(309) Regarding what was related from our Master al-Hasan the First: he said to our Master Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory: "He has succeeded who recognized You outwardly and believed in You inwardly." He means: he has succeeded who affirmed the divinity of the visible Form, recognizing that the Pre-eternal Essence is manifest through this visible Form.

(310) By this chain: an addresser addressed our Master al-Hasan the First—exalted be his glory—saying: "O Amir Almuminin." He rebuked him, so the man said: "O Prince of the Disbelievers." He replied: "By God, though it may provoke, it is more beloved to me than the first, for this name [Amir Almuminin] is not applied to anyone in the earth or the heaven except our Master Amir Almuminin Ali—exalted be his glory."

Since our Master al-Hasan does not share with our Master—glory be to His majesty—in the outward names, nor is anyone in the earth or heaven called by His name, likewise in His inward Essential names, none shares with Him, nor in the attributes of His vast unitary pre-eternity. Rather, to Him—glory be to Him—belong the beautiful names; none in the earth or heaven is named God (Ilah) and Meaning (Ma'na) except the High, the Most High—exalted be his glory.

(311) Similar to this is what was related from our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory: a questioner asked him regarding our Master the awaited Qa'im—exalted be his glory: "O our Master, shall we offer him peace by the title of Prince of the Believers (Amrat Almuminin)?" He replied: "No; that is a name given only to Amir Almuminin Ali ibn Abi Talib—exalted be his glory. None was characterized by it before him, and none shall be named by it after him except a straying disbeliever." The questioner asked: "How then shall we offer him peace, O our Master, if we live until the time of his manifestation?" He said: "Say: 'Peace be upon you, O Remnant of God (Baqiyyat Allah),'" then he recited: {What remains [lawful] from God is better for you if you are believers, and I am not a guardian over you.}¹