But if you say that Allah is known through them—because they are signs pointing to Him—then this is true. It is the religion of the Muslims and what those who know Him witness. Yet this is not what you have said, for two reasons.

First: They become signs only after He creates them and brings them into existence, not while they are nonexistent, though known to Him. You have not affirmed that He created them, brought them into existence, or endowed anything with its created nature. Rather, you have made Him Himself the one who reveals Himself to them.

Second: You have explicitly stated that He revealed Himself to them and became manifest to them, not that He used them to guide His creation to Himself and made them signs providing insight and a reminder to every servant who turns to Him. Allah has stated in His Book that He places signs in these created things. A sign is like a mark or an indication, as He says:

“Your God is one God. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,”

through to His words:

“are signs for people who use reason.”

At other times, He calls the created thing itself a sign, as He, Most High, says:

“And a sign for them is the dead earth: We have brought it to life.”

What Allah has stated in His Book is the truth. Accordingly, if one says, “He revealed Himself through them and became manifest through them,” just as one says, “He is known and recognized through them,” the meaning would be correct. However, the terms “self-revelation” and “manifestation” in such a context are not established transmitted expressions, and they are potentially misleading and ambiguous. Manifestation and self-revelation are understood to mean manifestation and self-revelation to the eye, especially the term “self-revelation,” which is predominantly used for revelation to the eye. This is the doctrine of those who maintain the identity of Creator and creation. Ibn ‘Arabī stated it explicitly, saying:

“The eye therefore falls upon none but Him.”

If they hold that what is seen by the eye is Allah, then this is explicit unbelief by the consensus of the Muslims. Indeed, it is established in Sahīh Muslim that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“And know that no one