Ahmad ibn Manī‘ and Mahmūd ibn Khidāsh narrated to us, saying: Abū Sa‘d al-Sāghānī narrated to us, saying: Abū Ja‘far al-Rāzī narrated to us, from al-Rabī‘ ibn Anas, from Abū al-‘Āliyah, from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, that the polytheists said to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Tell us your Lord’s lineage.” So Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealed:

“Say, ‘He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there anyone equivalent to Him.’” [Al-Ikhlās: 2]

He said: “He has no likeness and no equal, and there is nothing like Him.”

In his narration, Mahmūd ibn Khidāsh said: “‘The Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born’ [Al-Ikhlās: 2], because nothing is born but ⦗96⦘ will die, and nothing dies but will be inherited from. Allah neither dies nor is inherited from.” The remainder is identical to the wording of Ahmad ibn Manī‘.