[al-‘Alaq 19]

Yet you have not shown that its apparent meaning is drawing near through prostration. Know that we do not dispute that prostration involves drawing near, just as we do not dispute that this drawing near is to Allah. However, we do not claim that anything we say conflicts with the apparent meaning of the Quran. Rather, either the apparent meaning of the Quran indicates it, or it is known from the apparent meaning of the Quran together with another proof, or it is known from a proof that the apparent meaning of the Quran does not contradict.

Seventh, he may be told: It is necessarily known that drawing near through action can only be drawing near in a direction, whatever the object approached may be. Thus, when a servant is commanded to draw near to something or move away from it, or to approach something or distance himself from it, this can only be understood as drawing near or moving away in a direction. Likewise, when it is said that someone has drawn near to something or moved away from it, it is necessarily known that drawing near through actions can only be drawing near in a direction.