The Least Required for Recognizing Diving Unity

5. Muhammad ibn `Ali Majilwayh رضي الله عنه related to me, on the authority of his paternal uncle Muhammad ibn Abu al-Qasim, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ya`li al-Kufi, on the authority of Juwaybir, on the authority of al-Dahhak, on the authority of Ibn `Abbas, that a Bedouin Arab came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Teach me the wonders of knowledge.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم asked, “Before you ask about the wonders of knowledge, do you know about the beginning of knowledge?” The man enquired, “What is the beginning of knowledge, O Messenger of Allah?” Hence, he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم replied, “Recognizing Allah the way He deserves to be recognized.” The Bedouin further asked, “And how does Allah deserve to be recognized?” He answered, You have recognized Allah as He deserves to be recognized when you recognize that nothing resembles Him, that He has no compeer, and without any equal, that He is One, Alone, Manifest, the First and the Last, without parallel and without a rival. This is how He deserves to be recognized.“