(319) Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi narrated that he read in the Book of al-Kafi in a supplication by our Master Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory: "O God, I ask You by Your Name through which You appeared to Your elite saints and servants who recognized You by Your reality, thus affirming Your Oneness when they found You—to make Yourself known to me so that I may affirm for You the reality of faith; and do not make me among those who worshipped the Name without the Meaning. Indeed, You are over all things competent."

(320) From the Nakib Muhammad ibn Sinan—peace be upon him—from our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory: "Truly the Meaning is One (Ahad). He created a unique one (Wahid), making him His eye with which He looks, His ear with which He hears, and His tongue with which He speaks. Had they been a thousand persons, they would be one: Muhammad ibn Abd Allah the Hashemite."

(321) From him: "The One (al-Ahad) is the Prince of Bees, and the Unique (al-Wahid) is the Mim." It was said to him: "O our Master, why was he named Unique?" He replied: "Because he affirmed the Oneness of the One (al-Ahad) in a manner like which no one else did; thus he is unique in his affirmation of the One."

(322) By the chain from the Sage—exalted be his glory: "God—glory be to Him—was when there was no place. Then He created the Place, making it encompassing while not being encompassed; and that is the Mim."

(323) It is related that a questioner asked our Master Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—while he was upon the pulpit: "O Amir Almuminin, where was God before He created Place?" Our Master—exalted be his glory—grew angry and said: "Glory be to Him who did not create Place out of a need for it! Glory be to Him who is not contained by Place due to His majesty and greatness over Place! Indeed, how could Place contain Him who is greater than Place? God—glory be to Him—is independent of Place just as He was independent when He was and there was no place." Then he returned to his sermon.