them in His Mighty Book along this course, like for like, and measure for measure (Wazn bi-Wazn).

And God has applied in His Mighty Book the name of the praiseworthy to the blameworthy, and the name of the blameworthy to the praiseworthy; and He named the luminous persons (al-Ashkhas al-Nuraniyyah) and the divine gnoses (al-Ma'arif al-Ilahiyyah) with the names of worldly things. And the literalists (al-Hashwiyyah) among the people of the exoteric (Ahl al-Zahir) have claimed that God Almighty intended by His address in His Mighty Book the worldly named objects; while He, Glory be to Him, intends nothing but the luminous persons and the lordly gnoses. Just as the Master (al-Mawla) 'Ali al-Rida, upon us from him is pleasure, informed us saying:

"There is neither food, nor drink, nor clothing in the Book of God; rather, they are struck examples (Amthilah Madrubah), having meanings, each one according to the meaning it deserves. And likewise, there is neither jewel, nor silver, nor gold, nor perfumes, nor beasts of burden; and indeed, all of that are examples."

And from Muhammad bin Sadaqah, he said: The Master (al-Mawla) 'Ali al-Rida, from him is peace, said: "That is not [only] in the Book of God alone, but also our speech, the People of the House (Ahl al-Bayt), has nothing in it of what has passed [i.e., literal worldly things]. Rather, those are struck examples (Amthilah Madrubah), persons (Ashkhas),