(74) From my master, the Sheikh Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Baladi, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: I asked the Sheikh Abu al-Qasim Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Isa al-Nu'mani, may Allah brighten his face, regarding the saying of the Messenger, may His might be glorified: "The matron (ayyim) has more right over herself than her father, while the virgin (bikr) is to be consulted, and her silence is her consent?"

He said: My hearing regarding this from my trustworthy sources is that he intended by "the virgin" the believer who has newly come to Gnosis; he is a virgin in his knowledge. Thus, it is not incumbent upon him to seek deeper understanding except with the permission of his [spiritual] father, who is his path and his means. If he accepts what he has heard while remaining silent—not disclosing the secret of Allah—and remains trustworthy over what is imparted to him, he is granted his request of the knowledge of Allah and attains his desire through his silence regarding disclosure. As for "the matron who has more right over herself," it refers to the believer who has reached maturity in his knowledge and etiquette. There is no fault upon the believers if they discuss knowledge with him without his father's permission, for his father has already trained him in knowledge. There is no fear of him being "broken" (corrupted), nor will what he hears of knowledge be too great for him to bear. He has gained mastery over himself and has become a jurist like the father who is his guardian and means.

By the same chain of transmission regarding the word of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: {Indeed, the wasteful (mubadhirin) were brothers of the devils} (Al-Isra: 27). He is the wasteful one who grants the Oneness of Allah to those who are not worthy of it and delivers it to those who do not deserve it; and the one who relates the Oneness of Allah in the assemblies of the opponents—he is the wasteful one.