Chapter One: Preface and the Reason for Authoring Bayan Al-Iradat

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to God who made the exoteric aspects (Zawahir) of acts of worship as walls over the treasures of the hidden secrets, and as forms and struck examples to indicate the esoteric aspects (Bawatin) of the wills, and as burdens/fetters (Asar) upon the people of doubt and suspicion. Thus, {a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.} (Al-Hadid: 13).

Because he who drinks from its river is of the people of corruption and obstinacy, and whoever does not taste it, he is of the people of responsiveness and guidance, {except for one who takes [but] a single handful with his hand.} (Al-Baqarah: 249), neither desiring [it] nor transgressing, in order to establish it as a veil over the Kaaba of his religion among the adversaries (al-Addad), and a sign pointing to the reality of what is intended.

And His continuous, blessed, and pure prayers be upon His Name (Ism) and His Veil (Hijab), which He originated from the light of the Essence, and manifested to us what He manifested of the forms of acts of worship and the verbal and practical examples indicating anthropomorphism (Tashbih), negation (Nafi), and affirmation (Ithbat),