“This is the conqueror of the cities,” and “This is the prophet of this nation.” Understood in this sense, creation is a relational attribute.

If we regard creation as an attribute subsisting in Him, is it His will and speech, or a separate attribute? There are two views. The second is the view of the Hanafīs and most jurists and hadith scholars. Likewise, our fellow scholars differ concerning mercy, pleasure, and anger: are they identical with will, or distinct from it? There are two views, the sounder of which is that they are not identical with will. Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, yet He does not love corruption, nor is He pleased with disbelief for His servants.

As for our statement that He has been characterized from eternity by the attributes of action, such as creation, generosity, and forgiveness, this means that He is described in these terms beforehand. For a description is the speech by which something is stated about Him, and such speech admits of literal and figurative usage. Our fellow scholars regard it as literal here. As for His actually possessing these attributes—whether this entails a positive attribute distinct from power or a relational attribute—the preceding discussion applies.