So if it [the Soul] faces it upon its illumination, it perceives the known things in the shortest time and easiest duration, and it witnesses all matters—the Abstract (Mujarrada) and the Non-Abstract—with a True Witnessing.

This is because the imprinting of all existents in the Active Intellect is facing it from every direction. Thus, Acquisition (Iktisab) occurs for the Soul from its direction in the most perfect and complete manner appropriate.

And for that reason, the knowledge of matters and their acquisition on the part of the Soul comes about through Science and Gnosis.

And indeed, Gnosis (Ma'rifa) precedes Knowledge ('Ilm); because every Gnostic (Arif) is a Knower (Alim), but not every Knower is a Gnostic.

And this has been indicated by His saying:

{And on the Heights (Al-A'raf) are men}¹