and it is the cornerstone of this entire subject. Concerning the Messiah and his mother, He says: “The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth; they both ate food” (Qur’an 5:75). Their need to eat is presented as proof that they are not divine; all the more certainly, therefore, Allah is exalted far above such dependence.

The liver, the spleen, and similar organs exist solely for eating and drinking; consequently, the One who is utterly self-sufficient and free of those needs is likewise free of the organs that serve them. The hand, however,