And since this is the familiar meaning of “direction” and “spatial locus” as applied to created beings, we say: If the Creator—glory be to Him—is said to be in a direction, what is meant must be either a direction belonging to Him or a direction belonging to His creation. If a direction belonging to Him is meant, it must be either a direction from which one turns or a direction toward which one turns. In either case, nothing exists above the world other than Himself. He—glory be to Him—is thus His own direction. There is nothing existing outside the world toward which one can turn from that direction, nor anything existing outside the world from which one can turn toward it. There is nothing there other than Himself from which or toward which one can turn.

Whoever says that the world there is not in a direction in this sense has spoken truly. Whoever says that He is His own direction in this sense has expressed a sound meaning. But whoever says that He is above all created things in an existing direction external to Himself, toward which or from which one turns, has spoken falsely. If, however, what is meant by that from which or toward which one turns is what is meant by a spatial locus understood as a posited space, then this is undoubtedly sheer nonexistence.

As for spatial locus, a created being may be encompassed by its own sides and the bounds of its own being, or it may be encompassed by something else. Whoever says that the Creator, above the entire world, is encompassed by something existing that is not included in what is denoted by His own being has spoken falsely. For everything outside Allah’s own being, which includes His attributes, is part of the world. And whoever