Kashf al-Maḥjūb (Persian Critical Edition)

I do this so that at the beginning of the book, I may fulfill the intent of the work and the answer. Since the intention of the servant is joined to the beginning of his work, even if a flaw appears in that work, the servant is excused for it. This is based on what the Prophet—peace be upon him—said: "The intention of the believer is better than his deed." Intending at the start of a deed is better than starting a deed without an intention. Intention in affairs is a great authority and a truthful proof, for by a single intention, a servant passes from one state to another without any effect appearing on his outward form. Just as a person who is hungry for a time without the intention of fasting, there is no reward for him in it; but when he has made the intention of fasting in his heart, he becomes among those brought near, without any mark appearing on his outward appearance. It is like a traveler who enters a city and stays for a period: he does not become a resident until he makes the intention to reside, and once he has made that intention, he becomes a resident. There are many examples of this. Therefore, performing the intention for good at the beginning of an act is the fulfillment of its right. And God knows best.

Section: As for what I said, that I named this book Kashf al-Maḥjūb Unveiling the Hidden, the intent was that the name of the book should be expressive of what is inside the book, so that those with insight, upon hearing the name of the book, might know what the intent behind it has been. Know that the entire world is veiled from the subtlety of God's truth original: "لطیفهٔ تحقیق خداوندی", except for the friends of God Almighty and the dear ones of His court. Since this book is in explanation of the path of Truth, the exposition of words, and the unveiling of the veils of humanity, no other name would have been suitable for it. In reality, the unveiling of the object is the destruction of the veil, just as the veil is the destruction of the unveiled. That is to say, just as near has no distance, and distance has no nearness. Like a creature that rises from vinegar and dies if it falls into anything else, and what rises from other things perishes in vinegar. And the path of traversing these meanings is very difficult, except...