He has named Himself al-ʿAzīz (the All-Mighty), saying, “the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great” (59:23). And He has called one of His servants “ʿAzīz,” in His words, “The wife of the ʿAzīz said …” (12:51). Yet the All-Mighty is not like the mighty.

He has named Himself al-Jabbār (the Compeller) and al-Mutakabbir (the Supremely Great), and He has described some of His creatures with the same words, saying, “Thus does Allah seal the heart of every arrogant compeller” (40:35). Yet the Compeller is not like the compeller, nor the Supremely Great like the supremely great.

Instances of this are many.

Likewise, He has given names to His own attributes and has given corresponding names to the attributes of His servants. He said, “They encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills” (2:255); He said, “He sent it down with His knowledge” (4:166); He said, “Indeed Allah is the All-Provider, Possessor of strength, the Firm” (51:58); and He said, “Have they not seen that Allah, who created them, is stronger than they are in strength?” (41:15).

He has also referred to the creature’s qualities as knowledge and strength, saying, “You have been given but little knowledge” (17:85); “Above every possessor of knowledge is One all-knowing” (12:76); “They rejoiced in whatever knowledge they possessed” (40:83); and, “Allah is the One who …”