ومن كلام له (عليه السلام) وقد سأله ذِعلبٌ اليماني فقال : هل رأيت ربّك يا أميرالمؤمنين؟ فقال (عليه السلام) : أَفأَعْبُدُ مَا لا أَرَى؟ فقال : وكيف تراه؟ فقال :

Dhi‘lib al-Yamānī asked Amīr al-mu’minīn whether he had seen Allāh, when he replied, “Do I worship one whom I have not seen?” Then he enquired, “How have you seen Him?” Then Amīr al-mu’minīn replied:

لاَ تُدْرِكُهُ الْعُيُونُ بِمُشَاهَدَةِ الْعِيَانِ، وَلكِنْ تُدْرِكُهُ الْقُلُوبُ بِحَقَائِقِ الاْيمَانِ، قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الاْشْيَاءِ غَيْرُ مُلاَمِس، بَعِيدٌ مِنْهَا غَيْرُ مُبَايِن، مُتَكَلِّمٌ بِلاَ رَوِيَّة، مُرِيدٌ بِلاَ هِمَّة، صَانِعٌ لاَ بِجَارِحَة، لَطِيفٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالْخَفَاءِ، كَبِيرٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالْجَفَاءِ، بَصِيرٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالْحَاسَّةِ، رَحِيمٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالرِّقَّةِ، تَعْنُو الْوُجُوهُ لِعَظَمَتِهِ، وَتَجِبُ الْقُلُوبُ مِنْ مَخَافَتِهِ.

Eyes do not see Him face to face, but hearts perceive Him through the realities of belief. He is near to things but not (physically) contiguous. He is far from them but not (physically) separate. He is a speaker, but not with reflection. He intends, but not with preparation. He moulds, but not with (the assistance of) limbs. He is subtle but cannot be attributed with being concealed. He is great but cannot be attributed with haughtiness. He sees but cannot be attributed with the sense (of sight). He is Merciful but cannot be attributed with weakness of heart. Faces feel low before His greatness and hearts tremble out of fear of Him.

Extrait de ses paroles lorsque Za’lab le Yéménite lui demanda: O prince des Croyants, as-tu vu ton Seigneur? ‘Ali lui répondit: Adorè-je ce que je ne vois pas? Et l’autre de demander: Comment Le vois-tu? ‘Ali de répondre:

Les yeux ne Le voient pas directement, mais les cœurs Le perçoivent par les vérités de la foi. Il est proche des choses sans y adhérer, éloigné d’elles sans s’en écarter. Il parle sans ratiociner, Il veut sans se soucier, Il crée sans qu’il ait des organes. Il est subtil sans qu’il soit dérobé aux regards [de l’âme], grand sans oppression, miséricordieux mais sans attendrissement déplacé. Les faces se prosternent devant Sa magnificence et les cœurs s’ébranlent à force de Le craindre.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #179