When I prostrated, I was called: 'O Zawayrid Dhaba, do you draw near to me with impurities? Do you not know that you are upon a forbidden, metamorphosed, impure, and filthy land? Raise your head and commune with me in your heart; I shall bring you closer and grant you what you desire of me.' So I departed in terror."

The trustworthy youth Abu Sa'id—may Allah sanctify him—cited in the book (Al-Dala'il) [The Proofs] regarding this meaning, a question on His saying: "Do not seek the Outward Science, for you will perish."

The Answer: Seek the Inward Science [Ilm al-Batin], for in it is salvation from the Fire.

From the book (Al-Dala'il): The practice of Taqiyya [dissimulation] is permissible among the Opposites [Al-Adhdad] only; as for among the believers, it is not.

Also from it is his saying: A question regarding the prayer—that a smile does not break it, but laughter [Qahqaha] breaks it? The Answer: His saying: "A smile does not break the prayer" refers to the performance of Taqiyya with the Opposites if the Opposite rules over him—meaning, it does not break the Gnosis [Ma'rifa] if he does not believe in the ritual in his heart.