offering him a subtle allusion; [whereupon he understood my intent from it] 1 . The rest of the group was present, and not a single one among them spoke.
Then Rabiah returned to the discourse regarding the Lineage (al-satr) and asked, "What do you say concerning the Lineage of the Imamate?"
I replied, "Tell me first what you hold regarding it?"
He said, "I say it is essential and spiritual (ma'nawiyyun dhatiyy)."
So I said to him, "If it is essential, isolate your Lord for me within it?"
He replied, "I say that the speech is spiritual while the [sacred] Stations (al-buyūt) belong to the Name."
I said to him, "Does the Meaning manifest except through the Name? And what is the meaning of the form belonging to the Name while the speech is spiritual?" He could find no answer to this other than his initial statement.
I then said to him, "Will you defer to me so that I may provide you with its exposition?"