the mountains of Paran; and just as He disclosed Himself to Abraham, as the Torah records. Such manifestations, then, are not restricted to the Messiah—they belong to others exactly as they belong to him.

But if they maintain that the very Essence of the Lord took up residence in the Messiah, or in anyone else, this is the very point in dispute. Where is their proof, first that such a thing is even possible, and then that it actually occurred? The overwhelming majority of rational people—of every religion and none—affirm that this has never happened; indeed, they hold it to be impossible.

Tenth point: Their claim that “the Word of God, by which the subtle realms were created, can appear in something wholly non-corporeal” is false. Whenever a divine reality is capable of manifestation, its appearance in a subtle medium is more fitting than its appearance in a dense one. Thus the angels descend with revelation to the prophets, peace be upon them; they receive the Word of God from Him and then convey it to the prophets. The Word of God therefore reaches the angels before it reaches human beings, for the angels are the intermediaries—just as the Exalted says:

“or He sends a messenger who, by His permission, reveals whatever He wills.” (Qur’an 42:51)