If it is a self-subsisting entity that has descended to the lowest heaven, it cannot say, “Who calls upon Me, that I may answer him?”—just as an angel cannot say this. If it is an attribute, it does not subsist independently; rather, it must subsist in something. Moreover, neither the attribute nor that in which it subsists can speak these words. Furthermore, if mercy descends to the lowest heaven but does not descend to us, what benefit do we derive from that?
If he says:
“Rather, mercy is what He sends down at that hour upon the hearts of those who stand in prayer at night: the sweetness of intimate prayer and worship, the delight of supplication and knowledge, the increase in knowledge of Allah, faith in Him and remembrance of Him that arises in their hearts, and His manifestation to the hearts of His devoted servants. This is something familiar to those who stand in prayer at night.”
He is told: That these things arise in their hearts is true. However, this descends to earth, to the hearts of His servants; it does not descend to the lowest heaven, nor does it ascend after descending. What is found in their hearts remains after dawn. Yet this light, blessing and mercy within their hearts are effects of what He has described concerning Himself: that He Himself descends—glorified and exalted is He.
Likewise, He has described Himself as “descending on the afternoon of the Day of ‘Arafah” in several authentic hadiths. Among them is the report in Sahīh Muslim from ‘Ā’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“There is no day on which Allah frees more servants from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. He, mighty and majestic, draws near, then boasts of them before the angels, saying, ‘What do these people seek?’”
Jābir ibn ‘Abd Allāh, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“On the Day of ‘Arafah, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts of the people of ‘Arafah before the angels, saying, ‘Look at My servants: they have come to Me dishevelled and dusty