[205] And from it: And in Al-Manaqib on the authority of Al-Asbagh bin Nubatah who said, the Commander of the Faithful (exalted be his might) said in some of his sermons: "O people,

I am the Imam of the creation, the legatee (wasi) of the best of creation, and the father of the pure, guiding progeny (itrah). I am the brother of the Messenger of Allah (exalted be his might) and his legatee, his guardian (wali), his chosen one (safi), and his beloved. I am the Commander of the Faithful, the leader of the brightly distinguished ones (al-ghurr al-muhajjalin), and the master of the legatees. My war is the war of Allah, my peace is the peace of Allah, my obedience is the obedience of Allah, my allegiance (wilayah) is the allegiance of Allah, my followers are the guardians (awliya) of Allah, and my helpers are the helpers of Allah.

[206] And from it: And it has been established among the scholars of the Spiritual Path (Tariqah) and the sheikhs of the Truth (Haqiqah) by authentic transmission and clear unveiling (kashf) that our Master, the Commander of the Faithful (exalted is his might), stood upon the pulpit of the congregational mosque in Kufa delivering a sermon and said: "Praise be to Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth and their Creator," up to his saying: "O people, the proverb has circulated, the deed has been realized, the eunuchs have taken charge, and the women have ruled," up to his saying: