just as if an order were to come from one of the kings—no, rather it is an action by his hand and proceeding from his essence. And likewise is the statement regarding the Mim appearing from the light of the Essence. And the parable for that is like the fire existing within glass upon facing the sun; neither does the sun touch the glass, nor does the glass touch the sun at all, but rather through facing only, and if the extension of the sun were cut off from the glass, there would be no action.

[81] And Muhammad ibn Muqatil said in his treatise "The Method of Knowledge and Clarification" [Manhaj al-Ilm wa al-Bayan]: Indeed, our Master, His glory is mighty, said: "My manifest is the inward of My Name, and the manifest of My Name is the inward of My Gate," its meaning is: I am not known except from the direction of My Name, and My Name is not known except from the direction of My Gate.

And Abu Said said in his Najhiyyah Treatise: And the example of the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic—and He is Muhammad—to Salman: “Move not your tongue concerning it to make haste therewith,” so this is the status of Muhammad among the people of the manifest [exoteric]; thus whatever was said regarding Muhammad manifestly belongs to Salman inwardly.