[176] And from it: On the authority of Ibn 'Umar, who said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (exalted be his might) about Ali bin Abi Talib. I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is the position of Ali bin Abi Talib to you?" He became angry and said, after some words: "O Ibn 'Umar, indeed Ali is to me in the position of the soul to the body. Indeed, Ali is to me in the position of light to light. And indeed, Ali is to me in the position of the head to the body."

Clarification (Idah): I have previously spoken about his saying (exalted is his might) that Ali is to me in the position of my head to my body, and here, that Ali is to me in the position of the soul to the body. His second statement (exalted is his might) is an affirmation of the first, that Ali is greater than him because the soul is more majestic than the body. For the soul is luminous (nuraniyyah) and the body is material (maddi), and light is more subtle and superior to matter. Likewise, his saying (exalted is his might) that "Ali is to me in the position of light to light," indicates that the Commander of the Faithful is the Supreme Essence (al-Dhat al-'Aliyyah) from which the First Light emanated, which is the Greatest Veil (al-Hijab al-A'zam) and the Universal Intellect (al-'Aql al-Kulli).

[177] And from it: From the Prophet (exalted is his might), that he was asked: "In what language [voice] did your Lord address you on the night of the Ascension (Mi'raj)?" He said: "He addressed me in the language of Ali bin Abi Talib."

[178] And from it: On the authority of 'Abd Allah bin Salam, that he asked the Messenger of Allah (exalted is his might): "Who is the one that brought the Throne of Bilqis from Sheba and presented it to Solomon?"