said: "When there remains in his heart no place for other than Allah; then his heart becomes sound for him, his intellect becomes pure, and he knows his Lord."

He said: "If the Creator is, as you mentioned, seen but not veiled in His mysteries, subtle and not perceived, if He abstains the eyes do not see Him and thoughts do not reach Him, then how is He known and by what description is He described?" He said to him: "O my son, He is known by His power and described by His wisdom. His actions indicate Him, His proof ends with Him, and His secrets veil Him." He asked: "O my master, what veil hides Him and what existence encompasses Him?"

He said: "The veil is a disease that covers the hearts because of the acquisition of sins. If gnosis, religion, loyalty (wala'), faith, and sincerity are sound, the veil is lifted, and doubt and suspicion vanish." He asked: "What is the sign of the sincere one and what are the best of his deeds?" He said: "When his love and hate are for Allah's sake, his humility is without abasement, his asceticism in the world is without lack, and his actions are righteous without any [hidden] ailment." He asked: "O my master, which actions are the most fulfilling and most righteous?" He said: "That you place things in their proper places and do good for those worthy of it, and [place] wealth with those who deserve it."¹

He asked: "O my master, which sciences are the highest and most sublime?" He said: "The Divinely-inspired science (al-'ilm al-rabbāni) and spiritual medicine. The Divinely-inspired science is the science of our Masters, the People of the House — Exalted Glory — and that you gain understanding in what they said and ponder upon what they mentioned." He asked: "O my master, and what is spiritual medicine?" He said: "That you adopt their manners, act according to their deeds, do not contradict any word of theirs, and do not disobey any command of theirs."