Then precedence in rank and honour also falls into this category, for status and rank are drawn from the notion of place: someone of higher rank takes precedence in both place and status over someone of lower rank. Thus the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said in an authentic hadith: “Let those among you who are mature and discerning stand nearest to me, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”

Precedence in rank is like elevation in rank, degree, and status: its origin lies in place. We have discussed this at length elsewhere and shall clarify it, Allah willing, when we discuss his interpretation of the Quranic passages describing Him—glory be to Him—as being on high. For these people’s distortion of His names and His verses describing Him as being on high, above all, and exalted resembles these people’s distortion of His names and His verses in which