While the shaykh was in the al-Tarsīm hall, three monks from Upper Egypt came to see him. He debated with them and established the proof against them that they were disbelievers and did not follow the faith of Abraham and the Messiah.
They said to him: “We do just as you do: you turn to Lady Nafīsah, and we turn to Lady Mary. We and you agree that the Messiah and Mary are superior to al-Husayn and Nafīsah. You seek help from the righteous who came before you, and so do we.”
He replied: “Whoever does that bears a resemblance to you. This is not the religion that Abraham followed. The religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, is that we worship Allah alone, with no partner: He has no equal, no consort and no child. We associate with Him neither an angel, nor the sun, nor the moon, nor a star; nor do we associate with Him any prophet or righteous person.
‘There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.’
Furthermore, things that none but Allah can accomplish must not be sought from anyone else, such as sending down rain, causing plants to grow, relieving distress, guiding people out of error and forgiving sins. No one in all creation can accomplish these things; Allah alone can do so. As for the prophets, may blessings and peace be upon them, we believe in them, esteem them, honour them and follow them