what is denoted by the Essence, and that these opponents of his do not affirm that, alongside the Creator, there exists anything included in what is denoted by His own Self, or anything independent of Him—let alone that the Lord depends on it. Rather, everything other than Him depends on Him.

He himself substantiated this point for them by citing the world, saying: “What demonstrates the soundness of what we have stated is that there is no dispute that the world occupies a particular spatial domain and direction. Its occupying a particular spatial domain and direction means nothing more than that its parts are separate and distinct from one another. If we can conceive of this meaning here, why should its like not be possible when speaking of the Creator’s occupying a particular spatial domain and direction?”

This is sound reasoning and constitutes an a fortiori argument. Such reasoning is used with regard to Allah Most High; it also occurs in the Quran and Sunnah and was employed by the early generations of the Muslim community and its leading scholars. For example, Allah Most High says:

“He sets forth for you an example drawn from yourselves: do you have, among those whom your right hands possess, any partners in what We have provided for you, so that you are equal in it, fearing them as you fear one another?” [al-Rūm 28]

And He says:

“Or does He have daughters while you have sons?” [al-Rūm 39]

And He says:

“Has He chosen daughters over sons?” [al-Sāffāt 153]