someone to bring it down or set it in motion, unless it is brought and made to descend. Allah Most High, however, is Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting, a mighty King, subsisting by Himself in His might and splendor. He does whatever He wills, however He wills. He descends without anyone bringing Him down and rises without anyone raising Him. He does whatever He wills without anyone’s assistance and without needing anyone in what He does. Thus, the Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting One, who does whatever He wills, cannot be compared to speech, which does not subsist as an independent entity until tongues give it expression, possesses neither authority nor power, and becomes manifest only through recitation.

Tell me: if His descent means His command and His mercy, which descend only during a third of the night, and then to the lowest heaven, why, according to your claim, do His command and His mercy not descend to the earth, where the servants whom Allah wishes to show mercy to, love, and give to reside? Why do they descend to