in Allah’s sight—in their servitude to Him, their sincere devotion to Him, His love for them, and their nearness to Him. Thus Allah’s fashioning of Moses for Himself confers upon him a distinction not shared by those whom he surpasses, although all are Allah’s servants, sincerely devoted to Him in religion.

Al-Qādī said: “Interpreting the words of the Most High, ‘And I have chosen you for Myself’ (41) [Tā Hā 41], as meaning ‘for My essence and My message’ is invalid, since there would be no point in singling out Moses: He also fashioned other prophets for His essence and His message. There must therefore be a purpose in specifically mentioning the self here.”

His opponents would reply: “Likewise, if the self were an attribute, there would be no