(63) As Sheikh Abu Abd Allah al-Khasibi, may Allah sanctify him, narrated from his sheikh Abu Muhammad Abd Allah al-Jannan, upon him be mercy and pleasure, from al-Alim, may His might be glorified, that he said: "Deed without knowledge is harmful and not beneficial; deed with knowledge is beneficial and not harmful."

And this was preceded by the word of the Mighty and Majestic: {And say, "Do," for Allah will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers} (Al-Tawbah: 105).

And in the word of the Mighty and Majestic: {Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding} (Al-Zumar: 9), there is sufficient proof.

Let us return to the methodology we have relied upon in this chapter and in which we have confirmed the decisive discourse. Among it is what was narrated by my brother Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi, known as al-Muhalheli, may Allah be pleased with him.

(64) By his chain of transmission from his men from al-Mufaddal ibn Sa'id, peace be upon him, that he said: I heard some of the loyalists of our Master al-Hasan the Eleventh [Imam al-Askari], may His might be glorified, saying: "The scholars were almost lords."

This referred to the rank of [spiritual] fatherhood. That felt grave to me; it troubled my soul and my chest tightened because of it. I entered upon my Master, may His might be glorified, following that incident. When He looked at me, He spoke first, before I could utter a word: "The scholars were almost lords, O Mufaddal ibn Sa'id al-Samiri"—and this was always my name and my father's name, though I used to call myself Sa'sa'a ibn 'Amir. When I heard this from Him, I said: "Who then is most deserving of that from me, O my Master?" He said: "The one who made you hear it from Me." I said: "You are most deserving of the station and more worthy of the rank." He said: "You have spoken the truth, but through him you were guided, and from him you came to Me." Then He recited the word of the Exalted: {And enter houses through their doors} (Al-Baqarah: 189).