Likewise, it is difficult to interpret figuratively the well-known hadith of the descent, although it lends itself more readily to such interpretation than the events of the gathering, even though the accounts of the gathering are mass-transmitted in the revealed Law.

The general public must therefore not be explicitly told anything that would, in their understanding, invalidate these apparent meanings, for such passages affect their souls only when understood according to their apparent meanings.

If, however, they are interpreted figuratively, one of two things follows. Either figurative interpretation is applied to these and similar passages in the revealed Law, leaving the entire Law lifeless and defeating its intended wisdom; or all these passages are declared ambiguous, so that the whole revealed Law becomes ambiguous. Yet, when you examine the arguments advanced by those who interpret all these things figuratively, you find that they are not demonstrative. Indeed, the apparent meanings of the scriptural texts are more persuasive than those arguments—that is, they elicit greater assent.

You will see this clearly from our discussion of the proof on which they based their denial that Allah Most High is corporeal. You will likewise see it in the proof on which they based their denial of direction, as we shall explain later.