The first degree of the degrees of the Near-standing and the most noble of them in status are the Tested (al-mukhtabarun). The most majestic of the Tested in rank and the most noble in status is Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam al-Muradi¹ — peace be upon him — for he is the first of the Near-standing and the master of the Tested. He is Abu Nuwas al-Hasan ibn Hani in the time of our Master the Imam Ali ibn Musa — exalted be his glory. Even if his name and attribute change, he is [recognized] by the Khasibiyya group who are the guided people of reality. Regarding this, our sheikh Lord al-Khasibi — may God ennoble his station — says:

I am al-Nuwasi in this time of Yours, the master of my folk and the servant of my brothers.

What we have related in this section regarding Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam — peace be upon him — that he is the first of the Near-standing, is based on what Abu Nasr Muhammad — may God have mercy on him — narrated to me: that he heard from the reliable sheikh Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jali — may God raise his rank — who heard from Lord Abu Abd Allah al-Khasibi — may God ennoble his station: "[I am al-Nuwasi]" meaning that he affirms the praise of al-Nuwasi, who is the Tested al-Muradi. In this, he differed from all the groups of the Monotheists, and he knew of his merit and wondrous status what the knowledge of their sheikhs fell short of recognizing.