And the Name—despite the presence of [the Truth] 1 , the Meaning, the Exalted, and His being observed by the sense of sight—would point toward a hidden,
veiled reality that cannot be seen. He, His glory is magnificent, used to say: "God, the Exalted, said such and such, and commanded me to say such and such." Thus, he referred it [to] 2 a hidden reality that is not seen, and for that reason God, the Exalted, said: "And it is not for any human being that God should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a veil" 3 , while He is observed, witnessed, and present.
And He, the Exalted, used to [address them] 4 and they would address Him, yet they did not know that He is the Creator, the Exalted. This is the meaning of hiddenness (al-butun) alongside the existence of manifestation, and [concealment] 5 alongside direct observation.
As for the [absolute] 6 manifestation to both the elite and the common,