33 It behoveth him who is a wayfarer in the path of God and a wanderer in His way to detach himself from all who are in the heavens and on the earth.  He must renounce all save God, that perchance the portals of mercy may be unlocked before his face and the breezes of providence may waft over him.  And when he hath inscribed upon his soul that which We have vouchsafed unto him of the quintessence of inner meaning and explanation, he will fathom all the secrets of these allusions, and God shall bestow upon his heart a divine tranquillity and cause him to be of them that are at peace with themselves.  In like manner wilt thou comprehend the meaning of all the ambiguous verses that have been sent down concerning the question thou didst ask of this Servant Who abideth upon the seat of abasement, Who walketh upon the earth as an exile with none to befriend, comfort, aid, or assist Him, Who hath placed His whole trust in God, and Who proclaimeth at all times:  “Verily we are God’s, and to Him shall we return.” (24)

34 Know thou that the passages that We have called “ambiguous” appear as such only in the eyes of them that have failed to soar above the horizon of guidance and to reach the heights of knowledge in the retreats of grace.  For otherwise, unto them that have recognized the Repositories of divine Revelation and beheld through His inspiration the mysteries of divine authority, all the verses of God are perspicuous and all His allusions are clear.  Such men discern the inner mysteries that have been clothed in the garment of words as clearly as ye perceive the heat of the sun or the wetness of water, nay even more distinctly.  Immeasurably exalted is God above our praise of His loved ones, and beyond their praise of Him!

35 Now that We have reached this most excellent theme and attained such lofty heights by virtue of that which hath flowed from this Pen through the incomparable favours of God, the Exalted, the Most High, it is Our wish to disclose unto thee certain stations in the wayfarer’s journey towards his Creator.  Perchance all that thine eminence hath desired may be revealed unto thee, that the proof may be made complete and the blessing abundant.

36 Know thou of a truth that the seeker must, at the beginning of his quest for God, enter the Garden of Search.  In this journey it behoveth the wayfarer to detach himself from all save God and to close his eyes to all that is in the heavens and on the earth.  There must not linger in his heart either the hate or the love of any soul, to the extent that they would hinder him from attaining the habitation of the celestial Beauty.  He must sanctify his soul from the veils of glory and refrain from boasting of such worldly vanities, outward knowledge, or other gifts as God may have bestowed upon him.  He must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favour and the ways of His mercy.  For He, verily, is the best of helpers unto His servants.  He saith, and He verily speaketh the truth:  “Whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways shall We assuredly guide him.” (25) And furthermore:  “Fear God and God will give you knowledge.” (26)