for he exists in his true reality. This is expressed in his saying—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“I was a prophet while Adam was between water and clay.”

Other prophets were not prophets until they were sent. Likewise, the Seal of the Saints was a saint while Adam was between water and clay, whereas other saints became saints only after fulfilling the conditions of sainthood: acquiring divine qualities and embodying them, since Allah is called the Protecting Friend, the Praiseworthy. Thus, in respect of his sainthood, the Seal of the Messengers stands in the same relation to the Seal of Sainthood as the prophets and messengers stand to him, for he is the saint, the messenger, and the prophet.

The Seal of the Saints is the saint who inherits, receives from the source, and witnesses the ranks. He is one of the good works of the Seal of the Messengers, Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—the foremost of the company and the master of Adam’s descendants in opening the door to intercession. Through his intercession, he singled out a particular situation, without extending it generally. In this particular situation, he took precedence over the divine names, for the All-Merciful interceded with the Avenger on behalf of those undergoing affliction only after the intercessors had interceded. Muhammad thus attained preeminence in this particular station. Whoever understands the ranks and stations will have no difficulty accepting such words. End of quotation.

In this section, he has set out the true nature of his doctrine, upon which he bases everything else he says. Reflect, then, on the disbelief it contains, such that:

“The heavens almost rupture from it, the earth splits open, and the mountains collapse in devastation.”

And reflect on its denial of Allah’s creation and command, its denial of His lordship and divinity, its insults and abuse directed at Him, and its disparagement of His messengers and the utterly truthful, together with its claims to precedence over them