To proceed: O brother of sound intellect and renowned merit—may God bestow His blessings upon you and multiply them for you. The first discourse we clarify and the phrasing we explain and establish is the praise of God—exalted be His power—and gratitude to Him—His mercy be universal—for the guidance He has bestowed. We ask Him, by His Name of lofty station and protected rank, to enable us to thank Him for His favor and grant us and all believers success in word and deed in His obedience. Truly, He is the All-Hearing, the Responder.

Having clarified for those of intellect, discernment, and faith—who possess merit and are distinguished by the knowledge of Oneness—the existence of our Master Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—among His creation and His manifestation within them in Essence and Reality, having proven and revealed that He is the Worshipped Lord and the Intended God;

It is mandatory that we demonstrate, by the success granted by God—the Mighty and Sublime—the knowledge of the status of the Supreme Name and the Ancient Veil toward his Creator, the Bestowing King, and what He has specialized him with—exalted be His origin¹ and sanctified be His will—concerning the sovereignty and power He entrusted to him. We rely in this chapter on the knowledge of God, clarifying the path we have pursued so that the way remains straight for the seeking believer and the proof remains firm against his adversary. We have stated previously that the Truth is established only by four:

The Book of God, which falsehood cannot approach from before it or from behind it—a revelation from a Wise, Praiseworthy One; the Sunnah of His Prophet Muhammad—exalted be his glory; the consensus of the people of knowledge and transmission; and the proof of the intellect which supports the people of merit.