Adam to Him on the grounds that He created him with His two Hands necessarily means that He truly did create him with His two Hands, whereas He created these others by His command, “Be,” and they come into being, as the transmitted reports state.

Another point is that when the Arabs say, “In his hand is dominion,” or, “Your two hands made it,” two things are involved:

(First) Affirming the hand.

(Second) Attributing dominion or action to it.

The second frequently involves figurative usage. As for the first, however, they use such expressions only of a kind of being that truly has a “hand.” They do not speak of the “hand” of desire or the “hand” of water. Suppose, then, that His words, “In His Hand is dominion,” are understood to mean “by His power.” Even so, such figurative language is used only of one who truly has a hand.

The difference between His words, exalted is He, “what I created with My two Hands,” and His words, “what Our Hands have made,” is twofold:

(First): In the former, He attributes the act to Himself and explains that He created him with His two Hands; in the latter, He attributes the act to the hands.

(Second): In Arabic usage, a plural form may stand in place of the dual when there is no risk of confusion, as in His words, exalted is He:

“As for the man and woman who steal, cut off their hands”—that is, their two hands.

And His words:

“For your hearts have indeed deviated”—that is, your two hearts.

The same applies to His words, “what Our Hands have made.”

As for the Sunnah, the evidence is exceedingly abundant, such as his saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Those who act justly will be with