For example, in whichever sphere of the heavens the Prophet Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace) met with Jesus (Upon whom be peace), who manifested the name of All-Powerful, in that sphere God Almighty Himself was manifested with title of All-Powerful. And, for example, the most predominant in that sphere of the heavens which is Moses’ (Upon whom be peace) seat is the title of Speaker, which he manifested. And so on.

Thus, since the person of Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace) manifested the greatest name, [^3] and all the divine names, [^4] and since his prophethood was universal, he was surely connected with all the spheres of dominicality. His meeting with the prophets whose seats are in those spheres and passing through all those levels surely necessitates the fact of the Ascension.

[^3]:See, Abū Dā’ūd, Witr, 8; Tirmidhī, Da‘awāt, 64; Ibn Māja, Du‘a, 9; Musnad, vi, 461; al-Ḥākim, al-Mustadrak, i, 683-6; al-Bayhaqī, Shu‘ab al-Imān, ii, 437.

[^4]:See, Qāḍī Iyāḍ, al-Shifā’, i, 235-46.

Second Comparison

Second Comparison: The title of commander-in-chief, which is one of the king’s titles, is manifested and makes an appearance in every rank of the army from the broad and universal rank of the commander-in-chief to the special and particular rank of a corporal. For example, a private sees in the person of his corporal a sample of the imposing title of commander-in-chief, he looks to it and takes his orders from it. On becoming a corporal, the manifestation of the title of the sergeant’s rank will command his attention and it will be to that that he will look. Then, if he is promoted to the rank of sergeant, he will see a sample of the commander-in-chief’s title and a manifestation of it in the lieutenant’s rank. It will be present together with a seat peculiar to it at that rank. And so on. He will see the title in relation to its smallness or largeness in each of its ranks of captain, major, general, and field marshal.

Now, if the commander-in-chief wishes to entrust the private with a duty related to all the ranks of the army, if he wishes to promote him to a rank where he can observe each sphere like an inspector and himself be observed; he will cause him to make a tour of inspection of the ranks, from that of the corporal to the highest, and will also allow him to be seen. Then he will receive him into his presence and honouring him with conversation and conferring on him a decoration and a decree, will send him back whence he came in an instant.

The following point must be noted in this comparison: if the king is in no way powerless and if he has spiritual power in the same way that he has