9. Al-Husayn ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad ibn Hisham al-Mu`addab رضي الله عنه said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Barmaki said: Muhammad ibn `Abd alRahman al-Khazzaz al-Kufi said: Sulayman ibn Ja`far said: `Ali ibn al-Hakam said: Hisham ibn Salim said I was in the presence of Muhammad ibn al-Mu`man al-Ahwal, when a man stood up before him, and asked him, “How did you recognize your Lord?” He replied, “By means of His Direction, His Instruction, His Introduction, and His Guidance.” He says: I left his presence, and met with Hisham ibn al-Hakam, so I asked him, “What should I say to someone who asks me: how did you recognize your Lord?” Hisham relied, “If someone asked me: what did you recognize your Lord with? I would say: I recognized Allah, High be His Glory, though my own body as that is the thing which is the closest to me. Verily, my body is composed of assembled parts and formed of components which were created, the subject of intelligent design, and engineering. My body increases after decrease, and is reduced after enlargement. My body has different senses, like sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, as well as different limbs. My body was created in weakness, deficiency and contempt. None of the sense can perceive the function of the other, nor do they have strength over others. They are incapable of attracting benefits to themselves and preventing harm to themselves. Wisdom dictates that it is impossible for something to be compiled without a compiler, and that it is impossible for an image to be made without an artist. Thus, I learned that my body has a Creator, and that my image was made by an Artist, Who is contrary to them from all dimensions. Allah, the Mighty and High, has said: And in your own souls (too); will you not then see.