light. Nor do we say that He once existed without greatness until He created greatness for Himself.’”

In these words, Ahmad clearly rebuked the deniers who likened Him to inanimate objects that neither speak nor move nor pass from one place to another, such as idols worshipped besides Allah. He also rebuked anyone who claimed that there was a time when He did not speak, until He created speech.

Such a claimant thus likened Him to a human being who was