and to which He is entitled as befits His majesty. He caused a glimmer of it to flash into the innermost hearts of a group from among His elect, rendered them speechless from describing it, and left them incapable of disclosing it. The formulation [by which] (1) those who speak through allusion refer to it is that it consists in effacing the originated realm (2) and affirming the Pre-Eternal. Yet even this allusion is a flaw with respect to that tawhīd, and [that tawhīd] (3) cannot be sound unless the flaw itself is removed.

This is the central point of what the learned followers of this path (4) say in allusion to it, though they devise ornate descriptions for it and divide it into sections (5). For expression only increases the obscurity (6) of that tawhīd; description makes it more elusive; and elaboration makes it more difficult. The practitioners of spiritual discipline and masters of spiritual states have fixed their sights upon this tawhīd (7); toward it (8) the people of reverence have aspired; and it (9) is what those who spoke of the very essence of comprehensive witnessing intended. All allusions are annihilated before it. Yet no tongue has spoken of it (10), and no expression has ever pointed to it, for tawhīd lies beyond whatever any created being may indicate, any report (11) may attempt to convey, or any cause may bear.”

He said (12): “Long ago (13), I answered someone who asked me about the tawhīd of the Sufis