Iblis’s path to this remains unchanging, even if it disguises itself in various forms: it proceeds from anthropomorphism (Tashbih): {Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?} 1 .
Thus, he saw nothing of The Image except the clay that resembled him; and this, indeed, is not worthy of being a sought-after goal or an ultimate purpose. He remained silent and concealed the meaning of The Image and its essentiality, making the ultimate goal an "Unseen" (Ghayb) hidden behind The Image. Thus, through our study of it and by presenting its parts in relation to one another, he [the author] brought forth guidance, correctness, and the knowledge of the pith of the pith (Lubab al-Lubab) regarding the intent and subtle signs of our Masters in their traditions and teachings. There is no one like you who is more capable of extracting these from their sources and categorizing them in the most perfect of ways.
If I forget anything, I shall never forget that gentle smile and radiant joy with which he presented [the collection] to me this time, saying: "Here is what you requested." I took it with passion and did not let go until I had scanned its entirety. I found it to be the sought-after quest. Then I smiled and said to him: "Had you exerted yourself for long years in composing a treatise on this subject, I would have told you that you are the greatest in this compilation of yours, [you are greater] than in your own treatises; reiterating what literary critics