The manifestation (ẓuhūr) is that which desires oneness (waḥdāniyya). Because of this desire, it has been named "witr" (odd, single). Thus, this One (al-Wāḥid) appointed as deputy (wakil) the one who represents him in the matter of guarding against it. He also made the gnostic (ʿārif) a deputy with the tongue of the Real (al-Ḥaqq), and said: O judge who seeks the vengeance of aḥadiyya (absolute oneness)! Aḥadiyya has not departed. What you seek is what duality (ithnainiyya) has given. It is neither three, nor four, nor anything higher. For it does not give what its reality does not require. What duality gives us is the aḥadiyya of two, as far as it goes, and likewise the aḥadiyya of three, four, and so on.
This is so because the essences of numbers indicate, by their aḥadiyya, upon your aḥadiyya and upon that aḥadiyya. You have only heard what pertains to you and what is due to you. In this ḥāl (spiritual state), you also know that the numbers in the cosmos have only manifested because of the rulings of the Divine Names. They are many, but despite being many, their aḥadiyya is realized. This One (al-Wāḥid) wished that the aḥadiyya of the Names not remain unknown to the essences of numbers, so that multiplicity would not come to mind regarding the Essence (Dhāt) of Allah. For this reason, the existence of multiplicity to which the essence of unity and aḥadiyya is directed...