As for the third shirt, it is the word of the Almighty: {Take this shirt of mine and cast it over the face of my father; he will become seeing. And bring me your family, all together}1. This is the Shirt of the Essence and His manifestation in the Josephite Form. When they thought it was an Exemplary Meaning, the matter became confusing to them. His manifestation in the Josephite Form consisted of the "seven locks of hair" which He manifested; He did not manifest the like of them before or after. He said: "Go to Jacob seeking the Reality from him, for you shall come from his presence seeing, without doubt regarding my knowledge; then you shall declare the Call with insight."
As for the bearer of good news (al-Bashir) who brought the shirt in the outward affair: he is one of the personages of Jacob, because it is not permissible for there to be an intermediary between the Meaning and His Veil who is closer to Him than the Veil itself. Had that been the case, the bearer would have been better than Jacob; rather, he is one of the personages of the Name—exalted be his glory.
Two views appeared regarding this:
One group said: the bearer was Reubel son of Jacob, as he was the eldest of his children.
Another group said: the bearer was Judah son of Jacob, because the eldest said: "I will never leave the land until my father permits me or God decides for me, and He is the best of judges."
As for the shirt: according to the People of the Outward, it is the shirt of Abraham the Friend which God sent down from Paradise and clothed him with when he was cast into the fire, so the fire was coolness and peace upon him. Were it not for the fear of being lengthy and interrupting this sequence, I would have mentioned forms from the inward of this Surah; however, I have presented its full interpretation in the Twelfth Chapter, which you shall come across by the aid of God.