Among all the dominant lights, this entity—our father, the Lord of the talisman of our species, the source of effusion for our nafs (the lower selves), the completer of the intellectual and practical perfections of our nafs, the Rūḥ al-Qudus (the Holy Spirit)—is called by the sages (philosophers) the al-ʿAql al-Faʿʿāl (Active Intellect). All of these are mujarrad (abstract) divine lights. The intellect is the first thing by which wujūd (existence) is constructed. It is also the first thing honored by the First Light. Intellects have multiplied through the abundance of emanations and illuminations, and have been weakened by their nuzūl (descent, or emanation). (Heyākil, 65)
The one who bestows it is as near as the al-ʿAql al-Faʿʿāl, yet as distant as the mabdaʾ-i ḥādith (the highest source). (Heyākil, 95)