Who is the Attribute and the Described

It has been narrated: "The Attribute is the Name, and the Described is the Gate." To verify this: what the elite have reached a consensus upon is that the Unique (al-Ahad) is the Meaning, the One (al-Wahid) is the Name, and the Oneness (al-Wahdaniyyah) is the Gate. The Name is a name for its Meaning and belongs to it. The Meaning cannot be subject to a name or an attribute—meaning He is not named by a name He Himself named, nor described by an attribute He Himself established and manifested. Thus, the attribute is the attribute of the Name, and the description of the Name belongs to it; its Meaning granted it possession of it.

(23) This is what our Master Amir Almuminin, may His might be glorified, said: "My outward is imamate and succession (wasiyyah)." And he said: "My inward is the inward of my Name, and the outward of my Name is the inward of the Gate."

The meaning of this saying is: I am not known except through my Name, and my Name is not known except through the Gate. So reflect upon what you asked; I have clarified it for you according to my knowledge, and above every possessor of knowledge is one more knowing.

What the Creator Desired from His Servants

(25) It has been narrated from al-Alim, may His might be glorified, that he said: "The Ancient desired three things from His servants and forbade them from three. He desired from them: that they know Him and not deny Him, that they affirm Him and not reject Him, and that they connect through Him and not sever [the connection]. He forbade them from three: from ignorance, denial, and following the counsel of opponents. He knew that they would not be able to do this except through a medium, so that they might learn from him and be guided by him. Thus, He originated the Master, the Name, from the light of His Essence, established his person, and delegated to him the affairs of His kingdom. He is the creator of His creation and the manifester of His will."