From the 'Book of Divestment' (Kitab al-Tajrid): By the eminent scholar Sheikh Hatim al-Jadili al-Tubani, who authored it in the mid-7th century AH—may God benefit us through his knowledge.
He says: After citing the tradition of the Naqib Muhammad bin Sinan al-Zahiri (peace be upon him), we asked: 'In what sense did the Human Nature (al-Nasut) stand [exist]?' He replied: 'He established it as a cause for your own initiation [manifestation]. Thus, when the Power (al-Qudra) and Knowledge appeared from Him, the created beings were powerless before them. It was then realized that the Form is [in truth] the Meaning, and that the Humanity (al-Bashariyya) He displayed had no [independent] reality in terms of Lordship (al-Rububiyya), other than to manifest the Power.'
He says: {'This is among the clearest proofs that the Visual Unveiled Form is the Manifestation of the Creator in His heavens and His earth. Everyone beholds Him according to what they deserve of the vision of Him. That is [the meaning of] His saying: "He is the First and the Last, the Outward and the Inward"} 1 ... up to the mention of the Human Form.'
The intent behind our term "Humanity" (Bashariyya) is: that which He used to interact (bashara) with His creation, and which was perceived as [other] forms are perceived.