and put to death. There is much like this in the Book of Allah; were I to mention it, the assembly would grow long."

The idolater said: "Who then was the caller to Him after the absence of the Messenger?" He said: "Amir Al-Muminin — Exalted Glory — called to himself through allusion (talwīḥ) and declaration (taṣrīḥ). There is no sermon he delivered except he has in it speech indicating his Meaning-ness (ma'nawiyya)—that he is the Greatest Eternity and the Foremost Lord. He has in the Book a peer and a proof indicating him. From the Book is His saying: «And that to your Lord is the finality. And that it is He who makes laugh and makes weep. And that it is He who causes death and gives life. And that He created the mates, the male and the female, from a sperm-drop when it is emitted. And that [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation. And that it is He who enriches and suffices. And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius. And that He destroyed the first 'Ad and Thamud, leaving [of them] none. And the people of Noah before. Indeed, they were more unjust and more oppressive»¹.

Along with his — Exalted Glory — saying in the Sermon of Disclosure (Khuṭbat al-Bayān): 'I am the Goal of the Finality, I am the Greatest Sign, I am the Mightiest Proof. I made laugh and made weep, I caused death and gave life, I enriched and sufficed. Upon the Throne I became established, over the Kingdom I encompassed, and with Moses I communed. I destroyed the first 'Ad and Thamud, leaving none. There is no repeller for what I intended, and no reverser for what I decreed.' And His saying in the Book: «Say, "O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent"»².