child; and in the likeness of the form of the intense youth, the one of profound strength.'"

He says: On the authority of Hisham ibn al-Hakam, who said: Our Master al-Sadiq (may His might be exalted) said: 'Whoever claims to know God without vision (ru’ya) has gone astray and succumbed to error; for that which is known is preserved, while that which is unknown is discarded. If a man doubts what is seen, he is even more doubtful and suspicious of what is not seen.'

He says: Pharaoh said: 'Had You manifested to me in the form through which You appeared on the day You established the Veils of Lights, I would have recognized You.' Thus, our Master manifested to him in the form of 'Unveiled and Profound' (Anza’ Batin). Pharaoh (may God curse him) asked for a respite, and He granted him respite.

He says: Hammoud al-Masri narrated to me, saying: I said to al-Sayyid Abu Abd Allah al-Khasibi (may God noble his station): 'O my Master, is the Celestial World in need of the gnosis of the Names and Attributes?'

He replied: 'Yes, all the worlds—both celestial and terrestrial—are in need of the gnosis of the Names and Attributes. The proof of this lies in what we have narrated: that the angels said to one another: "Come, let us seek the Lord," for He had become hidden from them. Then He manifested to them in the form of a small child in need of