(471) My sheikh Abu al-Fath — may God be pleased with him — narrated to me, saying: A group of Ishaq al-Ahmar’s men related from their companion that Ishaq al-Ahmar said: "Had Abu Shu’ayb remained established for us upon the Gatehood, we would have affirmed him; but he claimed the spiritual dimension (al-ma’nawiyya)." This statement from Ishaq is itself an affirmation of our Lord Abu Shu’ayb’s Gatehood. As for his claim that "he claimed the spiritual dimension," it is an impossibility that provides him no proof, for none of the groups of the Shia believed that he [Abu Shu’ayb] was the Meaning — exalted and sublimed be our Master. Rather, they said: Abu Shu’ayb was a Gate through whom the Mim — exalted be his glory — appeared, he being the light of the Ancient Name invented from the light of the Essence of the High, the Great. This has an explanation known only to its people. If someone — I mean the Ahmari group — says to us: "Abu Shu’ayb was a Gate of Power (qudra) and Ishaq was a Gate of Knowledge ('ilm)?" We say to him: You have disbelieved and strayed, for the Messenger of God — exalted be his glory — says: "May God curse the one of two colors." There is no disagreement that Ishaq was a leper, and for that reason he was called al-Ahmar (the Red), and he is Anas ibn Malik according to the people of knowledge. God the Almighty — Majestic is His grandfather — says: {sound, having no defect (shiyata) in her}¹ — meaning: no blemish in her. Since the Cow is the Gate, can there be a defect in him? God forbid; His Gates are far removed from such descriptions.

It is related that the Cow is the Gate. Leprosy (baras) has three colors: black, red, and white. If you see black moles on a person, that is leprosy; and if you see red spots on his hands, that is leprosy; and the most hideous is the white. A group said: "Ishaq was only called 'the Red' because he was 'reddened' [blocked] from the recognition of the Gate of God."