the tongue than its saliva, with a nearness that is His attribute,” and his statement, “Closer than the jugular vein”—none of this is found in the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Nor was it said by any of the early generations: neither the Companions, nor those who followed them in righteousness, nor the four imams and their peers among the imams of the Muslims, nor the exemplary shaykhs of spiritual knowledge and Sufism.

The Quran nowhere describes the Lord Most High as near to everything. Rather, the nearness mentioned in the Quran is particular, not universal, as in His words, Most High:

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

He, glorified is He, is near to whoever calls upon Him. Likewise, the two Sahīh collections report from Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī that they were travelling with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and were raising their voices in 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. The One upon whom you call is nearer to each of you than the neck of his mount.”

He said, “The One upon whom you call is nearer to each of you.” He did not say that He is near to every existing thing. Similarly, the words of Sālih, peace be upon him:

“So seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Near and Responsive,”

are like the words of Shu‘ayb:

“Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Loving.”

It is clear that His words “Near and Responsive” are linked to repentance and seeking forgiveness. What is meant is that He is near and responsive to those who seek His forgiveness and repent to Him, just as He is merciful and loving toward them. He has paired “Near” with “Responsive.” It is clear that He is not described as responsive to every existing thing; rather, He responds to those who ask Him and call upon Him. The same applies to His nearness, glorified and exalted is He.