possessor of knowledge is one more knowing»1. And what I say is: if I am worthy of what I requested and deserving of the saying: 'Do not withhold wisdom from its people lest you wrong it, and do not give it to other than its people lest you waste it.' Allah — Exalted Glory — said in His Book: «And as for the blessing of your Lord, relate [it]»2 and there can be no blessing more magnificent than gnosis. «And do good as Allah has done good to you»3 if you find me worthy and deserving of that."
The Muslim said: "By Allah, were it not for what I know of your response, what I have established of your religion, and what I have realized of your virtue and nobility, my chest would not have expanded to discourse with you, nor would my soul have allowed discussion with you. I have known that you are worthy of what you requested and deserving of what you sought; however, I shall place conditions upon you. If you fulfill my covenant, I shall mention to you what you want from me." The idolater said: "Mention to me the conditions you place upon me and the covenant you take from me; for I am trusting in Allah — Exalted Glory — to grant me success and direct me, and He did not gather me with you except for my deliverance, that you might be the cause of my salvation."
The Muslim said: "What I want to put forth from my speech is that I want you to hide it, cover it, act by it, accept it, and realize it. Do not doubt it nor be suspicious. For if you deviate from my word, reveal it, spread it, suspect it, or doubt anything of it, you shall be transferred into the worst of metamorphosis, repeated in the cycles (al-adwār), and punished in the ages (al-akwār). After that, you must avoid the prohibited matters, hasten to noble deeds, perform righteous actions, establish the prayers in their times, give the zakat to its people, rely on the truth and act by it, speak the truth and avoid lying, and be loyal to the friends of Allah and antagonistic to His enemies." The idolater said: