and speak of the parts of a definition and the parts of quantity and magnitude. Thus, if they affirm these concepts, they are compelled to acknowledge the existence of these things that they call parts, essential attributes, and the like. If they claim that these things have no existence and that their meanings are identical, then in each of these two claims they are among the most obstinate deniers of necessary truths. But if they acknowledge what is necessarily known through our innate nature and is among the clearest self-evident truths—that these things have existence and that one is not the other—then they have acknowledged the very thing from which they fled.

Such is the plight of one who flees from the Truth: the only escape from Him is to Him, and there is no refuge from Him except with Him. Allah Most High says:

“And of all things We created pairs, so that you may take heed.” (49) [al-Dhāriyāt 49]

They said: “So that you may know that the Creator of pairs is One.” Thus He declared that everything has a counterpart and a likeness, contrary to the claim of those who ascribed offspring to Him and said that nothing was begotten of Him, nor did anything emanate from Him, except