In the sermons (Al-Khutab), He has named Himself by many of the sensible things mentioned in the Quran, such as the Fig, the Olive, the Staff, the She-Camel, the Hoopoe, Thunder, Lightning, the Sea, the Earth, and others...

And this indicates to the wise scholar that He—the Almighty—does not want us to believe in these ephemeral things, just as He does not want us to believe in the forms of these Outward Worships (Al-‘Ibadat al-Zahira). Rather, He—the Glorified—made them parables and images to point to the Inward (Batin) and for us to use them as a Veil (Sitr) for the Inward. All of this is a Disguise (Talbees) and Maneuvering (Makar) against the persistent disbeliever, to whom it is not permissible to disclose the Inward Secrets (Al-Asrar al-Batina). Furthermore, He—the Glorified—manifested miracles and powers in both words and deeds, declaring explicitly: "I am Allah, there is no god but I."

All of this is an instruction and an awakening for the affirming believers, from whom it is not permissible to conceal the Inward Gnosis (Al-Ma‘rifa al-Batina); so that they may know with full knowledge that the One manifested to them through these names, descriptions, and human states is Allah, who is Transcendent (Munazzah) above them.

This is confirmed by what was narrated in the Book of the Image and the Parable (Kitab al-Sura wa al-Mithal), with a chain of