a peer, an example, or an equal, and no place contains Him, no time restricts Him, He does not fluctuate in illusions, and intellects do not attain His [Gnosis]; rather, names and attributes apply to Him when He is manifest to His creation; for He is seen, described, and known, and He has a name, an attribute, and a form, and in His hiddenness no attribute applies to Him, He is not described by a description, He is not measured by letters, and none knows what He is except He, and He is greater, more majestic, and larger than what we see and witness."

So this is what we had spoken in your presence—may Allah make the auspiciousness of your countenance happy—and you heard it from me and comprehended it from me, so you did not deny it to me nor did you reject it back to me.

And when we parted and you headed toward your country—may Allah cause you to reach your purpose and may your happiness endure—one of your brothers reached me—may Allah magnify his status and your status—that you denied this saying to me, and you said: "Indeed, it is neither acceptable nor is it reasonable," and you said: "Indeed, the Meaning [al-Ma‘nā] is transcendent above the human form resembling humans,