the Quran’s coming in a form to the coming of a person’s righteous deeds in a form—has been mentioned by the imams of the Sunnah. For example, Imam ‘Uthmān ibn Sa‘īd al-Dārimī mentioned it in his refutation of al-Marīsī and his followers. Discussing the descent, he said:

“Among the opponent’s principal arguments against the hadith of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning the descent was an account he related from Abū Mu‘āwiya—perhaps falsely attributed to him—in which he said: ‘His descent is His command, His authority, His angels, His mercy, and the like.’”

He then proceeded to refute this with arguments that need not be reproduced here, until he said:

“Then you said: ‘Abū Mu‘āwiya’s statement that His descent is His command and authority is a possible interpretation