Tongues have tired of describing this Great Name, understandings have failed to perceive him, and intellects have strayed from encompassing him. He is the Universal Intellect regarding whom there is consensus among the "Short-comers" (al-Muqassira) and others among the Knowers that when the Exalted produced him, He said to him: "Approach," and he approached; then He said to him: "Retreat," and he retreated.
(337) It is related that He said to him: "Approach," and he returned to Him and joined Him in connection; then He said to him: "Retreat," and he became distinct from Him in separation. He said to him: "By My Might and Majesty, through you I take and through you I give; through you I reward and through you I punish. Through you I admit into Paradise, and through you I admit into the Fire."
The meaning of our saying "he joined Him in connection" is because his beginning is from Him and his return is to Him. His saying "Retreat" refers to the occultation and concealment. Thus his retreating was an approaching, and his approaching was a manifestation.
(338) It is also related from Him that He said: Invention is the separation of the Nominal Form from the light of its Fashioner so that this may be known from that—this is a Lord and this is a servant. This one, with abundant hair, points to the fact that there is a goal above him; and this one, bald, points to the fact that there is no goal above Him. From this is His word, the Almighty: {And the mosques are for God, so do not invoke anyone along with God.}1
The "mosques" are the persons of the Name. He made obedience to them mandatory upon the servants; whoever worships God without their path and without facing them is a polytheist. This is supported by the word of God to the angels at the start of the Adamite manifestation, as He informed us: {When your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I am creating a mortal from clay. So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My soul, then fall down to him in prostration." So the angels prostrated, all of them together.}2