and “imagination”? Do you mean what these terms may specifically denote in customary usage: imagining and supposing what is false? There is no doubt that everything real is free from such supposition and imagination. Every reality is contrary to what this supposition and imagination would suggest, and every reality differs from this supposition and imagination. How often people hear something described in words and picture it in a particular form, only to find, when they see it, that it differs from what they imagined! And how often someone forms a supposition about another person, only to find, upon seeing him, that he differs from what he supposed! There is no doubt that Allah is unlike what the proponents of falsehood among the Jahmiyyah and others imagine and suppose Him to be. As the Most High says:
“Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they ascribe to Him (180). And peace be upon the messengers (181). And praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds (182).” [al-Sāffāt: 180–182]
And He says:
“Glory be to Him! He is exalted far above what they say (43).” [al-Isrā’: 43]
And He says:
“But you thought that Allah did not know much of what you did (22). It was that thought of yours about your Lord that ruined you, so you became losers (23).” [Fussilat: 22–23]
And He says:
“And you were harbouring all manner of thoughts about Allah (10). There the believers were tested and shaken severely (11).” [al-Ahzāb: 10–11]
And He says:
“And that He may punish the hypocritical men and women, and the men and women who associate partners with Him, who harbour evil thoughts about Allah. Upon them shall fall an evil turn of fortune.”
Up to His words:
“Rather, you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families, and that thought was made appealing to your hearts. You harboured evil thoughts and were a people doomed to ruin (12).” [al-Fath: 6–12]
And He says:
“He thought that We would not constrain him, then called out in the darkness, ‘There is no god but You! Glory be to You! Indeed, I