“Nor is it permissible to affirm a spirit for Him. In his Refutation of the Heretics, Ahmad said concerning the words of the Exalted, ‘and a spirit from Him’: ‘The expression “the spirit of Allah” means simply a spirit brought into being by the word of Allah, exalted is He, and created by Allah—just as one says “the servant of Allah,” “the heaven of Allah,” and “the earth of Allah.”’”

I say: The words of Ahmad that he cited accord with the wording of the scriptural texts. We have already quoted this and other statements of Ahmad, all of which indicate that Allah’s Self is Allah Himself—His Essence—not an attribute subsisting in Him. The same is true of the wording he cited as evidence for that view. Ahmad said: “Then ask him: ‘Did He create creation within Himself or outside Himself?’”

He then explained that if he says that He created them within Himself, he has disbelieved, because he has placed foul things, such as devils, within Allah’s Self. If he says that He created them outside Himself and then entered into them, he has disbelieved, since he thereby claims that He entered foul places, although innate human nature knows with certainty that Allah, exalted is He, transcends such places. And if he says that He created them outside