manifest to His creation) in vain by believing in someone other than Him or in that which does not befit Him? Just as "poverty"—which is the veiling and the inability to grasp the esoteric (Batin)—causes me to "steal" from the corrupt, forbidden sciences by believing in them or in a portion of them.

Al-Sayyid al-Makzun—may Allah sanctify him—said regarding this meaning in verse:

A youth’s striving for more than a sufficient

livelihood is the pinnacle of his ignorance.

In summary, I say: All blameworthy and forbidden foods and drinks mentioned in the revealed Books represent the corrupt exoteric sciences and their masters; likewise, all praised and permissible foods and drinks represent the true esoteric sciences and their masters.

This is supported by what was narrated from the Messiah [Jesus], peace be upon him, in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John: {So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey sat thus by the well; it was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink,' for his disciples had gone into the city to buy food.