is His being apart from the world, distinct from it, or separate from it,” we reply: All these expressions are ambiguous. Being apart, distinct, or separate may mean being different in reality and essence. This is undisputed, but it does not entail direction. The proof is that the reality of Allah’s essence differs from the reality of spatial region and direction, yet this difference and separateness are not directional. For Allah’s essence cannot be distinguished from direction by another direction; otherwise, an infinite regress would follow.

These expressions may also mean being distinct in direction—that is, a thing’s being such that one can point to it and say that it is here or there. This is what the opponent means by saying that Allah Most High is separate from the world, apart from it, and distinct from it. However, we have demonstrated through decisive proofs that this entails that the spatial region in question