because if He were above the Throne, He would not be One. This rests on the premise that whatever is above the Throne must be a body, that a body is divisible and therefore cannot be One, and that bodies are alike, so He would have a peer and a counterpart.

The invalidity of such scriptural arguments has been demonstrated in many ways elsewhere. We have also explained that the terms wāhid and ahad (both meaning “one”) apply in Arabic only to what contradicts their claim, as in the Most High’s words:

“If any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah.”
[al-Tawba: 6]

And His words:

“Leave Me with the one I created alone.”
[al-Muddaththir: 11]

And His words:

“If there is only one, she shall have half.”
[al-Nisā’: 11]

And His words:

“Would any one of you wish to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines?”
[al-Baqara: 266]

And His words:

“So send one of you with this silver money of yours.”
[al-Kahf: 19]

And His words:

“And let him not make anyone aware of you.”
[al-Kahf: 19]

And His words:

“It is prescribed for you, when death approaches any one of you.”
[al-Baqara: 185]

And His words:

“Testimony is to be taken among you when death approaches any one of you.”
[al-Mā’ida: 106]

And His words:

“Each one of them wishes he could be granted a life of a thousand years.”
[al-Baqara: 96]

And His words:

“And no one is comparable to Him.”
[al-Ikhlās: 4]

And His words: