they call the Cause, is a simple essence possessing no attribute of any kind; and that from Him proceeded an intellect that is likewise one and simple, since only one can proceed from the One. Then, from that intellect proceeded an intellect, a soul, and a celestial sphere. This bears no resemblance to the individual things they cite as examples, whose effects arise through the participation of existing receptive subjects. Here, however, everything other than the First is caused by Him. There is no other existent to participate with Him in producing that effect, as the sun acts together with receptive surfaces, or fire with receptive materials.

Thus, His words, Exalted is He:

“How could He have a child when He has no consort?”

explain that generation can occur only through two, whereas He, glorified is He, has no consort. How, then, could He have a child?

Since this principle is firmly established in people’s innate understanding, most of what they call generation and reproduction proceeds from two sources. Thus, effects described as generated—such as satiety, the quenching of thirst, and the like—arise from two sources: the servant’s action and the other causes that assist him.

Likewise, rational thinkers say that a conclusion can arise only from two premises, and they liken a conclusion’s arising from two premises to offspring’s arising from the two parents of