Veils Quote by Ibn al-Arabī
““The Real made me contemplate the light of the veils as the star of strong backing rose, and He said to me, “Do you know how many veils I have veiled you with?” “No”, I replied. He said, “With seventy veils. Even if you raise them you will not see Me, and if you do not raise them you will not see Me.” “If you raise them you will see Me and if you do not raise them you will see Me.” “Take care of burning yourself!” “You are My sight, so have faith. You are My Face, so veil yourself””
About This Quote
Source Spiritual discourse, Sufi tradition, 13th‑century mystic writings
The mystic describes layers of spiritual veils that conceal divine truth, urging inner vision and faith while warning of danger in seeking truth.
In simple terms: Spiritual veils hide truth; faith and inner sight reveal it.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner awareness and trust.
Themes
spirituality
faith
self‑knowledge
danger
Mood
reflective
serene
cautionary
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- prayer
- meditation
- personal crisis
- spiritual guidance
- teaching
Key Concepts
mysticism
inner vision
veil metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What veils might you be holding onto?
- How can you balance seeking truth with self‑care?
A Different Perspective
Over‑focus on veils may cause anxiety; literal interpretation can mislead.
![“Until quite recently I've been wholly cut off from [the Shias] because their tenets forbid them to look upon an unveiled woman and my tenets don't permit me to veil Nor is it any good trying to make friends through the women - if they were allowed to see me they would veil before me as if I were a…” quote by Gertrude Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3f9/gertrude-bell-36791_cutting_until-quite-recently-i-ve-been-wholly-cu_13723.jpg)
