what it contains to any angel brought near or any prophet sent as a messenger. He said to it, “Speak,” and it replied, “The believers have indeed succeeded.”

This is reported in numerous hadiths, as is the statement that He looks upon it each night before dawn and that it is His abode. This, then, is the honour Allah, exalted is He, has prepared for His believing servants, which none of the angels has seen. It is known that those of higher rank can see those below them, but not the reverse. Nor can one object, “This also applies to the messengers,” for it was built specifically for them, although the time for them to dwell in it has not yet come. It stands prepared for them: they are advancing towards perfection and ascending to loftier ranks, and this is their recompense and reward. As for the angels, their present condition resembles their condition thereafter, for their reward is continuous, and Paradise was not created [for them] (*).

This is confirmed by His words, exalted is He:

“No soul knows what joy is kept hidden in store for them.”

The reality of what Allah has prepared for His close servants is therefore hidden from the angels. Earlier, He also concealed from them Adam’s condition at his initial creation and in other respects.

The superiority of Allah’s righteous servants demonstrates the superiority of an individual of their kind. For an individual of their kind, once their superiority over all beings and persons is established, the superiority of their kind over all kinds is established. It is impossible for a member of an inferior kind to rise so far as to surpass all individuals and all superior kinds, for this would alter their essential realities and divest beings of their intrinsic attributes. Nevertheless, such an individual may surpass some members of the superior kind, while