existence altogether is known to be false.

This is the point here: every argument advanced to establish the eternity of the world—or even to deny the divine attributes—entails for its proponent something far worse than what he sought to avoid. Ultimately, he must either deny existence altogether or acknowledge the falsity of his position and of every argument supporting it. This applies throughout religion, to the beliefs, words, intentions, and deeds that Allah has commanded. Whoever abandons any of these for something else, out of fear of what he abandons, will find in what he flees to something worse than what he feared. If he does so out of desire for what he flees to, what he forfeits is greater than what he gains. Indeed, they are punished with something worse still.

Allah Most High has said:

“And they bring you no argument but that We bring you the truth and the best explanation. (33)” [al-Furqān: 33]

He thus tells us that whenever the polytheists advance an analogy—and their analogies are false—Allah brings the truth, with a statement and an analogy that provide a better explanation. Its exposition and its indication of what is to be established are clearer, more evident, and more manifest, and closer to self-evident, plainly apparent truths. This concerns the side of truth.

As for the punishment of those who uphold falsehood, their leader among the jinn is Iblīs, and their greatest leader among humankind is Pharaoh. Iblīs abandoned obedience to Allah Most High and worship of Him by refusing to prostrate before Adam, fearing that the superiority of Adam, peace be upon him, would diminish his own rank. This led him to accept the lowest of stations and to sell his Hereafter for another’s worldly gain, like the vilest of panders; for he destroys