narration reaching Al-Mufaddal bin ‘Umar—peace be from him—who said: "My Master said: 'If not for the disguise (Talbees), no one would be ignorant of God; and if not for the explicit declaration (Tasreeh), no one would know God.' Indeed, Allah hid His religion until it was thought that He loves not to be worshipped; and He manifested His secret until it was thought that He loves not to be unknown. And He manifested upon Himself weakness (‘ajz), killing, and human states so that the disbeliever would believe that He is a human being like him; this was so that those attributes, names, and states in the human manifestations would be a veil, a covering, and a fortress that prevents the disbeliever..."

from knowing Him—the Almighty—and so that this may also be a proof that guides the believer on how to teach and discipline [others] regarding Veiling (Al-Tastur), as we have previously stated.

Among what indicates this meaning as well is what the Lord Christ—peace be upon him—declared to his disciples when they asked him, saying: "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"

He answered and said unto them: "Because it is given unto you to know the Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven (Asrar Malakut al-Samawat), but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to