(the Exalted): {And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakat} (Maryam 55)—the Prayer is the Commander of the Faithful [Ali], and the Zakat is the knowledge [Gnosis] of him."

Notice: Prayer and the word of Majesty fall upon the Name and the Meaning; the election

Notice: The name "Prayer" is applied to the Meaning [Al-Ma'na] and the Name [Al-Ism], just as the Name of Majesty [Allah] is applied to the Meaning and the Name—measure for measure.

Among them is also what appeared in the thirteenth chapter of the book (Al-Haft wa al-Azilla) regarding the knowledge of Purity [Al-Safa] and Selection [Al-Istifa], and what outward deeds fall away from the believer when he ascends to this station? Mufaddal said: I said to my Master, "You have explained Purity to me and I have known it, so what is the meaning of Selection?"

He said: Selection [Istifa] is above the degree of the Prophets, and it is the Message [Risala]. Allah the Exalted said: {Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran over the worlds. Descendants, some of them from others, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing} (Al-Imran 33-34). We are the descendants.

I said: If one of them reaches this degree, does he ascend to another? He said: Yes, he ascends to the Veil [Hijab], and it is the first degree we