They say that the meaning of the verse is that sometimes man...

They say that the meaning of the verse is that sometimes man decides to do something, then Allah (awj) makes him regret it and does not allow him to continue with his plan.[^10] This is an intermediate meaning, one step removed from the apparent meaning, but if we have a rational proof that supports the apparent meaning of the verse, then we have no reason for foregoing the apparent meaning of the verse (that God comes between man and himself).

Man is not whole (samad) , rather he is like other possible beings “empty”; as Kulayni has related in a tradition, “Verily Allah created man empty.”[^11] Now that man is empty, the comprehensiveness of the existence of Allah (awj) comes between man and himself. Therefore, Allah (awj) is near everything. If Allah (awj) is near, He is near with all of His attributes. This is because the essential attributes[^12] of Allah (awj) are one with His essence.

Now, if His essential attributes are present, then His attributes of action will also be active following His essential attributes. The way to get closer to Allah (awj) in a philosophical view One of the fundamental questions that can be asked in this regard is, “How can we become closer to Allah (awj)?”—that Being, the light of whose…