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People offer other interpretations, all of which are false. One is the interpretation of Ibn ʿAqīl and those who agree with him: that what is meant is the image of sovereignty and governance. Indeed, dominion over the animal kingdom—even its flying and swimming creatures—offers a comparison with the Lord’s dominion over the world through governance and direction, as does dominion over all inanimate bodies.

Although Ibn ʿAqīl mentions this in one passage, in another he interprets it as referring to the created image, as discussed earlier. Such people do not hold consistently to any position; rather, they vacillate greatly. There is nothing that al-Mu’assis and his like say that Ibn ʿAqīl and others like him do not also say at certain times and in certain writings, although he may retract it, just as he retracts other views.