As for the distinction Allah has bestowed upon His righteous servants and the honor He has prepared for them, most people are far removed from these matters and give them no consideration. The same applies to the knowledge Allah bestowed upon them from the very beginning of their creation—knowledge the angels wished to share, and one of the grounds of their superiority. This is the answer, together with the preceding one.
(The sixth argument:
Allah Most High says:
“Indeed, this is the word of a noble messenger,
endowed with strength, established in honor with the Lord of the Throne,
obeyed there and trustworthy.”
These are descriptions of Gabriel. Then He says:
“Your companion is not mad.”
He described Gabriel as noble, entrusted with a message, strong, established in honor with Him, obeyed, and trustworthy. Having described him with these excellent attributes, He followed this with His words:
“Your companion is not mad.”
He identified the human messenger as our companion, denied that he was mad, affirmed that he had seen Gabriel, and cleared him of both withholding and suspicion. There is a vast disparity here between human beings and angels, and between their attributes and the favors bestowed upon them. This argument was advanced by one of the Muʿtazilites, and through it he strayed from the straight path.
The answer:
First, what does he make of His words:
“Have We not opened your breast for you?”
—and the rest of the surah—and His words:
“By the morning brightness,
and by the night when it grows still”?
And His words:
“Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory”
—and the verses that follow—and:
“Your Lord may raise you to a station of praise”?
And what does he make of the account of the Night Ascension, in which Gabriel remained behind while the Prophet advanced to his station? Then what does he make of intimate friendship with Allah, which is being drawn near to Him? This is the contention of someone who has not accorded the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his rightful esteem.