any association of partners with Him. It also affirms His justice, which excludes injustice, and His might and wisdom, which exclude abasement and folly. It declares Him free of partners, injustice, and folly. Thus it affirms His oneness, justice, wisdom, and power.

The Muʿtazilah may invoke this verse to support what they call oneness, justice, and wisdom, but it provides no proof for them. Rather, it is proof against both them and their opponents, the Jabriyyah, the followers of al-Jahm ibn Safwān, who say, “Whatever He can do is just,” and deny wisdom, saying, “He acts without any wise purpose.”

The verse provides them with no proof, for He has declared that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, and this does not entail denying His attributes, although they call the denial of His attributes “oneness.” Rather, the deity is the One who deserves worship, and worship necessarily involves love for the one worshipped. The polytheists set up rivals to Allah whom they love as they love Allah, whereas those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah. This indicates that the believers love Allah more than the polytheists love their rivals to Him. It is therefore clear that Allah is loved for His own sake. Whoever does not affirm this has not truly borne witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him.

The Jahmiyyah and the Muʿtazilah say that His very Self is not loved. Thus, in reality, they deny His divinity. This is discussed at length elsewhere.