from someone known for blind imitation, innovation, or heresy. The greater his innovation and heresy, the further he goes in denial and the further he departs from affirmation.

His statement, “or receptive to multiplicity, which He transcends,” is equivocal wording. If he means a plurality of gods—though that is not what he means—it is well known that Allah, glorified is He, has made clear in numerous places that God is one. The Quran is filled with denials of a plurality of gods and rejects associating partners with Him in every way. If, however, he means the multiplicity of His attributes indicated by His names and His signs, then his exalting the Lord above these is like the polytheists’ exalting Him above being invoked and worshipped without an intermediary, or above sending a human messenger. His declaring Him free of His attributes is thus like the polytheists’ declaring Him above being one God and having a human messenger.

Allah Most High condemned the polytheists for their denial of the name al-Rahmān (the Most Merciful), as He said:

“And when it is said to them, ‘Prostrate to the Most Merciful,’ they say, ‘And what is the Most Merciful? Should we prostrate to whatever you command us?’ And it increases them in aversion.”
Al-Furqān 60

And His saying, Most High:

“Thus We have sent you to a community before which other communities have passed away, so that you may recite to them what We have revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Merciful.”
Al-Ra‘d 30.

It is well known that no one rejects a mere proper name. Were His names merely proper names, there would be no difference between al-Rahmān (the Most Merciful) and al-Jabbār (the Compeller). How could this be so, when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in