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This, then, concerns what resembles union or indwelling in a particular individual, such as a prophet, a righteous man, or someone similar. We have explained what it contains of pure truth and of truth mingled with falsehood. Allah willing, we shall explain what it contains of pure falsehood.

This category occurs only in someone who worships Allah, glorified is He, and is devoted to Him, or who is thought to do so. Through this, Allah’s divinity becomes manifest in His servant, as do the servant’s turning to his Lord and his concordance with Him in what He loves and approves, commands and forbids.

Another category may be confused with this: the effects of His lordship that the Lord manifests in some of His servants, even though this is neither something He has commanded nor an act of worship of Him. Examples include the share of His dominion and authority that He grants to certain rulers invested with power, who may or may not be Muslims, such as Pharaoh, Genghis Khan, and others like them; the provision and wealth He bestows upon some of His servants; and the beauty He apportions to some of His servants, both men and women. Likewise, there is the knowledge and understanding He bestows, the states He grants, or what He gives him