As for the awtād (pegs), one sometimes finds people saying, “So-and-so is one of the awtād,” meaning that through him Allah Most High makes faith and religion firm in the hearts of those whom He guides through him, just as He makes the earth firm with its pegs. This meaning applies to every scholar who possesses this quality. Anyone through whom knowledge and faith are firmly established among people at large is like mighty pegs and great mountains, while someone of lesser standing serves this role to a corresponding degree. This is not restricted to four, or to any smaller or greater number. Rather, these people fixed their number at four in imitation of what astrologers say about the pegs of the earth.

As for the qutb (pivot), one likewise finds them saying, “So-and-so is one of the pivots,” or “So-and-so is a pivot.” Anyone around whom some religious or worldly affair revolves, inwardly or outwardly, is the pivot and centre of that affair. This applies whether the affairs revolving around him are those of his household, street, village or city, and whether they concern religious or worldly matters, inwardly or outwardly. This meaning is not restricted to seven, or to any smaller or greater number. However, the praiseworthy person among these is one around whom the soundness of both worldly and religious affairs revolves, rather than merely that of worldly affairs. Such is the pivot according to their usage. In some ages, one person may happen to be the best of his contemporaries; in another age, two or three may be equal in merit before Allah. It is not necessary that in every age there be one person who is, without qualification, the best of all people in Allah’s sight.