Verily, Ali—in His hand is the dominion, and He is over all things Capable. Verily, Ali created you as phantoms (ashbahan) and various species. Verily, Ali is their Originator and Creator; no one can endure [His majesty] upon seeing Him." Then [Muhammad] turned, and behold, our Lord the Commander of the Faithful [Ali]—Glorified be His Might—was sitting on his right. He said to Him: "I ask You by the might of Your Might, and the might of the majesty of Your Grandeur, and the greatness of Your Kingdom, and the magnitude of Your Divinity, that You manifest Yourself." No sooner had the speech of the Master Muhammad—Glorified be His Might—concluded than our Lord the Commander of the Bees [Ali]—Glorified be His Might—concealed His physical person and became for us a Great Light whose being could not be encompassed, nor its limit perceived. We were overtaken by a swoon and drowsiness from

the intensity of His light, as if we were seeing Him in dreams. Had that been through the sight of the eyes, intellects would have been dazed and sights would have perished. However, something like the drowsiness of slumber and a swoon fell upon us, and we began to say: "Glory be to Thee, how great is Thy state! We believe in Thee, and we attest to Thy messengers." Not one of us remained but was prostrating, seeing a dream because of the awe and fear that fell upon us; we were beset by trembling and palpitations.