He was asked, "What do you say about maḥabba (love)?" He replied: There is no barrier between the lover and the beloved.
Heyba (awe) renders a person mute and unable to speak; ḥayra (wonder, bewilderment) prevents the fearful one from disclosing anything; ghayra (protective jealousy) prevents the eyes from seeing others. Dehşet (dread) binds the intellects and does not allow anything to be said; there is always a constant dehşet, inseparable ḥayra, bewildered hearts, hidden secrets, and ailing bodies... and maḥabba (love) dominates the hearts with its powerful sovereignty.
There are two kinds of ḥayra: ḥayra arising from the intensity of fear of committing sin, and ḥayra that results from the feeling of reverence that opens up in the hearts. (Lumaʿ, 275)
Ḥayra is an illumination that comes to the hearts of the ʿārifūn (gnostics) during contemplation, reflection, and presence, which prevents them from thinking further. Vāsiṭī says: ḥayra is more valuable than the stillness that results from abandoning ḥayra. (Lumaʿ, 421)
ḥayya ʿala'l- falāḥ 363
ʿAbdullāh Mubārak said: Maʿrifa (experiential knowledge of God) is to be astonished at nothing, to be surprised at nothing. For ḥayra arises from seeing something in the qudra (power) of the one who acts. Yet all these acts are created by Allah, Exalted is He. It is impossible for the ʿārif (gnostic) to be bewildered by His actions. (Hujwīrī, 326-327)
Shiblī also said: Maʿrifa is the perpetual state of ḥayra. There are two types of ḥayra: ḥay...