only a kind of resemblance, not identity in either essential nature or dimensions.

As for those who supposed that, since the pronoun in “his height was sixty cubits” refers to Adam, the pronoun in “His image” must likewise refer to Adam, and that the meaning is “He created Adam in Adam’s image,” we have already addressed their view. We explained that Adam had no prior image in which to be created and presented several arguments demonstrating the invalidity of that interpretation. For this reason, some hadith scholars who wished to avoid relating this meaning to certain people would say, “He created Adam, sixty cubits tall.”

Now, if this explains the dimensions of Adam’s image, in which He created him, one would not say in such a case, “He created Adam in Adam’s image.” Rather, one might say, “He was created in this image and with these attributes.” For this wording contains no possessive construction implying the prior existence of the image in which he was created. Rather, it specifies and describes the image he had after creation, even though