from the Prophets; hence they have neither revealed proof nor rational argument—just as Allah, exalted is He, says about the people of Hellfire: “Had we but listened or reasoned, we would not have been among the companions of the Blaze” (Q 67:10).

They also hide beliefs that contradict what they outwardly profess, and most people understand their statements in a way opposite to what some of them claim is their real intent. Only a moment ago we cited their appeal to the Torah and its words:

“God spoke to Moses from the bush, saying: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

They argue that He did not say, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” but instead repeated the word “God” three times—saying, “I am the God of … and the God of … and the God of …” —to confirm the issue of the three aqānīm (persons) within His divinity.

One replies to them: If this repetition proves only the existence of a single God, then it provides you with no evidence at all, just as if the text had read, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” If, however, it proves the existence of three gods, then you have affirmed three gods even while you claim, “We affirm only one God.” And if the meaning is simply that He is one God described as the Deity worshiped by Abraham, worshiped by Isaac, and worshiped by Jacob, then you still have no proof in it for the Trinity or for the aqānīm—whereby you make the uqnūm (person) a name for the essence together with an attribute while the essence itself is one, so that the plurality is in—