the descent of revelation to them from heaven. Our own revealed Law is founded upon this—namely, that the glorious Book descended from heaven. As Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night.” [al-Dukhān: 3]

The descent of revelation from heaven is, in turn, founded upon Allah being in heaven. The same applies to the angels’ descent from heaven and ascent to it, as Allah Most High says:

“To Him ascends good speech.” [Fātir: 10]

And He Most High says:

“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him.” [al-Maʿārij: 4]

In short, this entails all the consequences faced by those who deny direction, as we shall explain later when discussing direction.

Another difficulty is that explicitly denying corporeality requires explicitly denying motion. Once this is explicitly denied, it becomes difficult to conceive of what is related in descriptions of the gathering for judgment: that the Creator, glorified be He, looks upon those gathered and Himself undertakes their reckoning. As He, blessed and exalted, says:

“And your Lord comes, and the angels, rank upon rank.” [al-Fajr: 22]