even if it is conceded that whatever magnitudes, directions, and other characteristics may be posited are possible in themselves, and that whichever of them actually obtains must have a determining factor, it would follow that the Creator was brought into existence only if that determining factor were external to His essence and His own being.

The proponent of this view may not accept that. In that case, it does not follow that the Creator Most High was brought into existence or that He has any need whatsoever of anything other than Himself.

If it is objected, ‘What His essence entails has no greater claim than any alternative, since all stand in an equal relation to Him with respect to being entailed,’ that is itself a matter of dispute. The opponent may not concede that they stand in an equal relation in this respect unless it is assumed that there is no difference between these possibilities. Establishing that is undoubtedly exceedingly difficult. Moreover, the opponent might account for the particular determination of these attributes affirmed of the essence by following the approach of those who uphold the truth in accounting for the particular determination of all other possibilities. This would avert the alleged implication.”

He then argued for this position on an even weaker basis: that proceeding on this basis would entail His being a substance, and that substances are alike. The verbal and substantive disputes concerning these two premises have already been discussed elsewhere.