"The best of deeds after the gnosis (Ma'rifa) of Allah are: 'Knowledge, kindness toward brethren, and striving to fulfill their needs.' Knowledge without action is like a vessel boarded by a passenger without a navigator; the internal navigator is: 'The Gate' (Al-Bab), and the vessel is: 'The Ship'—whosoever boards it is saved, and whosoever stays behind goes astray and perishes.

Seek knowledge from the scholars with gentleness and affection, for knowledge is the [true] provision. Conceal the gnosis of Allah from those who are not its folk, and you shall be safe; for whoever divulges the secret of Allah and the secret of his [spiritual] parents, they have both become quit of him.

The best of worship is gnosis and awaiting the call of the Invoker. Richness is faith, and poverty is disbelief. If you see the leper, avoid him, for he is the one who slanders the believers in the presence of the disbelievers—do not incline your secret toward him. Avoid the person with vitiligo in

that regard as well, for he has exposed the believers in the gatherings of the disbelievers, so Allah exposed him through vitiligo.

Whoever recognizes one hundred believers in his time and keeps his tongue from speaking ill of them, Allah shall divert from him one hundred human forms (transmigratory molds) that he was otherwise destined to inhabit.