Our Master Al-Ṣādiq (may his glory be exalted) explained to Al-Mufaḍḍal (submission be to him) the reason for the imposition of religious laws (sharā’i‘), the difference between them, and the contrast in their severity.

From our Master Al-Mufaḍḍal ibn ‘Umar (submission be to him), he said: I asked my Master Al-Ṣādiq (may his glory be exalted): "Why is the Christian law less demanding, lighter in obligation, and its people closer to the believers than the Jews and the people of other laws?" The answer was: "Because Moses (may his glory be exalted) invited creation to the inner aspect of his manifestation and hinted among them with the attributes of his light, but they denied him and rebelled against him. So, He poured humiliation and misery upon them, and He restricted them in their obligations. Souls became greatly estranged from them, and hearts fled from them. Then he appeared after that with the Christian attribute. He called the Christians, and they responded. He hinted to them, and they obeyed. Except that they were explicit and revealed what was entrusted to them. So, they were the closest of nations to affirmation and the farthest from denial. Had it not been that they believed in a humanity (Nāsūt) along with the Divinity (Lāhūt), and darkness along with the Light, they would have been with the believers and would not have been separated from the knowers. So, He lightened their burden and did not impose upon them of the hardship except the easiest part, commensurate with their deliberate ignorance. So, souls were drawn to them, He bestowed upon them most of the conditions, He gave them a share of the trust and a portion of affection, and He permitted them to eat whatever was lawful for them and to drink whatever their souls accepted."

In this domain, we all proceed, and in this path, we all run, until we are returned to Allah safe, submissive, and humbled for the calamities and disasters we have committed. Glorious is the majesty of my Master Zayn Al-‘Ibād, the teacher of the present and the absent, when he taught us his saying: