One of the Gnostics said in verse:

God has never been veiled from His creation; Had they but believed and attained piety

But they were veiled by their sins

Had they [purified themselves]

they would have become angels within the unseen realms.

Understand then, my brothers—may God grant you success in comprehending these words and meanings. Verify through your intellects the essence of these expressions and the hidden nature of their allusions without delay, so that you may join the 'people of understanding' (ulu al-albab) in attaining your ultimate goals. May God grant us success toward His pleasure and inspire us with His mandates; indeed, He is the Guardian of Success."

He says: Know, my brothers—may God Almighty support you—verily, the People of Witnessing and Direct Vision (Ahl al-Shuhud wa al-'Iyan) say to the People of Evidence and Proof (Ahl al-Dalil wa al-Burhan): How can you seek evidence for God, the Mighty and Majestic, through that which is itself dependent upon Him for its very existence? When was He ever absent, that He should require a guide to point toward Him? And when was He ever lost, that outward traces (athar) should be what lead to Him?