The first degree is the Lord’s presence in his heart as the One known, worshipped, loved, and revered. This is not disputed.

The second is his heart’s ascent to Allah, its rising to Him and drawing near to Him, such that the receptacle itself draws near to what it contains, so that Allah Himself is present with him in a way not shared by others. This is agreed upon among those who affirm the divine attributes, though the Jahmiyyah dispute it. His drawing near to Allah and approaching Him necessarily entails the Lord’s drawing near to him and approaching him, for whatever you draw near to necessarily draws near to you.

The third is that the Lord Himself draws near to him—a drawing near and approach by His own Self, distinct from the drawing near that He brings about within the servant. This, too, is affirmed by many—or most—of those who affirm the divine attributes. Some of them