[Section. The remainder of Ibn Malkā’s discussion in al-Mu‘tabar and Ibn Taymiyyah’s commentary]

Section.
The remainder of Ibn Malkā’s discussion in al-Mu‘tabar and Ibn Taymiyyah’s commentary

After finishing his account of Aristotle’s argument, Abū al-Barakāt said:

“As for the statements of his followers on this question—those who have reinforced the position taken on it and benefited from its arguments and demonstrations—the fullest account we have encountered, and the one that most comprehensively gathers what is scattered elsewhere, is that given by the Chief Master. These are his words.”

[Ibn Malkā’s quotation of Ibn Sīnā’s discussion in al-Najāh]

He said:

“It is not possible for the Necessary Existent to apprehend things through those things themselves. Otherwise, either its essence is constituted by what it apprehends, in which case it is constituted by things, or its apprehension is accidental to its essence, in which case it would not be necessary in existence in every respect. That is impossible.

For it cannot be that, were it not for external things, it would not be in a given state, and that it would have