Then He said: 'O Mufaddal, what do my followers say?' I said: 'They narrate from Jabir, from Al-Baqir, concerning His saying: {And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice}, that Ishmael is Al-Husayn, Al-Husayn is Ishmael, and they are one thing.' He said: 'You spoke the truth, and He is indeed one thing. Al-Husayn is too great in importance to be sacrificed, but most people do not know the rank of God's friends. Our followers heard the esoteric (Batin) from us, then from God's knowledge, the knowledge of His Messenger, and the knowledge of His Successors. They pass it on to their believing brothers, but they do not accept the truth from them and accept falsehood from others. It is greater in God's sight, and they nullify the truth and confirm the falsehood. God knows best His arrangement and His gentleness: {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned}; {And God presents examples for the people that perhaps they will reflect}; He said: {See how We explain to them the signs}; and His saying: {And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge}.' I said: 'My Master, You have satisfied me and removed every worry and grief that was in my heart.' He said that God, the Exalted, said: {In it is healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers}. The esoteric (Batin) is a healing for the breasts. I said: 'Praise be to God for that.'¹

We will discuss the issue of the ram in a separate chapter, by the will and power of God.