and by the truth he sees, and by the truth he strikes, and by the truth he walks. He loves from it what Allāh loves and hates from it what Allāh hates. He aligns with what Allāh aligns with and opposes what Allāh opposes. He fears Allāh in it and does not fear it in Allāh, and he hopes in Allāh in it and does not hope in it in Allāh. This is the sound heart, the upright, monotheistic, submitting, believing, realized, and knowledgeable heart with the knowledge of the prophets and messengers, their realization, and their monotheism. This third type, which is annihilation in existence, is the realization of the people of Pharaoh, their knowledge, and their monotheism, like the Qarmatians and their likes. As for the type that the followers of the prophets adhere to, it is the praiseworthy annihilation, by which its possessor is among those whom Allāh has praised from His pious allies, His successful party, and His victorious soldiers. The intention of the shaykhs and the righteous with this statement is not that what I see with my eyes from the created beings is the Lord of the earth and the heavens. For this is only said by one who is in the utmost misguidance and corruption, either due to a corruption of intellect or a corruption of belief, thus he is wavering between madness and atheism. All the shaykhs who are followed in religion agree on what the predecessors of the ummah and its leaders agreed upon, that the Creator, glorified be He, is distinct