He perceives, yet we do not perceive; He knows, yet He is not known. Thus He said upon the pulpit of His greatness: "A Knower without being taught, the Producer of things and their Originator." How can tongues describe Him who produced things and originated them? Rather, we describe Him as He described Himself: that He is Hearing and Seeing.
And the words of the Mighty and Sublime: {[God] said, "O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant then, or were you [already] among the High Ones?"}1. And His words: {Lest a soul should say, "Oh, how I regret my neglect of the side (janb) of God and that I was among the mockers"}2. And His words: {Rather, both His hands are extended}3. And His words: {God has certainly heard the statement of the one who argues with you concerning her husband and complains to God. And God hears your dialogue; indeed, God is Hearing and Seeing}4.
If you come to the Meaning—exalted be His glory—and assign to Him parts, then there must be a partitioner who partitioned Him and a producer who produced Him. Exalted is God far above what the wrongdoers say. Rather, I say: He—Glory be to Him—is entirely Unseen, entirely Knowledge, entirely Power, entirely Hearing, entirely Sight, entirely Face, and entirely Essence. He is neither limited nor described. Thus said the men whom I encountered, with whom I believed the Truth to be, and from whom I took science. This is my religion and my doctrine; it is the religion of the Sheikhs, the "Possessors of Staffs," according to what I heard from them and verified—not as the innovators of our time say, who are as Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Shibli—may God have mercy on him—said when the mention of these innovators, the absurdity of their opinions, and their following of desires occurred in his presence.