entail likening these people to Moses son of ‘Imrān, who was called from the side of the Mount and who, when he saw the fire,
“said to his family, ‘Stay here; I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I can bring you some news from it, or a burning brand, so that you may warm yourselves.’”
This is the view of a group of people who follow the path of spiritual discipline and purification, believing that through it they can reach a point at which Allah addresses them as He addressed Moses son of ‘Imrān. These people fall into three categories:
“One group” claims that the words addressed to them are greater than those addressed to Moses son of ‘Imrān. Such claims are made by some adherents of oneness and union who maintain that existence is one, such as the author of al-Fusūs and others like him. They claim that they rank above the prophets and that the address they receive from Allah is greater than that received by Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad—may blessings and peace be upon them. It is well known that this unbelief is greater than the unbelief of the Jews and Christians, who regard the prophets as superior to others but believe in some prophets and disbelieve in others.
“The second category” consists of those who say that Allah speaks to them just as He spoke to Moses son of ‘Imrān. Such claims are made by some of the philosophers and Sufis who