spatially separated from one another, though identical in essential nature, while others would be in contact. Whatever is possible for either of two things identical in nature is possible for the other. It therefore necessarily follows that the two parts in contact could become separated, and the two separated parts could come into contact. This entails that coming together and separating would be possible for Allah, which is impossible.

As for the second possibility—that those parts differ in essential nature—we say: for every body composed of parts differing in essential nature, analysis of its composition must ultimately lead to parts each of which is free of composition. For composition consists in units coming together; without the existence of units, their coming together would be inconceivable.

Having established this, we say: each of these simple parts must touch one thing on its right side and another on its left. But its right side is identical in nature to its left; otherwise, it would itself be composite, whereas we have assumed it to be