Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): Jabir al-Ju'fi said: I said to Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): "Praise be to Allah who bestowed upon us the favour of knowing you, made us understand your excellence and station, and granted us the ability to obey you and to befriend your friends and be at enmity with your enemies." He said: "Jabir, do you know what ma'rifah (recognition) is? Ma'rifah is, firstly, affirming tawhid (the oneness of Allah); secondly, ma'rifah of the ma'ani (meanings); then ma'rifah of the abwab (gates); and in the fourth degree recognition of the people; then knowing the arkan (pillars); and in the sixth rank knowing the nuqaba (chiefs) and the pure ones; and in the seventh stage knowing the nujaba (nobles). And this is the interpretation of the noble verse: 'And if all the trees on the earth were pens, and the sea were ink for it, with seven more seas added to it, all these would end but the words of Allah would not come to an end. Allah is Mighty, Wise.' (Luqman/27). Jabir! [Now I explain to you] the affirmation of tawhid and the ma'rifah of the ma'ani. As for the affirmation of tawhid, it is: eyes do not see Him but He sees all eyes, and He is the Bestower [of all kinds of blessings, and Aware of the finest details of creatures], and Knowing [of all] things. (An'am/103) And He is unseen and hidden; in the manner in which He has described Himself, you will come to know Him. As for the ma'ani, we are the ma'ani of Allah and His manifestations amongst you. He created us from the light of His own Essence and entrusted to us the affairs of His servants. We, by His permission, do whatever we wish. When we wish, Allah wishes; and when we intend, Allah intends. Allah has raised us to this station and chosen us from among His servants and made us His proof upon the earth. Whoever denies any one of these things and rejects it has rejected Allah and has disbelieved in His signs and prophets and messengers (peace be upon them)."