magnitude, is an attribute inhering in that which has magnitude; this does not mean that the latter is magnitude itself and its reality. The Exalted says:

“And everything with Him is according to a measure.” {8} [al-Ra‘d 8]

And He says:

“Allah has set a measure for everything.” {3} [al-Talāq 3]

He thus assigned magnitude and measure to things; He did not make them the very entities and essences of those things. Likewise, the Exalted says:

“We do not send it down except in a known measure.” {21} [al-Hijr 21]

We have explained that the shared element and the distinguishing element may stand in the same relation to the essence characterized by them. There is therefore no more reason to regard one as the essence and the other as an attribute than the reverse. We have also explained that, even if the shared element is said to be the essence, it does not constitute the whole reality. Rather, that reality comprises both what is shared and what distinguishes.

Thus, even if that which occupies a spatial region constitutes a genus—as substance has been said to constitute a genus—its species need not be alike. Such likeness requires sharing all essential attributes, whereas he has already conceded that things occupying spatial regions differ in their attributes. It is therefore possible that every body, even if magnitude is its essence,