just as these philosophers claim with respect to the First Intellect.

Allah, the Exalted, says:
“ They say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son.’ Glory be to Him! Rather, they are honored servants who do not precede Him in speech and who act only on His command. He knows what is before them and what is behind them; they intercede only for those whom He approves, and they stand in awe of Him.” (Qur’an 21:26–28)

He, Most High, also says:
“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you allege besides Allah. They do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or on the earth, nor do they have any share in either of them, nor does He have any helper from among them. Intercession with Him is of no benefit except for one to whom He grants permission. When terror is lifted from their hearts, they will say, “What has your Lord said?” They will answer, “The truth,” and He is the Most High, the Most Great.’” (Qur’an 34:22–23)

And He says:
“ The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels who are near to Him. Whoever disdains His worship and waxes arrogant, He will gather them all to Himself. As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will grant them their full rewards and increase them out of His bounty; but those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish with a painful punishment, and they will find for themselves, apart from Allah, no protector and no helper.” (Qur’an 4:172–173)

Moreover, even if the existence of the Active Intellect—and the series of intellects that precede it—were granted, these, according to the philosophers themselves, are necessary concomitants of the Divine Essence, generated from it and contingent upon it. In that case, newly occurring events could not proceed from them, because