in the Holy Book:
Then We gave him good tidings of a prudent boy.... (The Rangers, 101)
His self was of the names of three divine actions: one of them was al-Mujib, He who replies; another was al-Hasib, He who takes account; and finally there was ar-Raqib, He who is on guard, for Ismail replied to the divine command and acquiesced; he bowed to his father’s orders and controlled his lower self through watchfulness.
Isaac
As for Ishaq : when Ibrahim was flung into the ocean of love, his soul was transformed into the precious substance of which are made all the holy spirits. Therefore it was said that no prophet would come to the spiritual world except he be a descendant of Ishaq , the sole exception being our Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace and blessings) who was descended from Ismail , and Allah Almighty alone knows the secret that lies hidden therein.
This much, however, can be said: Ibrahim’s soul was created from the secret of divine unity, while his carnal soul, his self, was made from the plurality of secrets of the divine decrees. Therefore, Allah’s unity was manifested through Ismail , while Ishaq was made to be the wellhead of plurality, the father of multitudes. His inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the divine essence, al-Mutakabbir, the Proud. His heart and mind were from the light of the divine attribute ar-Ra’uf, the Clement, the Benign. Therefore he was of great mildness towards the believers. His ego was of the name of two divine actions: al-Wakil, the Deputy, the Representative; and al-Ba’ith, the Inspirer, the Awakener. Therefore he was made steward over the treasury of blessed souls (i.e. the prophets).
Jacob
As for Ya’qub : When the souls of the prophets began to appear in the material world, the first to come was Ya’qub , for he was made to be the storehouse for the ordinances of the majority of prophets that were yet to come, and he became the father of twelve sons. Allah Almighty deigned to create one of these as the mirror image of the beauty of divine light. Ya’qub perceived this light and fell in love and remained in bewilderment before this divine beauty. When it was later removed from his sight, he fell into a state of grief at this separation, and was beset by an abiding melancholy. For love is the fruit of affection, and grief is one of its necessary adjuncts, wherefore the people of perfection have ever maintained that love requires beauty and beauty necessitates calamity, while calamity brings grief.
Yaqub’s inner truth and spiritual reality were from the light of the name of the divine essence al-Kabir, the Great, for that he was a begetter of prophets and thus a great treasure for his people, the sons of Israil. His heart and mind were of the light of the divine attribute al-Wadud, the All-Loving; therefore he fell in love when the divine beauty manifested in the person of his son Yusuf. His self was of the names of two divine actions: al-Khaliq, the Creator, and al-Bari, the Maker; therefore he begat a large number of sons.
Joseph
As fo
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