remaining present in their hands at the time of occultation through death or slaying. They then behold that very form—which was once in their sights—lying upon the washing table (al-mughtasal), while its Possessor is already speaking from a new station.
The worldly masses say, "So-and-so has died or been slain," and thus the physical form and the name [belonging to it remain in their hands while they] 1 are veiled from the speaking Meaning, who has manifested through a name other than that name, and a form other than that form.
Which [form] 2 then is more worthy of being pointed to among the forms? Is it the one manifesting speech, action, and life, or the form manifesting transition, visibly laid upon the washing table? And following this succession, it continues until the finality of the manifestations.
From a single station, deduction is made for the rest of the stations, and an allusion for the gnostics suffices instead of explicit declaration.