And whoever says that Allah does not know His servants’ circumstances until some angel, prophet, or other being informs Him of them is an unbeliever. Rather, He—glory be to Him—knows what is secret and what is even more hidden. Nothing in the earth or the heavens is hidden from Him:
“He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
He hears the clamour of voices in different languages expressing their diverse needs. Hearing one does not distract Him from hearing another; requests do not confuse Him, nor does He grow weary of those who persist in asking.
The second way is that a king cannot govern his subjects or repel his enemies without helpers to assist him. He therefore needs supporters and helpers because of his weakness and inability. Allah—glory be to Him—has no helper, nor does He need a protector on account of weakness. He, the Most High, says:
“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim to be gods besides Allah. They possess not an atom’s weight in the heavens or on earth, nor do they have any share in either, nor does He have any helper among them.’”
And He, the Most High, says:
“And say, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has never taken a son, who has no partner in His dominion, and who has no protector out of weakness.’ And proclaim His greatness.”
Every means that exists has Him as its Creator, Lord and Sovereign. He has no need of anything besides Himself, while everything besides Him is in need of Him. This is unlike kings, who need their helpers and whose helpers are, in reality, their partners in sovereignty.
Allah, the Most High, has no partner in His dominion. Rather, there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner. To Him belongs all dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.
The third way is that a king has no desire to benefit his subjects, treat them kindly, or show them mercy unless some external influence moves him. Thus, when the king is addressed by someone who advises and honours him, or by someone who presumes upon his closeness to him—someone in whom the king places hope and whom he fears—the king’s will is stirred