for the occurrence of phenomena save the sheer movement of the heavenly spheres, exactly as is claimed by the proponents of the world’s eternality—a faction even more depraved than the Arab idol-worshippers.

Likewise, in his commentary on the ḥadith of the Night Ascension (miʿrāj) he puts forward notions rooted in the very principles held by those who are the most flagrant of disbelievers. He alleges that the prophets whom the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—beheld were in fact planets: Adam is the moon, Joseph is Venus, and the like—sheer delirium. He further contends that the Ascension amounted only to his heart’s vision of existence, just as Ibn ʿArabī and others describe such an ascent, and they even claim an isrāʾ and miʿrāj for themselves.

These are but fantasies the devils cast into them, perfectly suited to the atheistic ideas they already embrace; for the devils mislead the children of Adam only through what they are willing to accept and what accords with their whims.

And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds.