And all these texts are evidence against them; this becomes clear when the distinctions are drawn. The person who supplicates or prostrates directs his soul towards Allah. The soul has an ascent appropriate to it, and undoubtedly draws near to Allah Most High in proportion to its freedom from impurities. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is then near to it with a nearness that necessarily follows from its nearness to Him. There is also another nearness on His part, such as His drawing near on the afternoon of Arafah and in the depth of the night, and His drawing an arm’s length nearer to whoever draws a handspan nearer to Him.

In Ahmad’s al-Zuhd, it is reported from Imrān al-Qasīr:

“Moses, peace be upon him, said, ‘My Lord, where should I seek You?’ He said, ‘Seek Me among those whose hearts are broken. Every day I draw an armspan nearer to them; were it not for that, they would fall apart.’”

This may resemble His saying:

“I have divided the prayer into two halves between Myself and My servant”—to the end of the report.

The apparent meaning of His saying,

“I am indeed near,”

indicates that nearness is His attribute, not merely a necessary consequence of the nearness of the person who supplicates or prostrates. His drawing near on the afternoon of Arafah is on account of the pilgrims’ supplication, remembrance and repentance that night. Otherwise, if it were supposed that no one stood at Arafah, that drawing near to them on His part—glory be to Him—would not occur. For He boasts of the people of Arafah before the angels; if it were supposed that no one was there, this would not occur. This therefore indicates that He draws near to them because they draw near to Him, as the other hadith also indicates.

In the latter part of the night, people’s hearts turn towards Him and draw near to Him with a tenderness not found at other times. This accords with His descent to the lowest heaven and His saying:

“Is there anyone supplicating? Is there anyone asking? Is there anyone repenting?”

Now, is this descent, like His drawing near on the afternoon of Arafah, contingent upon actions? For in the lands of