However, if after this persistence, the father sees that he is deficient in his understanding and lacks the capability among his brothers that they possess in knowledge, even if he is accepting of what he hears and believes in it, then that deficiency in knowledge is due to a sin he incurred in his [previous] 'shirt' (reincarnation). In that case, his father should command him to refrain from study and ask God for his steadfastness, while maintaining good companionship with him—and that is His saying: {or releasing with kindness}."

And my master and sheikh—may God sanctify him—narrated to me: "That which our sheikhs disciplined us with and which we have learned is that it is not permissible for a man to open [the gates of knowledge] to any of the seekers if he knows that in the town where he resides there is one more learned than him. If there are equals in learning and knowledge in the town, he should consult the eldest among them. If they are equal in age, he should consult the one foremost in learning. If they are equal in learning, he should consult ten of them before addressing the one who seeks it. If they advise him to address him, praising his way and thanking his actions in what he narrates and performs, and they say to him: 'We have perceived his maturity and have accepted him for you as a son in the gnosis of God,' only then should he address him, in the presence of two men from among the believers, taking them as witnesses over him. This is the inner meaning of the circumambulation of the Sacred House, which is the 'Circumambulation of Enjoyment' (Tawaf al-Mut'a). So know this."

(117) And from him, from his men, from our master the Knower, Mighty is His Might, that he said to al-Mufaddal, peace be upon him: "O Mufaddal, by Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if a believer were to give to the [spiritual] father who bestowed upon him the gnosis of God Almighty the earth's fill in gold, that which was given and bestowed upon him of gnosis would still be greater than the gold he gave."