in pre-eternity. Rather, they can only be potential, then become actual, one after another, in accordance with what is possible.

If one who is supposed to lack these is not distinguished by any attribute of perfection—indeed, the one possessing them is more perfect—then denying them of the Necessary Existent amounts to denying an attribute of perfection, not affirming perfection for Him.

These negators who deny the divine attributes—the Jahmiyyah, the philosophers, and the Bātiniyyah—imagine that what they deny of the Lord constitutes perfection for Him and exalts Him. This stems from their ignorance. Rather, affirming what they deny affirms perfection, and whoever affirms it thereby exalts the Lord.

In this, however, they resemble their brethren who deny prophethood and say:

“Allah has not sent down anything to any human being.”

They also say:

“Allah is too great to send a human messenger.”

Allah Most High says:

“Is it astonishing to people that We have revealed to a man from among them: ‘Warn mankind’?” [Yūnus: 2]

Do they not know that sending a human messenger to convey their Lord’s messages to them and guide them to a straight path more fully demonstrates the Lord’s power, His mercy toward His servants, and His kindness to them, and more fully affirms perfection, than its merely being possible for Him or His refraining from doing it?

Likewise, His creating things one after another more fully demonstrates His perfection than His being unable to bring anything into existence. Indeed, according to many people—or most of them—His creating is more perfect than His not creating.

As Allah Most High says:

“Is He who creates like one who does not create? Will you not then take heed?” [al-Nahl: 17]