So when I said to him: "I [do not] 1 establish a form upon the Originator," doubt concerning me crept into him, and he did not show gentleness or patience so that I might clarify my objective to him. Instead, he said: "Is this also your statement regarding the Divine Seven (al-sab'ah al-dhatiyyah) who are the indivisible, partless atom (al-juz' al-asamm)?"
I replied to him: ["What is the meaning of the partless atom? What is that which is indivisible? What is a part?"] 2 And what is the atom (al-asamm)? [But he could not return an answer] 3
Then I asked: "What do you say regarding the Line of the Imamate (satr al-imamah)?"
He said to me: "It is semantic and essential (ma'nawi dhatiy)."
I said to him: "Do you bear witness to the form of al-Hasan?"
He replied: "No."
I said to him: "How is it essential [and yet you do not bear witness to it?] 4 "