Ibn Ata'illah al-Iskandari (d.709H/1309CE) is best known in the Muslim world for his slim anthology of spiritual aphorisms known as Kitab al-Hikam, or Hikam al-Ata'iyyah. The Hikam's enduring appeal and popularity, among scholars and layman alike, lies in its ability to convey Islam's spiritual truths with beauty, brevity, energy of expression and layers of meaning. What follows is the first aphorism in the collection, along…