The Master (al-Mawla) al-Sadiq—mercy be upon him—alluded to this meaning, saying:

"Indeed, the one who establishes them [the outward rites] in secret is like the one who abandons them in public; and the one who abandons them in public is like the one who establishes them in secret."

For if it were permissible for us to establish their outward form and believe in it within the private gatherings of the believers, it would be permissible for us to affirm human attributes (bashariyya) upon the Worlds of Light, to prefer our Prophet Muhammad over all other Prophets and Legatees (Awsiya'), to praise the Three Opponents (al-Adad al-Thalatha), and to believe in all the outward legal limits (al-hudud al-shar'iyya al-zahirah). Such is the doctrine of the People of the Outward (Ahl al-Zahir), the Literalists (al-Hashawiyya), and not the doctrine of the People of Inward Monotheism (Ahl al-Tawhid al-Batin).

Likewise, if it were permissible for us to reject their outward form (zawahir) among the Opponents (al-Adad), it would be permissible for us to divulge the Secret and tear the Veil publicly, and this is never allowed.

Among the contents of this category is the symbol (al-mathal) represented by the Dog of the People of the Cave; it is disparaged outwardly but praised inwardly.