their leaders, nor do they grasp it. In this they resemble the Christians: the more foolish and ignorant the shaykh is, the more knowledgeable about Allah he is in their eyes, and the greater their esteem for him.

Like the Christians, they have some share in worshipping the Lord in whom they have disbelieved. This lasts as long as one of them remains behind the veil. But if the veil is lifted from his heart and he recognizes that he himself is He, then he has a choice: either to exempt himself from commands and prohibitions and remain unrestrained, doing whatever he pleases; or to maintain the station of command and prohibition in order to preserve the ranks, and so that those who remain veiled—the majority of people—may follow his example. They claim that the prophets were likewise, since they counted them among those who had attained perfection.