are understood to mean what inheres in the sun itself, then that is one of its attributes. The Creator’s attributes are not created, nor are they part of the world under discussion.

If, however, the rays are understood to mean what is reflected onto the earth, then this necessarily involves two things: the sun, which acts as the active father, and the earth, which acts as the receptive mother. The earth is thus the sun’s consort. Likewise, sound is generated only from two bodies, one striking the other or pulling away from it. Thus, the sound found in the bodies of this world is generated from two sources, one striking the other or pulling away from it. Whatever analogy they invoke as evidence, what Allah has brought is the truth and the best explanation—the clearest and most illuminating exposition of the truth.

Moreover, they regard them as a complete cause of what lies beneath them, reinforcing and necessitating it. They even regard them as our originating principles and as our fathers and mothers. Sometimes they make the intellect the father and the soul the mother.

Some of them sometimes say that “the two parents” are the intellect and nature, as the author of al-Fusūs (The Bezels) said concerning Noah’s words:

“Forgive me and my parents.”

That is, those of whom I was the product, namely the intellect and nature. They even call them lesser lords and gods and worship them. This is disbelief, contrary to what the messengers brought.