not your case and what has reached me—for the matter remains minor so long as it does not reach you”—meaning the ruling authority—“but once it reaches you, it becomes grave and serious.”

He asked, “Abū Sa‘īd, what is that?”

He replied, “I have heard that you speak about the Lord, Exalted is He, describing Him and likening Him to His creation.”

The young man said, “Yes,” and began speaking about the attributes. He said, “Gently, my son. Let us first discuss what is created. If we are unable to describe the creation, we are far, far less able to describe the Creator. Tell me about a hadith that Shu‘bah narrated to me from al-Bunānī, who said: ‘I heard Zirr say that ‘Abd Allāh, concerning His words,

“He certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord” (18),

said: “He saw Gabriel, who had six hundred wings.”’”

He said, “Yes,” recognizing the hadith. ‘Abd al-Rahmān said, “Describe to me one of Allah’s creatures that has six hundred wings.” The young man remained looking at him. Then ‘Abd al-Rahmān said,