to acknowledge its lordship, saying:

‘Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals.’

(Tā Hā: 12)

According to their claim, Moses said to it: ‘You have spoken the truth.’ Then Pharaoh was approached and called to acknowledge its lordship—that of a created being—just as Moses had responded, according to their claim. What difference, then, would there be between Moses and Pharaoh in disbelief? What disbelief could be clearer than this?

Allah, Blessed and Most High, said:

‘When We will something to be, We only say to it, “Be,” and it is.’

(al-Nahl: 40)

Yet these people say: He has never said to anything—with actual words and speech—‘Be,’ so that it came to be, nor will He ever say it. No speech has ever proceeded from Him, nor will it ever do so. According to their claim, He is not even capable of speech. Thus, in their view, an idol and the Most Merciful are on an equal footing with regard to speech.”

[Return to the Refutation of al-Marīsī]

He also said in the Refutation of al-Marīsī:

“You have claimed, O al-Marīsī, concerning the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:

‘Are they waiting for anything but that Allah should come to them in canopies of clouds, together with the angels?’

(al-An‘ām: 210)

And His words:

‘Are they waiting for anything but that the angels should come to them, or that your Lord should come?’

(al-An‘ām: 158)

You have claimed that this does not mean that He Himself comes, because, in your view, He does not move,