This is a baseline shared by both the believer and the disbeliever alike, for physical temperament encompasses all created beings, though they vary within its degrees in accordance with their cosmic merit [al-istihqaq].'

[193] And from al-'Adawi via the continuous chain of transmission, al-Sadiq—His glory is mighty—was asked concerning Iblis: 'Can he alter his essence so as to manifest in distinct visual forms unto creation?' He replied: 'He is far too impotent [a'jazu] for that.' It was asked: 'Can he then alter the physical eyes of human beings so that they perceive him however he desires?' He replied: 'He is far too weak for that.'

It was asked: 'Then how does it occur?' He replied: 'The eyes of creation perceive alternative forms and visual distortions [al-taghbyir] solely due to an internal defect residing within the sensory organs themselves. It is truly astonishing that they readily accept that their vision can be manipulated by Iblis—who possesses no power to distort it according to his whim—yet they deny this very capacity to Allah, their Creator, Who alters their sight however He wills and Who is the absolute Creator of Iblis!' I asked: 'Can the Lord manifest Himself to His creation in forms matching their own physical images?