of perfect precision, before His creation, that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him.

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His words, “upholding justice,” are in the accusative as a circumstantial qualifier. There are two interpretations. According to one, they qualify “bears witness,” meaning that He bears witness while upholding justice. According to the other, they qualify “Him,” meaning: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, upholding justice,” just as one says: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Him alone.” Both meanings are correct.

The phrase “upholding justice” may be governed by both grammatical elements, according to the Kufan position that a single dependent expression can have two governing elements. They offer the same analysis of His words:

“Take and read my record!”

“Bring me molten copper to pour over it.”

“On the right and on the left sits an attendant.”

And other similar passages. Sībawayh and his followers, however, assign a separate dependent expression to each governing element. They maintain that the dependent expression of one has been omitted because the other indicates it. The Kufan position is stronger, as I have explained at length elsewhere.

On either grammatical analysis, His words “with justice” can accordingly be understood as referring either to His bearing witness while upholding justice—for one who upholds justice acts justly—as in His words: