I was told (by inspiration)...

I was told (by inspiration): 'They want alchemy for glory and power; the reality of glory and power is in this verse (the aforesaid verse). This set my mind at ease." Several days later, two men (following ascetic practice's) came to my house and asked to meet with me. When we met they said: 'It has been two years since we have been trying to acquire the science of alchemy but to no effect. We appealed to Hazrat Imam al-Reza (a), he referred us to you.

The Shaykh smiled and told them the above story and then added: "I was permanently delivered (from such an aspiration); the reality of alchemy is attaining (proximity with) God Himself." Sometimes the Shaykh would recite the following statement from the supplication of 'Arafah to his friends in respect to the above verdict: "ماذا وجد من فقدك ومالذي فقد من وجدك." "The one who has not found (known) You, what has he found?

And the one who has found you; what has he not found?" Imam al-Sajjad (a) has made an interesting reference to the elixir of love of God at the ending part of the supplication of Makarim al-Akhlaq (Noble Moral Traits). "وانهج لي الى محبتك سبيلا سهلة أكمل لي بها خير الدنيا والآخرة" "...Open a smooth road for me to Thy love, and complete for me thereby the good of this world and the next."[^3] Hafiz has beautifully touched upon this point in his following couplets: 'O ignorant one!

Make an attempt to become insightful, You will not be a leader, unless you are a seeker on the path (yourself first). In the school of truth and with instructor of love, try, O son, to become a father some day. Give up the copper of your existence like the men on the (spiritual) path, So that you discover the elixir of love and turn into gold.

If the light of love shines on your heart and soul, By God you will get brighter than the sun in the heaven.’ The Shaykh's Greatest Art The Shaykh's greatest feature and art was his achievement of "the elixir of love".

He was an expert in practicing this alchemy and was no doubt one of the clearest manifestations of: (يحبهم ويحبونه والذين امنوا أشد حباً لله) (Whom He will love as they will love Him) (al-Ma'idah: 54); and (But those of faith are overflowing in their love for Allah) (al-Baqarah: 165), and whoever approached him would somehow enjoy the elixir of love. The reverend Shaykh said: "Love of God is the last stage of servitude.