creation. Indeed, were some uninformed person to understand or imagine such a thing, he would immediately be shown that it is impossible and that the wording gives it no support whatsoever—exactly as it gives no support to comparable notions regarding any of the other attributes by which the Lord has described Himself.

Thus, when He—exalted is He—says, “And the heaven, We built it with power” (51:47), could anyone suppose that His building resembles that of a needy human being who must rely on zubul (scaffolds), shovels, helpers, moulded bricks, and kneaded clay?

Furthermore, it is known that Allah created the universe in layers, one part above another, and He did not—