۞

« The whole of this speech is a form of allusion (taʿrīḍ) for the benefit of his people when their hearts are in a state of bewilderment, for he [Abraham] had already been granted right guidance (rushd) before [21:51], just as He said: And so We showed Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. [6:75]11 He was asked about the meaning of His words: [6:77] …If my Lord does not guide me…? the second is a protective jealousy, which shields their innermost secret or their love for Him from any unworthy or uninitiated person, or even from their own lower selves. This latter form of jealousy also has the function of protecting »