whom Allah chose and fashioned for Himself?”

The plain wording of these reports, then, incontrovertibly establishes that Allah affirms for Himself a Self, and the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—likewise affirmed it. Thus, whoever believes Allah and His Messenger must hold as doctrine whatever Allah has related about His own Self, all the while anchoring that conviction in the clear meaning of His statement: “There is nothing like Him” (42:11).