And His saying: {He said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that which you found your fathers upon?" They said, "Indeed, we are disbelievers in that with which you were sent"} (Al-Zukhruf: 24). A man falls under the opinion of his worldly father whether it be truth or falsehood, but a father does not fall under the opinion of his son except through insight and truth. It is permissible for a son to 'open' (yaftah) for his worldly father, but it is not permissible for the father to 'open' for his son."

(72) It was said to our Master al-Sadiq, may His might be glorified: "O our Master, is it permissible for us to impart to our children the knowledge of your Oneness?" He said: "Desist! Teach them loyalty (walaya) and disavowal (bara'a). If Allah intends good for a servant, He takes him by the forelock and leads him to this matter forcefully." Whoever among the believers heard [the secret] from his worldly father, his hearing is correct but his path is corrupted.

(73) Sheikh Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Baladi told me: Abu Sa'id Maymun ibn al-Qasim al-Tabarani—may Allah brighten his face—told me: Sheikh Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jali—may Allah raise his rank—told me: My master and sheikh, the Lord Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi—may Allah ennoble his station—told me:

"Since I was on the path of Tashayyu', the Imamate, and Delegation (Tafwid)—which was the path of my fathers and grandfathers—I used to hear my father and my uncle discussing the knowledge of Oneness (Tawhid). I learned it and did not doubt it, yet I did not dare to manifest it. I said to my father one day, when fourteen years of my life had passed: 'Impart to me the knowledge of Allah, for I have heard it from you and my uncle and read it from your books.' He rebuked me and scolded me, saying: 'You have not yet reached [maturity].' My uncle said to me: 'Be gentle and you shall be guided.'