The underlying principle is that “His nearness—glory be to Him—and His drawing close to some of His creatures” do not entail that He Himself ceases to be above the Throne. Rather, He is above the Throne and draws near to His creation however He wills, as those of the early generations who held this view affirmed. Such was His nearness to Moses when He spoke to him from the tree. The Exalted says:

“When Moses said to his family, ‘I have perceived a fire. I will bring you some news from it, or bring you a burning brand so that you may warm yourselves.’ When he came to it, he was called: ‘Blessed is whoever is in the fire and whoever is around it. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the worlds! O Moses, indeed it is I, Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise. Throw down your staff.’ When he saw it writhing as though it were a snake, he turned and fled without looking back. ‘O Moses, do not fear. Indeed, the messengers have no fear in My presence, except one who has been wronged.’”

He says in the other surah:

“When Moses had fulfilled the term and was travelling with his family, he perceived a fire on the side of the Mount. He said to his family, ‘Stay here. I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I can bring you some news from it, or a burning piece of wood, so that you may warm yourselves.’ When he came to it, he was called from the right bank of the valley, at the blessed spot, from the tree: ‘O Moses, indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”

The Exalted also says:

“And mention Moses in the Book. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet. We called him from the right side of the Mount and brought him near in intimate converse.”

Thus He states that He called him from the side of the Mount and brought him near in intimate converse. The Exalted says:

“We certainly gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the earlier generations, as enlightenment for the people, guidance and mercy, so that they might be reminded. You were not on the western side when We entrusted the command to Moses, nor were you among the witnesses. But We raised up generations, and a long time passed over them. You were not dwelling among the people of Midian, reciting Our verses to them, but it was We who sent messengers. Nor were you on the side of the Mount when We called. Rather, it is a mercy from your Lord, so that you may warn a people to whom no warner had come before you, so that they might be reminded.”

And the Exalted says: