And it is well known that his words, “lying on your side,” did not indicate that ‘Imrān had only one side. Rather, all his sides are meant, as Allah Most High says:

“Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides.” [Āl ‘Imrān 191]

And He says:

“When you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on your sides.” [al-Nisā’ 103]

This includes lying on one’s back.

The sixth response is: Where does the apparent meaning of the Quran indicate that Allah has a shin? All he has is Allah’s statement:

“On the Day when a shin will be uncovered.” [al-Qalam 42]

The Companions disagreed over the interpretation of this verse: whether it refers to hardship being laid bare or to the Lord uncovering His Shin. Among the passages cited as verses concerning the divine attributes, this was the only verse over which the Companions and Successors disagreed. This is unlike His words, “to that which I created with My two Hands” [Sād 75], and “And the Face of your Lord will remain” [al-Rahmān 27], and similar passages, for there was no disagreement