the polytheists—of whom Allah says, “They invoke besides Him none but female deities, and they invoke none but a rebellious Satan.” {117} [al-Nisā’ 117]—in those respects in which they resemble women.

Likewise, the opponent’s argument rests on several premises. The first is that Allah is separate from the world. The second is that separateness can only be in essence, time, or place. The third is that His separateness from the world is greater than a mere difference in essence or time. Once these premises are established, it necessarily follows that He is spatially separate from it.

This becomes clear when the argument is arranged into two syllogisms. The first runs as follows: the Creator is separate from the world; anything separate from something else must be separate from it in essence, time, or place. It follows that the Creator, glorified is He, must be separate from the world in essence, time, or place.

Then it is said: His separateness from the world is not merely in essence and time; any separateness that is not merely in essence and time must be spatial. It follows that the separateness must be spatial.