in the Quran, for its very letters are preserved.

As for his statement, “No rational person doubts that these expressions are intended solely as a comparison,” the term “comparison” is ambiguous. The intention is not merely to portray someone who visits the servant as though he had visited Allah if Allah Himself were ill, or someone who feeds the servant as though he were feeding Allah if Allah Himself were hungry—thereby likening visiting and feeding His servant to visiting and feeding Him. Rather, interpreting this hadith in that way is misguidance, associating partners with Allah, likening Him to His creation, and rejecting its true meaning. This is because a comparison requires that the predicate actually hold true of the original case before its application to the corresponding case is supposed. But Allah, glorified and exalted is He, cannot be fed, nor can He fall ill and be visited, such that feeding and visiting His servant could be likened to feeding and visiting Him.

Moreover, He has explained the intended meaning, saying:

“Did you not know that My servant so-and-so fell ill? Had you visited him, you would have found Me with him. My servant so-and-so was hungry; had you fed him, you would have found that with Me.”

He thus made it clear: “I am with My servant, so when you visit him, you are coming to Me in this sense. When you feed him, it is I who receive the charity and take it, and it is kept with Me for you.” And He spoke of Himself as ill and hungry