These, then, are two innovated views, neither of which was held by any of the early generations. If the One who called was Allah, Lord of the worlds, and He called to him from a specific place and brought him near to Himself, then this bears out what the early generations said about His nearness and drawing close to Moses, peace be upon him—even though this is nearness to what is beneath heaven.

His nearness to Job, peace be upon him, and to other prophets, peace be upon them, has also been related in reports from the Israelite tradition transmitted by Wahb ibn Munabbih and others. In the wording cited by al-Baghawī, a cloud overshadowed him, and then he was called: “O Job! I am Allah.” He says: “I have drawn near to you; I come down near you.” However, reports from the Israelite tradition are cited only as supplementary support, not as evidence to be relied upon independently.

He, glorified and exalted is He, has described Himself in His Book and in the Sunnah of His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as being near to the one who supplicates and near to the one who draws near to Him. He, blessed and exalted is He, says:

“When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed near. I answer the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.”

It is established in the two Sahīh collections, on the authority of Abū Mūsā, that they were travelling with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and were raising their voices proclaiming Allah’s greatness. He said:

“O people, take it easy on yourselves! You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent. You are calling upon One who hears and is near. Indeed, the One you are calling upon is nearer to each of you than the neck of his mount.”

Also in the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, relates that Allah Most High says:

“Whoever draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by a cubit. Whoever draws near to Me by a cubit, I draw near to him by an armspan. Whoever comes to Me walking, I come to him at a run.”