is what was mentioned by the author of the book Realities of the Secrets of Religion (Haqa’iq Asrar al-Din) in the sixth chapter, on the authority of Ishaq in the book The Path (Al-Sirat). He said: Muhammad ibn Abdullah narrated to me, from Salih ibn ‘Uqba, from his father, from [Imam] al-Sadiq, that a man entered upon him and said:

"Are you the one who says: 'If you know [the truth], I do not care if I do not pray'?"

The Imam replied: "They [the Imams] are the Prayer (Al-Salat). We are better than the prayer; we have made it for mankind like clothes—if one leaves it, he becomes naked. Is it fitting for any of you to walk in the markets naked?"

Verily, all obligations are necessary for the People of the Outward (Ahl al-Zahir); they are mandated upon them in the form of shackles and burdens (Al-Asar wa al-Aghlal) and deeds which are [mere] instruments that Allah does not accept because they are ignorant of Allah and do not recognize Him.

However, they are mandated upon the People of the Inward (Ahl al-Batin) and those with Gnosis (Ma'rifa) of Allah—Glory be to Him—for the purpose of discipline (ta’dib), dissimulation (taqiya), and the establishment of the Outward.