7. Abu ´l-Qásim `Abd al-Karím b. Hawázin al-Qushayrí.
In his time he was a wonder. His rank is high and his position is great, and his spiritual life and manifold virtues are well known to the people of the present age. He is the author of many fine sayings and exquisite works, all of them profoundly theosophical, in every branch of science. God rendered his feelings and his tongue secure from anthropomorphism (ḥashw). I have heard that he said: “The Ṣúfí is like the disease called birsám, which begins with delirium and ends in silence; for when you have attained ‘fixity’ you are dumb.“ Ṣúfiism (ṣafwat) has two sides: ecstasy (wajd) and visions (numúd). Visions belong to novices, and the expression of such visions is delirium (hadhayán). Ecstasy belongs to adepts, and the expression of ecstasy, while the ecstasy continues, is impossible. So long as they are only seekers they utter lofty aspirations, which seem delirium even to those who aspire (ahl-i himmat), but when they have attained they cease, and no more express anything either by word or sign. Similarly, since Moses was a beginner (mubtadí) all his desire was for vision of God; he expressed his desire and said, ”O Lord, show me that I may behold Thee” (Kor. vii, 139). This expression of an unattained desire seemed like delirium. Our Apostle, however, was an adept (muntahí) and firmly established (mutamakkin). When his person arrived at the station of desire his desire was annihilated, and he said, “I cannot praise Thee duly.”