Al-'Ali - The Most High
The one above whose rank there is no rank, and all ranks are inferior to Him.
(1/15)
The one above whose rank there is no rank, and all ranks are inferior to Him.
(1/15)
Everything which has the quality of being "above" in place has spatial elevation, and everything which is "above" in rank has elevation in rank.
Moreover, rational gradings are understood like perceptible gradings: e.g the difference between reason and result, cause and effect, agent and recipient, perfect and imperfect.
Once you have determined a thing, it is the cause of a 2nd thing, and that thing is the cause of a 3rd, etc up to ten steps - the 10th occurs in the last rank, and it is the lowest, inferior cause. The 1st occurs in the 1st rank according to causality, and it is the highest.
So the first is above the second - above in meaning, not in place.
If you understand the meaning of rational gradings, you should know that objects cannot be divided into diverse grades according to reason, with the Truth - may He be praised and exalted- being the highest grade of diverse grades -
- to the point where it is inconceivable that a grade be above Him - for He is the absolute high one. Everything other than Him is high by comparison with what is below it, and is inferior or low by comparison with what is above it.
An example of rational division can be found in objects' being divided into causes and effects, so that the cause is above the effect - above in rank; yet only the cause of causes is above absolutely.
The absolutely most high has the quality of being above not comparatively but necessarily.
These names are posited first in relation to visual perception, which is the level of common folk. Then when the elite became aware of intellectual perception and found parallels between it and, sight, they borrowed from sight the designated words; and the elite understood them
- and grasped then, while they were rejected by common folk whose perception does not go beyond the senses, which is the level of animals.
For they only understand immensity in spatial terms, height in terms of place, and "above" in similar terms.
Now, if you understand this, then you have understood the meaning if His being above [i.e., on] the throne.
Now, if you understand this, then you have understood the meaning if His being above [i.e., on] the throne.
For the throne is the most exalted body, and is above all bodies; an object far beyond that which can be determined and calculated in terms of boundaries and measurements; it is above all bodies in rank.
Special mention is made if the throne because it is above all bodies, so what is above it [i.e.,on] is above all of them. This is like saying: The caliph is above the sultan, so advising us that if he is above the sultan he is above all the people below the sultan.
Counsel: it is inconceivable that man be absolutely high, since he does not attain any rank without there being a higher one in exist, namely the ranks of prophet's and angels.
Of course, it is conceivable that one attain the highest rank among people, and that is the rank of our prophet Muhammad ﷺ .
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