Worshiped One (al-'Ali al-Ma'bud), the Pre-eternal, the Manifest, the Eternal (al-Samad), and the Omnipotent.'

He says: 'And I believe and say: I disassociate myself before God from anyone who speaks of a "Hidden Meaning" and a "Visible Meaning". This [false claim] is from the teachings of Zayd al-Hasib—may God curse him and whoever holds his belief. Had it been possible for there to be a "Manifest Meaning" and a "Hidden Meaning," then worship would not have been binding upon us, nor would punishment have befallen us.

From the 'Treatise of Sincerity' (Risalat al-Ikhlas): Authored by Prince Abu al-Fath Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Nu'mani, who was a contemporary of the Trustworthy Sheikh [al-Jilli]—peace be upon him.

He says: 'The Meaning (al-Ma’na)—exalted be His mention—has never ceased to be Manifest, and creation gazes upon Him, each according to the measure of what they deserve. No two individuals are equal in a single gaze. Regarding this, our Master al-Sadiq—may His might be exalted—was asked about the Manifest [One] whom the sight perceives: "Is He [seen] in His entirety? Or does the sight perceive one part and not another? And what is the limit of what the sight perceives?"'

He—may His might be exalted—replied: 'Verily, that which the sight sees is beyond perception (ghayr mudrak). Just as the hearts know Him yet cannot perceive Him, so too do the eyes see Him yet cannot