But their words do have a hidden secret and an inward reality known only to the select among creation. This secret is even more steeped in unbelief and heresy than their outward meaning. Their doctrine contains subtleties, obscurities, and hidden meanings that many people may not understand. Thus, you find many ordinary people of religious devotion, goodness, and worship reciting Ibn al-Fārid’s poem, responding to it with displays of ecstasy, and venerating it, supposing that it expresses the words of people of monotheism and spiritual knowledge. Yet they understand neither the poem nor its author’s intent.

Likewise, groups of people renowned for learning and religious devotion hear these people’s words without understanding their true meaning. They may withhold judgment or describe their doctrine in terms that reflect a failure to understand its true nature. Alternatively, they may reject it in general terms without knowing what it really means, and so forth. This is how most people stand in relation to them.

When their leaders see someone who has not understood the true meaning of their doctrine, they see an opportunity in him and say:

“He is one of the scholars of outward forms, one of those concerned with outward appearances and mere husks.”

They say, “This knowledge of ours can be attained only through unveiling and direct witnessing, and this requires certain conditions.” They also say, “This is not your nest; move along,” and similar things that exalt this knowledge, arouse a longing for it, and portray anyone who has not attained it as ignorant.

If, however, they see that he understands their doctrine, they claim him as one of their own and say:

“He is one of the greatest masters of spiritual knowledge.”