(The second)

Knowledge of reality, in which he claims to be superior to the Messenger. As he said:

“This is the position of the golden brick in his inward aspect, for he receives from the source from which the angel receives what he conveys by revelation to the Messenger.”

He thus claims that, in this knowledge represented by the golden brick—knowledge of the inward aspect and of reality—he is superior to the Messenger, because he receives it from the same source from which the angel receives the knowledge he conveys by revelation to the Messenger. The Messenger receives it from the angel, whereas he receives it from above the angel, from the very source from which the angel receives it. This goes beyond the claim of Musaylima the Liar, for Musaylima did not claim to surpass the Messenger in any branch of divine knowledge, whereas this man claims to surpass him in knowledge of Allah.

He then said:

“If you understand what I have indicated, you have attained beneficial knowledge.”

It is well known that this disbelief exceeds the disbelief of the Jews and Christians. The Jews and Christians would not accept placing any believer above Moses and Jesus, whereas this man claims that he and others like him who claim to be the Seal of Allah’s allies are superior to all the messengers and possess greater knowledge of Allah than all the messengers. Even the sensible philosophers would not accept this. Only their extremists and fools say such things—those who are among the furthest removed from reason and religion.

(The ninth point)

His words, “Every prophet, from Adam…”—and so on to the end of the section—imply that all the prophets and messengers receive only from the lamp-niche of the Seal of the Prophets. He thereby seeks to lay the groundwork for his own claim that all the prophets receive only from the lamp-niche of the Seal of Allah’s allies.