Then comes (the hoopoe continued) the valley where there is neither pretension to possess nor spiritual meaning to discover. From this disposition of the soul toward independence there rises a cold wind, whose violence lays waste, in an instant, an immense expanse. The seven oceans are then no more than a mere pool of water; the seven planets, a spark; the seven heavens, a corpse; the seven hells, shattered ice. Then, for no reason that can be discerned, the ant, strange to say, has the strength of a hundred elephants; then a hundred caravans perish in the time it takes the crow to fill its crop. That Adam might be illumined by celestial light, thousands of angels in green garments were consumed with pain. That Noah might be God’s carpenter for the Ark, thousands of creatures were deprived of life. Thousands of gnats fell upon the army of Abrahah so that this king might be vanquished; thousands of children had their heads cut off so that Moses might see God; thousands of people donned the Christians’ girdle so that Christ might be the mahram of God’s secrets. Thousands of souls and hearts were plundered so that Muhammad might ascend to heaven one night. Neither what is new nor what is old has any value; Thou mayst act or not act.
If thou sawest an entire world burned through to its heart by fire, it would still be but a dream beside reality. Thousands of souls continually falling beside that boundless ocean are no more than a faint and imperceptible dew. Thus millions of beings might give themselves over to sleep, without thereby provoking the sun to cover them with its shadow. Though earth and heaven were divided into minute particles, thou couldst not even grasp the leaf of a tree; and yet, if all things fell into nothingness, from the fish to the moon, one would still find at the bottom of a well the foot of a lame ant. Even were the two worlds suddenly annihilated, one must not deny the existence of a single grain of sand upon the earth. If no trace remained of men or genies, pay heed
to the mystery of the raindrop (from which all things were formed). If all bodies vanished from the earth, if not even a single hair of living beings remained, what would he have to fear? In short, if part and whole were utterly annihilated, would not a straw remain upon the face of the earth? Even if, all at once, the nine domes of the universe were destroyed, would not a drop remain from the seven oceans?
to the mystery of the raindrop (from which all things were formed). If all bodies vanished from the earth, if not even a single hair of living beings remained, what would he have to fear? In short, if part and whole were utterly annihilated, would not a straw remain upon the face of the earth? Even if, all at once, the nine domes of the universe were destroyed, would not a drop remain from the seven oceans?