So Muhammad ibn Abi Zaynab displayed what he was commanded regarding the second call. What occurred with him and his companions was what was previously arranged. Later, letters arrived from al-Dawaniqi — may God curse him — to Lord Ja'far — exalted be his glory — in Kufa, ordering him to depart for the Hijaz. Ismail ibn Abi al-Tayyib was called "al-Miqdad" in Kufa, and Abu Muhammad Sufyan was called "Abu Dharr" from the time Muhammad ibn Abi Zaynab named them so. He [Abu al-Khattab] said: "I used to be called Muhammad ibn Abi Kabsha, and now I am called Muhammad ibn Abi Zaynab."

The Call of Abu al-Khattab — Peace be upon him — upon his Departure from the House of Provision

(443) This is what my sheikh Abu al-Fath Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Baghdadi — may God be pleased with him — narrated to me from his father from his grandfather Abu Ishaq al-Ruqa'i — may God be pleased with them both — from our Lord Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi — may God sanctify his soul — by his chain from Abu Khadija Salim ibn Mukram ibn al-Absi — peace be upon him — who said: "I saw Abu al-Khattab Muhammad ibn Abi Zaynab — peace be upon him — having broken the gate of the prison he was in at the House of Provision (Dar al-Rizq) in Kufa, which was the house where the Sultan’s food was stored. He went out with his companions around him until he came to the mosque and ascended the minaret. I heard him saying: 'I am God, the deified (al-ma’luh) by divinity, known for pre-eternity. Whoever attributes to me what I did not say is quit of the Oneness of Ja'far, the High, the Most High.'"

(444) By his chain from Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Ruqa'i, who said: I asked our sheikh Abu Abd Allah al-Khasibi — may God ennoble his station — regarding that statement?! He replied: "O my son, he spoke with the Truth and was truthful in what he said, for he was the Gate. At the time he called with this call, the Lord Mim had appeared through him. His saying: 'I am God, the deified by divinity,' he intended by it that he is the Name.