We have said the "earth" is the Orphans, and the "resting place" is the Knowledge which was established through them for those beneath them among the members of the ranks. The Meaning is more Majestic and Higher, and He inspired the Name without an intermediary to create the Higher World, so he created them.
The first he created after the Gate was the Greatest Orphan, al-Miqdad. He is the one from whom the world was carved (qudda), not as a sandal-strap1 is carved from leather. For al-Miqdad—who is Michael—is a luminous angel from whom a mortal, clay creation is carved; rather, only the knowledge of the world was carved from him. Likewise, Abu Dharr scattered (dhara)2 them with knowledge3, Abd Allah ibn Rawaha brought rest (rawwaha) to their hearts with knowledge, Uthman ibn Maz'un drove away (az'ana)4 doubts and likenesses from them with knowledge, and Qanbar enriched (aqnahum)5 and fulfilled them with knowledge.
Then the Lord Name created, after the Orphans, the Nakibs, then the Nukaba, then the Specialists, then the Sincere, then the Tested ones. these are the Luminous Higher World, whose number is five thousand persons—peace be upon them.
This is my statement which I have transmitted and believed from my sheikhs—may God be pleased with them: that the Gate creates as a creation of Knowledge, not a creation of Inception. Likewise, the Orphans are orphans to the Gate in their creation; their creation is one of Knowledge, not of Inception. When the creation of the Higher World was completed, the Meaning—Exalted—transfigured to them in His Essence. They witnessed Him and He addressed them as a manifest Truth; thus they spoke to Him directly. He called them to His worship and they all answered with obedience, affirming Lordship for Him. Exalted is God and sanctified be His Name far above what the wrongdoers and deniers say.