This perfect sage was a Spanish sufi mystic in the early middle ages, at a time so unlike our own, when those of deep insight and love were persecuted and killed by religious zealots. Dates: 1164-1221 Spain

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“And for this the Prophet (upon whom be peace) said: “Whoso knoweth himself knoweth his Lord.” And he said (upon him be peace):

 

“I know my Lord by my Lord.”

The Prophet (upon whom be peace) points out by that, that thou art not thou: thou art He, without thou.

Not He entering into thee, nor thou entering into Him, nor He proceeding forth from thee, nor thou proceeding forth from Him.

And it is not meant by that, that thou art aught that exists or thine attributes aught that exists, but it is meant by it that thou never wast nor wilt be, whether by thyself or through Him or in Him or along with Him.

Thou art neither ceasing to be nor still existing.

Thou art He, without one of these limitations. Then if thou know thine existence thus, then thou knowest God; and if not, then not.”

– from a translation of an Arabic manuscript in the Hunterian Collection, Glasgow University. Translation by T.H. Wier.