(312) By his chain from the Sage al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—he said: "Names and attributes point to originated things—I mean the Place, which is the Mim—because the name, attribute, 'since when', 'how much', 'to what', 'of what', and 'from what' have all entered upon him. The Pre-eternal—Mighty and Sublime—is the Meaning, independent of that. The Knower is in need of the Name to invoke Him and of the attributes to use them as proof of His existence, so that the seeker with a darkened heart¹ does not require vision by eye, touch by hand, hearing by ear, or encompassment by heart. Had His attributes not pointed to Him and His names not called to Him, the Worshipped would be other than Him and the sought goal would be someone else; the recognition of Him would be prolonged for the seeker and His existence for the world."

(313) It is related from Ali ibn al-Hakam, who said: Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Sulami narrated to me from his father, who said: I heard our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—saying: "Whoever claims that God is from a thing, or in a thing, or upon a thing has strayed far into error. For whoever claims He is from a thing has made Him originated; whoever claims He is in a thing has made Him confined; and whoever claims He is upon a thing has made Him carried. Whoever worships God and His Name has associated partners with Him; whoever worships the Name without the Meaning has denied; but whoever worships God without His names, that is pure Oneness."

(314) By his chain from Muhammad ibn Sawada, who said: I heard Abu al-Khattab Muhammad ibn Ismail—peace be upon him—saying: I heard my Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—saying: "Truly the Meaning, the Prince of Bees, is One (Ahad). He created a unique one (Wahid) from the light of His Essence and made him His Unique Name, who is Muhammad. He channeled through his hand creation, provision, life, and death. He is the refuge and the one to whom help is sought."