As for those who are brothers of outward smiling and hypocrisy, they are those who, when they gather, their hearts are scattered; in every valley they wander, saying what they do not do and manifesting what they do not conceal. They have taken their religion as a mockery and a play; their deeds are hypocrisy. They consume [wealth] through religion and call themselves believers, yet they are turning away from the Reminder, and in a short while they shall surely become regretful."

He asked: "O my master, by what is the gnostic known and what are the best of his deeds?" He said to him:

It was related to us from the Scholar — Exalted Glory —: "The most fearful of Allah is the one who knows Allah. So, whosoever claims that he is a gnostic of Allah and fearful of Him, let him be in his night and day, his hardship and ease, upon knowledge and certainty that Allah sees him and knows his secret and his private talk. Let him be trusting in Allah, truthful in his speech, patient during hardships, thankful in ease, dignified and modest in his seclusion, mentioning Allah, and in awe of Him. Whosoever is not like that is not a gnostic."¹

He said to him: "O my master, if a person is a gnostic, is he complete and does he pass away (yafna) through gnosis?" He said: "Gnosis shall never be complete except through religion." He asked: "O my master, by what is the religious person known and what are the best of his deeds?" He said: "When he observes Allah in his seclusions, raises himself above the prohibited matters, forbids the soul from its desires, and prefers the Most High, the Most Exalted, and the Hereafter over this world." He said: "O my master, if he is a religious gnostic, is he complete?" He said: "He is not complete until he is a friend (wali) to Allah." He asked: "By what is the friend known?" He said: "When he is known through the Master." He asked: "When is his faith sound?" He