in Allah, He will suffice him.”

These and similar statements, in which the Lord speaks of certain attributes exclusive to Him and truthfully describes Himself with attributes of perfection, are themselves part of His perfection. His explaining these matters to His servants and making them known to them is also part of His perfection. Anyone else who made such claims about himself would be a liar and a fabricator, and lying is among the greatest faults and deficiencies.

When a created being speaks truthfully about himself, however, this is not unconditionally blameworthy. Indeed, it may be praiseworthy if it serves a beneficial purpose, as in the Prophet’s statement, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“I am the foremost of Adam’s descendants, and I say this without boasting.”

If, however, this causes harm that outweighs or equals its benefit, he is blamed for doing something harmful, not for lying. The Lord, exalted is He, does nothing for which He is blameworthy. Rather, all praise belongs to Him in every circumstance, and every act of His is good, beautiful, and praiseworthy.

This is evident according to those who hold that injustice on His part is intrinsically impossible. According to the majority among Ahl al-Sunnah and the Qadariyyah, He acts only in accordance with wisdom and justice. Thus, all His reports, statements, and actions are good and praiseworthy, proceeding with the perfection for which He deserves praise. He possesses qualities exclusive to Him, blessed and exalted is He, by virtue of which He deserves supreme greatness and majesty. His supreme greatness and majesty are thus like His being living, self-subsisting, beginningless, and necessarily existent in His own right; His knowing all things and having power over all things; His being the Almighty, who cannot be assailed; and His being the Subduer of everything besides Him.