as for the trick of binding it is to bind his tongue with strong oaths and confirmed pledges that he does not dare to violate under any circumstances. this is a copy of the covenant. the supplicant says to the respondent you have made upon yourself the covenant and pledge of god and the pledge of his messenger peace be upon him and what god took from the prophets of a covenant and pledge that you will be pleased with what you have heard from me and what you have heard and learned and what you have learned of my affair and the affair of the resident of this city for the owner of the truth the imam mahdi and the affairs of his brothers and companions and his children and his family and the affairs of those who obey him in this religion and the sincerity of the mahdi. and to be sincere with his followers males and females young and old and not to show from that little or much that you indicate to him except what i have given you permission to speak about or what the owner of the matter residing in this country or another has given you permission to do then you will act according to the amount that we have prescribed for you and not exceed it. you have made upon yourself the fulfillment of what i have mentioned to you and obligated yourself to it in the state of desire and fear and anger and satisfaction and you have made upon yourself the covenant and pledge of god that you will follow me and all of those i have named for you and made clear to you from what you prevent yourself from and that you will advise us and the imam. be a friend of god both outwardly and inwardly and do not betray god nor his friend nor any of his brothers and allies nor anyone who is from him or from us by reason of family wealth or blessings. and there is no opinion or covenant that you can take upon this covenant in a way that invalidates it.
وأما حيلة الربط فهو ان يربط لسانه بأيمان مغلظة وعهود مؤكدة لا يجسر على المخالفة لها بحال وهذه نسخة العهد يقول الداعي للمستجيب جعلت على نفسك عهد الله وميثاقه وذمة رسوله عليه السلام وما أخذ الله على النبيين من عهد وميثاق أنك تسر ما سمعته مني وتسمعه وعلمته وتعلمه من امري وامر المقيم بهذه البلدة لصاحب الحق الامام المهدي وامور اخوانه واصحابه وولده واهل بيته وامرو المطيعين له على هذا الدين ومخالصة المهدي ومخالصة شيعته من الذكور والاناث والصغار والكبار ولا تظهر من ذلك قليلا ولا كثيرا تدل به عليه الا ما اطلقت لك ان تتكلم به او اطلق لك صاحب الامر المقيم في هذا البلد او غيره فتعمل حينئذ بمقدار ما نرسمه لك ولا تتعداه جعلت على نفسك الوفاء بما ذكرته لك وألزمته نفسك في حال الرغبة والرهبة والغضب والرضا وجعلت على نفسك عهد الله وميثاقه ان تتبعني وجميع من اسميه لك وأبينه عندك مما تمنع منه نفسك وان تنصح لنا وللآمام ولي الله نصحا ظاهرا وباطنا والا تخون الله ولا وليه ولا احدا من إخوانه وأوليائه ومن يكون منه ومنا بسبب من اهل ومال ونعمة وانه لا رأي ولا عهد تتناول على هذا العهد بما يبطله