I call to God being upon sure knowledge…That is, ‘I convey the message, but I am not in possession of guidance. The guidance is up to You.’ Sahl was asked about the words of the Prophet : ‘The effort of a striving person cannot avail him against You.’ He said:Whoever is assiduous in his quest, but finds his assiduity (jidd) is met by an impediment (manʿ) from You, will not be benefitted by striving in his quest.And he said:For sure, the inner truth [or secret, sirr] has not been revealed to people, for if it were disclosed to them then they would have perceived it. Nor have they witnessed [it], for if they had witnessedit, the whole matter would be over, and that is a grave matter. Then he [Sahl] said:The People of ‘There is no God but God’ are many but the sincere among them are few. But God knows best.His words, Exalted is He: