The science of Sufism is not comprehended by allusion or expression

Except through a sincere heart that casts away its lower soul as a sign.

Thus certainty polished the doubt away from it through its truth, and cleared its dust.

The narrative of al-Shibli, may Allah have mercy on him: It is said that he saw a madman whom young boys were pelting with stones, having already gashed his head. So al-Shibli began to scold them and deter them from him, but they said to him: "Let us kill him, for he is an infidel; he claims that he sees his Lord and speaks to Him!" He replied: "Desist from him." Then al-Shibli approached him and found him conversing and laughing, saying: "Is it beautiful of You that You set these boys over me?"

Then he said: "O Shibli, what is being said about me?" He replied to him: "They say that you see your Lord and speak to Him, and He speaks to you." At this, he cried out a tremendous cry and said: "O Shibli! By the truth of the One who infatuated me with His love and enraptured me with His proximity, if He were to veil Himself from me for the blink of an eye, I would surely tear myself apart from the agony of separation!"