The Content of the Form

"...declaring the essence of the truth of this matter [i.e., the content of the form--in the Islamic tradition, the 99 most beautiful names of Allah] all but contradicts whatever the collectivity has hitherto believed. Now weaning creatures from their habits and familiar beliefs is difficult, and the threshold of truth is too exalted to be broached by all or to be sought after except by lone individuals. The nobler the thing sought after the less help there is. Whoever mixes with people is right to be cautious; but it is difficult for one who has seen the truth to pretend not to have seen it. For one who does not know God--great and glorious--silence is inevitable, while for one who knows God most high, silence is imposed. So it is said: 'for one who knows God, his tongue is dulled'" (Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali, The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God, translated with notes by David B. Burrell and Nazih Daher, Cambridge, England: The Islamic Texts Society (1995), 2).

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.