"And his [al-Awni’s] words in the verse: 'Branches whose roots are Mīm and 'Ayn', up to his words:

Through it, the Prayer is established, as is the giving

Of Alms, and through it, the paths of Fasting are guided.

This 'croaker' [al-Awni] has turned the 'Ayn—which is (Ali), and which according to the view of our Sheikh [al-Khasibi], may Allah sanctify his soul, is the Eternal Essence, the One Worshipped—into a mere 'Soul' and a 'Location'! He claims that Ali is [simply] the personification of Prayer, Alms, and Fasting. This is indeed the 'Whispering Slinker' (al-Waswas al-Khannas—Satan)! Then, after this verse, he says:

As for the Ultimate Goal of Goals, He is

The Most High, and for all things, He is like the reins.

Reflect upon what he has said! How he has distinguished between the 'Ayn—which in this context means our Master, the Prince of the Believers (and that is the Truth)—and the 'Ultimate Goal of Goals'. By 'Goal of Goals,' he refers to a God besides Whom there is no other, implying that this Goal is someone other than our Master [Ali]—may He be exalted far above such a claim!

I seek refuge in Allah from these corrupt opinions and whims that lead to perdition, and from the companionship of the denier nations and the stubborn generations.