The People of the Book have likewise split over this matter, just as the Muslims have: among them are those who carry negation and divestment to excess, and among them are those who carry resemblance and anthropomorphism to excess.

By contrast, the Muslims—their leading scholars and the great majority—follow a balanced path between nullification and anthropomorphism, and a similar sober group exists among the People of the Book as well.

The point is that when these attributes are mentioned in the divine scriptures—the Torah and other books—just as they are mentioned in the Qur’an, the Muslims are not uniquely singled out for affirming them.

Nor may the Christians liken these attributes to the Trinity and the hypostatic union, doctrines that are exclusive to them alone.

For these attributes are affirmed by the adherents of all three revealed religions, whereas the Trinity and union are not textually transmitted from any of the prophets—peace be upon them. These attributes are explicitly stated in the Qur’an, the Torah, and other prophetic scriptures; how, then, can one treat the two issues as comparable?

Fourth Point:

Their claim that “this makes the listeners imagine that Allah possesses a body, limbs, and organs” is unfounded. Allah has named Himself and His attributes with certain names, and He has given some of those same names to His servants and to their attributes; in the servants’ case the realities denoted by the names befit them, and in His case they befit His majesty—glorified and exalted be He.

Thus He calls Himself the Living, as in His words:

“Allah—there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer” (al-Baqarah 2:255).