is more deserving of one’s modesty than people are.” Another example is His statement in the Quran:

“But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger.” [al-Tawbah 62]

Thus, analogies are sometimes drawn concerning the attributes and actions ascribed to Him—truth as it exists—and sometimes concerning the deeds a person is commanded to perform—truth as an intended goal.

In the authentic hadith, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a woman among the captives pick up and nurse a child she had spotted, he asked, “Do you think this woman would throw her child into the fire?” They replied, “No, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Allah is indeed more merciful to His servants than this woman is to her child.” This involves an a fortiori analogy, but at the level of conception; it may also be used at the level of