He only intended for His servants to recognize Him during His manifestations—from the First Hasan [the 2nd Imam] to the Askari [the 11th Imam]—through the Absolute Anza’iyya."

He [al-Hisri] asks: "What is the meaning of the statement of the Master Ja’far [al-Sadiq]—Exalted be His Might: 'We are the Manifestation of Allah'?" The Sheikh [al-Khasibi] replied: "His saying 'We are the Manifestation of Allah' means that the eyes beheld the Meaning in the form of our images, in this [human] appearance; yet He is al-Anza’ al-Batin—a Meaning that is neither limited nor described."

I [al-Hisri] said: "My Master, what do you say regarding the Visible Image and the speaker who says: 'I am I' (Ana Ana)?"

He [al-Khasibi] replied: "It is the Powerful Meaning (al-Ma'na al-Qadir) which the eyes beheld in 'inability' ('ajran—meaning they could not encompass it). It is the Image; meaning the eyes saw an image, for eyes can only perceive what is of their own species. It was said [by some]: its image is nothing other than itself, just like the likeness of the mirror, the sword, and the like."

From the "Mufaddaliyya" Treatise

In the Mufaddaliyya treatise—the narration of al-Mufaddal ibn 'Umar (Peace be upon him) from Imam al-Sadiq—Exalted be His Might.