—many times over—and addresses all people with them, including the intelligent and the dull-witted, those versed in religion and those who are not, requiring them to ponder that discourse, understand it, reflect upon it, and believe what it entails, but then requires them not to believe anything of its apparent meaning because some obscure evidence, discernible only to a few individuals, indicates that its apparent meaning was not intended, this would constitute deception and obfuscation. It would be the opposite of clarification and the very contrary of guidance, resembling riddles and puzzles more than guidance and explanation. How much more so if that discourse indicates its apparent meaning far more strongly than the obscure evidence indicates that this meaning was not intended? And what if that obscure evidence is merely a specious argument with no basis in reality?

The man conceded these points to me.

I said:

Let us discuss one of the attributes and make our discussion of it a model to follow, taking the attribute of the “Hand” as our example. Allah Most High says:

“The Jews say, ‘Allah’s Hand is shackled.’ May their hands be shackled, and may they be cursed for what they have said! Rather, both His Hands are outstretched; He spends however He wills.”

And He, Most High, said to Iblīs:

“What prevented you from prostrating to what I created with My two Hands?”

And He, Most High, says:

“They have not accorded Allah His true worth. On the Day of Resurrection, the earth in its entirety will be in His grasp, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand.”

And He, Most High, says:

“Blessed is He in whose Hand is dominion.”

And He says:

“In Your Hand is all good. Indeed, You have power over all things.”

And He, Most High, says:

“Do they not see that We have created livestock for them from what Our Hands have made, and that they own them?”