Nor did I hear to that effect from my forefathers...

Nor did I hear to that effect from my forefathers, nor has it been conveyed to me from them through anyone. Yes, what we have said is that people are subservient to us in matters of obedience to Allah, loyal to us in religion.

So let those present here convey this to those who are absent." Imam Al-Ridha on Tawheed He said: And with this chain of narration, he said: I heard al-Ridha, ‘Ali ibn Musa, peace be upon him, speak thus on the subject of Oneness of Allah: "The first step toward worship of Allah is to know Him, and the root of that knowledge is in recognizing His Oneness; And the principle of that recognition lies in negating all definitions from Him; Every reason guides to the fact that anything defined is created (and not the creator), And every created one testifies that it has a creator, who is not created.

The one, who is not contingent, is the One, timeless in eternity. So he who ascribes attributes to Him has not (truly) worshipped Him, And he who knows Him by similitude has not understood His oneness; And one who compares Him (to anything) has not understood the true essence, nor has he confirmed Him if he sets any limit for Him; And he who points towards Him with any of his senses is, in fact, aiming at something other than Him; So, he who likens Him (to others) does not actually mean Him, and he who considers Him a part of the whole, does not actually know Him, and he who imagines Him is indeed deluded.

Everything, which can be encompassed by knowledge and imagination, is created, and everything that is dependent upon others for its existence is an effect. By His creation, we are guided to His existence, and by reason we believe in (the necessity of) knowing Him, and by the innate nature (of human beings) His Proof is established. His creation is a veil between Him and His creatures, and He is distinct from them by His disparateness.

His beginning of their creation is the proof that He has no beginning, for the one who is begun (in time) cannot be a (timeless) beginner; So, all the names used for Him are mere interpretations, and acts attributed to Him are meant for common understanding. Indeed, he who defines or sets a limit to Him, displays ignorance about Him, and he who tries to encompass Him transgresses the bounds. And he who makes a surmise of His Being, misses Him (altogether).

Whoever says 'How is He?' has indeed invoked His likeness, and whoever asks 'Why?' has indeed indulged in explaining Him away.