As for what is hidden from their sight, intellects, and understandings—symbolized by the Night—it is called the Inward (Batin). This diversity exists only from the aspect of their pre-eternity or createdness, not from the aspect of the Pre-eternal One (al-Azal) who does not diversify, nor transform, nor cease to be. The Exalted said: {Nor does the night outstrip the day} (Ya-Sin 40), so that we may infer that the priority we see in His manifestation—the Exalted—is from the aspect of priority in creation, not from the aspect of His existence—the Exalted—for whom no state precedes another so as to be first before being last, or to be inward before being outward.

Know, O asker, that the nights and days were formed by the rising and setting of the sun; likewise, the worlds of light were formed by the overflows of the lights of the Veil (Hijab), which draws from its Meaning (Ma'na). Just as every day has a night and a day, so too the overflows have an outward and an inward—meaning outward to them as it is, and inward from them, meaning they do not see it as it is. Therefore, He—the Exalted—is called Inward and Outward. Just as the night and day never cease their diligent renewal, so too His manifestations—the Exalted—of worship are permanent in their inwardness and outwardness.

That is, every existence among them has never ceased to be outward as it is and inward as it is not seen. His existence—the