Amir Al-Muminin — Exalted Glory — said: 'Seek us beneath the crowns of the kings.' They are the owners of knowledge and the crown of the scholars—the best of them in knowledge and the widest in understanding. The crown of the scholar is his tongue; thus, He commanded that His gnosis be sought from the mouths of the scholars.

It is related that it was found written on the belt of one of the wise men: 'If Allah is the most magnificent of things, then the gnosis of Him is the most magnificent of sciences.' And it was related: 'If Allah is the Goal of goals, then the gnosis of Him is the most magnificent of ends.'

Were it not for the Manifestation, existence would not be sound nor gnosis of Him established. The denier would be truthful and not a liar, for he denied what he did not know; and the acknowledger would be a liar, for he acknowledged what he did not know."

The idolater said: "I have contemplated what you mentioned of establishing the Manifestation and I believe in it. I have realized what you mentioned to me and what the people of elevation said, their differing views and the firmness of their inclinations—that a people claimed the Imam who manifested the miracles and brought the dazzling powers and manifest wisdoms is a body not like bodies and a form not like forms; and a people said that the onlooker only sees himself, and likewise the Creator — may He be exalted — veiled the perceptions of the servants from perceiving Him, and He is only inferred by what appears of His actions; and that a people said that which the world sees is a Station manifested by Allah from His light to manifest His power, and He educated the world with His manners and established among them His judgments—from Him they are sought, with Him found, and by Him known; and that a people said His Most High Name, His Greatest Sign, His Mightiest Proof, His speaking tongue, His towering light, and the Wise Creator are One."

The idolater said: "I want you to mention to me what you and those who follow you upon the Truth say, those who tread the paths of salvation