and He says:

“And Allah presents a parable of two men, one of whom is mute and unable to do anything.” [al-Nahl 76]

Since this is so, the meaning argued for by his opponent is established by the interpretation of the early generations and by Arabic usage. These are the two means by which an interpretation is established. His own interpretation, however, has been proposed by neither Quranic commentators nor authorities on Arabic. Indeed, the language of the Quran and other Arabic speech explicitly rules out the meaning he claims.

The thirty-third point: Regarding his statement, “For al-Samad, according to this interpretation, is an attribute of thick bodies,” it may be said to him: Describing something as samad (without a hollow interior) and as solid entails neither thickness nor thinness. Some thin objects are solid, such as certain kinds of glass and crystal, among others.

The thirty-fourth point: The fact that a word denotes thickness in Arabic does not preclude its inclusion among Allah Most High’s names, for He says:

“Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Possessor of Strength, the Firm.” (58) [al-Dhāriyāt 58]

Thus He called Himself al-Matīn (the Firm), and the word al-Matīn conveys thickness more strongly than al-Samad.

The thirty-fifth point: His statement, “And Allah is exalted above