Section

As for the three interpretations he mentioned under the third approach, the discussion is confined to refuting them, since the wording of this hadith, together with the other hadiths, accords with this approach, as in the expressions “in His image,” “in the image of the Most Merciful,” and “in My image.”

As for the first interpretation, namely his statement, “What is meant by ‘image’ is ‘attribute,’ as we have explained. Thus, the meaning is that Adam was distinguished from all other individuals