say bi-aydī (“with hands”) or bi-ayādī (“with favors”). Rather, He said:

“what I created with My two Hands.” [Sād 75]

Thus, His words “with My two Hands” cannot mean the same as His words:

“We built it with strength.” [al-Dhāriyāt 47]

Furthermore, had He meant strength, the meaning would have been “by My two powers.” This contradicts our opponents’ position and is incompatible with their doctrines, for they do not affirm power for Allah, Mighty and Majestic. How, then, could they affirm two powers?

Moreover, had Allah, Mighty and Majestic, meant power by His words, “what I created with My two Hands” [Sād 75], Adam, peace be upon him, would have had no distinction over Iblīs—may Allah curse him—in this regard. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, intended to show Adam’s superiority, peace be upon him, by creating him with His two Hands, but not Iblīs. Had He created Iblīs with His Hand just as He created