Then said the Jews unto him, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, 'If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.' Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?" Jesus answered, "If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." Then said the Jews unto him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." Then they took up stones to cast at him. This is in the sense of the saying of our Master Muhammad (PBUH): "I was a prophet while Adam was between clay and water." And in another narration: "while Adam was being fashioned in his clay."

These sayings and their likes are intended for the Inward (Al-Batin), not the Outward (Al-Zahir), evidenced by the fact that those who heard his words died and continue to die. What is meant by his saying—peace be upon him—that he exists before Abraham is his celestial existence, which predates the existence of Abraham on earth; whereas the outward of the speech proves that his manifestation (Zuhur) was after the manifestation of Abraham—peace and blessings be upon them both.