and this is the closest possible for if they revealed these secrets hearts would turn away from them and souls would become aware of their cunning. they did not reveal them except after covenants and agreements and they protected them except from those who agreed with them in belief. so how did you come to know about them while they conceal their religion and deduce from their beliefs? i said as for knowing about that we only found it from the side of many people who adhered to their religion and responded to their call then they became aware of their misguidance and returned from their misguidance to the clear truth so they mentioned the sayings that they had thrown at them. as for the reason for the peoples submission to them in some the regions of the earth for they do not divulge this matter except to some of those who respond to them and they advise the caller and say to him beware of taking the same path with everyone for not everyone who can bear to accept these doctrines can bear to be stripped and flayed nor can everyone who can bear to be stripped can bear to be flayed. so let the caller address the people according to their level of intellect.
وهذا هو القريب الممكن فانهم لو أظهروا هذه الاسرار نفرت القلوب عنهم واطلعت النفوس على مكرهم وما باحوا بها الا بعد العهود والمواثيق وصانوها إلا عن موافق لهم في الاعتقاد فمن اين وقع لكم الاطلاع عليها وهم يسترون ديانتهم ويستنبطون بعقائدهم قلت أما الإطلاع على ذلك فانما عثرنا عليه من جهة خلق كثير تدينوا بدينهم واستجابوا لدعوتهم ثم تنبهوا لضلالهم فرجعوا عن غوايتهم الى الحق المبين فذكروا ما ألقوا اليهم من الأقاويل واما سبب انقياد الخلق اليهم في بعض أقطار الأرض فانهم لا يفشون هذا الامر الا الى بعض المستجيبين لهم ويوصون الداعي ويقولون له إياك ان تسلك بالجميع مسلكا واحدا فليس كل من يحتمل قبول هذه المذاهب يحتمل الخلع والسلخ ولا كل من يحتمل الخلع يحتمل السلخ فليخاطب الداعي الناس على قدر عقولهم