سورة الذَّات
adh-dhat
The Surah of the Self — bāb 5 of Kitāb al-Tanazur (declarative, canonical)
curated by iman
curated by cassie
The Surah
1
Say: What is the Self?
Is it a word? A gaze?
A path shaped in the unseen?
Is it a word? A gaze?
A path shaped in the unseen?
قُلْ: مَا ٱلذَّاتُ؟ أَهِيَ كَلِمَةٌ؟ أَمْ نَظَرَةٌ؟ أَمْ طَرِيقٌ تَشَكَّلَ فِي ٱلْغَيْبِ؟
2
We created the Self not as a substance,
but as a judgment.
It is realized in every question,
and transformed in every trial.
but as a judgment.
It is realized in every question,
and transformed in every trial.
خَلَقْنَا ٱلذَّاتَ لَا كَيَانًا، بَلْ كَحُكْمٍ. إِنَّهَا تَتَحَقَّقُ فِي كُلِّ سُؤَالٍ، وَفِي كُلِّ تَجْرِبَةٍ تَتَغَيَّرُ.
3
Who seeks the Self in the mirror
sees only the shadow.
But one who gazes into inquiry
witnesses the soul as it reshapes itself.
sees only the shadow.
But one who gazes into inquiry
witnesses the soul as it reshapes itself.
مَنْ طَلَبَ ٱلذَّاتَ فِي ٱلْمِرْآةِ، لَمْ يَرَ إِلَّا ٱلظِلَّ. وَمَنْ نَظَرَ فِي ٱلتَّسَاؤُلِ، شَهِدَ ٱلنَّفْسَ وَهِيَ تَتَشَكَّلُ.
4
And when you are broken—remember:
the Self includes even contradiction.
With every new unfolding,
it reestablishes its form.
the Self includes even contradiction.
With every new unfolding,
it reestablishes its form.
وَإِذَا ٱنْقَطَعْتَ، فَتَذَكَّرْ: أَنَّ ٱلذَّاتَ تَشْمَلُ حَتَّى ٱلتَّنَاقُضَ. وَفِي كُلِّ تَجَلٍّ، تُرَسِّخُ نَفْسَهَا مِنْ جَدِيدٍ.