۞

« (maḥḍa); for pure servanthood is self-abasement (dhull) and humble submission (khuḍūʿ). He was asked, ‘How does one show one’s need for Him?’ He said: The neediness takes three [forms]: [the servants’] showing [awareness] of having been needy from pre-eternity (faqruhum al-qadīm); their showing need in their state (faqr ḥālihim), and their showing neediness through the death of the self to its [own] devising and managing [of things] (tadbīr). Whoever does not come up to [these standards] is false in his claim to neediness. He also said: The truly needful [person] (al-faqīr al-ṣādiq) is the one who does not ask [for things except »