as they have stated. This attribute relates to pleasure and anger. It is well known that Allah does not warn His servants against His life, His continuance, or the like, nor does He warn them by negating these.

The fifth argument is His statement to Moses:

“And I have chosen you for Myself.” (41) [Tā Hā 41]

He chose him only for Himself, not for an attribute of His, such as life or continuance, just as He did not choose him for any of His creatures.

The sixth argument is the statement of Jesus, peace be upon him:

“You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself.” [al-Mā’idah 116]

He thus described the self as containing knowledge. Knowledge and all other attributes subsist only in Allah Himself, not in an attribute such as life or the like.

The seventh argument is his statement, “what is within myself.” This refers to his own self, not to one of his attributes, since his knowledge subsists only in himself—in his own essence and very being—not in any of his attributes. As for “and I do not know what is within Yourself,” the wording is the same in both expressions, the latter being phrased in parallel with the former.