which the rational is known from the ignorant." The King said: "Bring it forth."

My Master said: "Two men were slaves to a single master. The master directed them both to prepare the equipment for a journey, for he would move them from their location to another abode they did not know, via a path they had never trodden. As for one of the two men, he prepared the provisions, sought the guidance of a guide, made the mount comfortable, and sent the equipment ahead to the place where he would be moved. He increased his nourishment and ordered that houses be built for him, palaces be constructed, water be made to flow in his palaces, and rivers toward his location, and that all kinds of trees be planted for him there. When the command came to travel to the place toward which he was bound, he found what he had prepared present and benefited from what he had sent before him. As for the other, he was deceived by hope, spoke to himself of the impossible, and paid no mind to what was said to him. He neither thought of the consequence nor looked toward the hereafter. When he was commanded to travel, he became bewildered in his affair and remained lost, not knowing which path to take or which location to intend, walking in darkness from which he could not emerge. This is a sign that clarifies the rational from the ignorant."

The King asked: "How many prayers has Allah made obligatory upon you?" My Master said: "Five prayers." The King said: "What is the first of them?" He said: "The First Prayer (al-Ṣalāt al-Ūlā)." The King said: "What is the meaning of the First?" My Master said: "Because it was the first of His manifestations, it was called al-Ẓuhr (Noon/Manifestation)."

The King asked: "What was the first of the manifestations?" My Master said: "It is the Meaning (al-Ma‘nā)." The King said: "And for which manifestation is the ‘Aṣr prayer performed?" My Master said: "For the manifestation of the Name (al-Ism). Then it is followed by the first evening prayer (al-‘Ishā’ al-Awwal), which is the manifestation of Fāṭir;