Second: Calling the manifestation of severity an “attribute” is no different from doing so with the manifestation of favour or the appearance of an angel, since all these amount to creating and manifesting some corporeal thing. Thus, calling this an attribute, but not the angel and beneficence mentioned earlier, is an invalid, arbitrary distinction.

Third: People have always been accustomed to Allah Most High testing them with both prosperity and adversity. The claim that one is familiar to them but not the other is therefore false.

Fourth: When Allah manifests His punishment and severity, it is not permissible to refuse to prostrate to Him in that situation. Nor is it permissible to deny His Lordship, such that the prophets and believers would say, “We seek refuge in Allah from you,” and deny that He is their Lord.

Fifth: Prostration when severity is manifested is more appropriate than prostration when favour is manifested. This is why prayer when signs appear, such as solar and lunar eclipses, is prescribed by the consensus of the Muslims. These prayers are the longest and the most extensive in both measure and form.