And from Abdullah b. Al-Ala, from Al-Ridha—may his might be exalted—that he said:

"Verily, that which you witnessed with your eyes of the form only appeared according to what you are upon, because you are unable to look at your opposite."

And he narrated to me from him, from Muhammad b. Musa al-Karkhi, who said: Al-Ridha—may his might be exalted—said:

"The intent is toward Allah through the Veil, not toward the Veil through Allah. For other than Allah does not guide to Allah, and Allah is not known except by him who is from Allah. The Veil is a cause [or defect] in the eyes of the creation; had it been removed, they would not have needed to look at the Veil; rather, they would have seen Him like the moon, and they would not be harmed by seeing Him."

And from him, from Abdullah b. Idris, Muhammad b. Sinan—peace be upon him—said: Al-Sadiq—may his might be exalted—said:

"One turns toward the knowledge of Allah only through the Veil of Allah. But if He brings forth the miracle, the belief in the Veil is annulled, because the Veil is the sins of those looking at Him."