He said: O Mufaddal, that is the attribute of light, shirts of appearance, mines of indication, and tongues of expression; He veiled you by it from him, and guided you from it to him; not it is he nor is he other than it; veiled by light, appearing by manifestation. Each sees him by his own light, and contemplates him by his capacity; so some see him near, and some see him far. O Mufaddal, indeed the form is power of powerful, light of illuminator. The appearance of your lord is mercy for who believed and affirmed, and punishment upon who denied and rejected. There is not beyond him a goal nor end.

I said: my lord, so the One who is Muhammad? So he said: he is the One when named, and Muhammad when described. I said: my lord, then Ali? He said: Cease, cease, O Mufaddal! The Meaning is above His Name; have you not heard to his saying: my outer is leadership and guardianship, my inner is unseen not perceived? So I said: my lord, what is the inner of Muhammad? He said to me: Essence’s light, and he is first of existence, beginning of creation, the originator for every creature, connected to light, separated by witnessing the appearance,