"SECTION ON MONOTHEISM AND THE MANIFESTATION OF THE CREATOR"

[83] And Al-Sadiq, His glory is mighty, said: "Indeed, Allah made Himself known to His creation seven times within this body, and they refused to accept Him; and He will present [Himself] to them an eighth time and place the sword in this place." And to this he indicated by his saying: "My manifest is an Imamate and a Testament, and its inward is a hidden, spiritual aspect that cannot be comprehended."

Likewise, it is understood from his saying: "The form of existence is what has been verified through witnessing and has fallen under sensory perception; thus, you conceive the world as existing from the Form."

And the intent is the comprehension of an abstract intellect, subsisting in the whole, whose existence precedes the existing things—an Essence into which neither deficiency nor change enters, and He is perfect in His Essence, and He is the One who was indicated to as "the Whole." Thus, when it becomes known to the soul and the sense, its inward belongs to reality [Al-Haqiqah] and its manifest belongs to gnosis [Al-Ma'rifah]. If it is said, "He died during the lifespan of the manifestation,