Quote from Perfume of the Desert
Perfume of the Desert: Inspirations from Sufi Wisdom by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut
God deposited within human beings knowledge of all things, and then blocked them from perceiving it; this is one of the divine mysteries that reason denies totally and thinks impossible.
The nearness of the mystery to those who do not know it is like God's nearness to His servant, as proclaimed in His words, "We are nearer to Him than you, but you do not see" (Koran 56:83) and His words, "We are nearer to Him than His jugular vein." (Koran 50:16). Despite this nearness, the servant does not perceive or know anything; no one can know what is within himself until it is revealed to him moment by moment.
-- Ibn Arabi
One-day Rabia was seen running, with fire in one hand and water in the other: They asked her why she was doing this and where she was going. She replied "I am running to light a fire in Heaven and to pour water on the flames of Hell, so that both veils to the Face disappear forever."
-- Rabia
God deposited within human beings knowledge of all things, and then blocked them from perceiving it; this is one of the divine mysteries that reason denies totally and thinks impossible.
The nearness of the mystery to those who do not know it is like God's nearness to His servant, as proclaimed in His words, "We are nearer to Him than you, but you do not see" (Koran 56:83) and His words, "We are nearer to Him than His jugular vein." (Koran 50:16). Despite this nearness, the servant does not perceive or know anything; no one can know what is within himself until it is revealed to him moment by moment.
-- Ibn Arabi
One-day Rabia was seen running, with fire in one hand and water in the other: They asked her why she was doing this and where she was going. She replied "I am running to light a fire in Heaven and to pour water on the flames of Hell, so that both veils to the Face disappear forever."
-- Rabia