is there who can intercede with Him except by His permission?” And His words:

“There is no intercessor except after His permission.”

Whoever reflects upon the Quran will see that it is just as the Most High says:

“Allah has sent down the best discourse: a Book whose parts resemble one another and whose themes are reiterated.”

Its parts resemble and confirm one another; it is neither inconsistent nor contradictory:

“Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have found in it much inconsistency.”

It is “reiterated”: Allah reiterates its categories and treats them comprehensively. Realities are either mutually alike—corresponding to “resembling one another”—or similar, comprising classes, categories and types—corresponding to “reiterated.”

“Doubling” can denote repetition in general, without being restricted to just twice. Thus, in the Most High’s words, “Look again, twice,” repetition in general is intended. This is like saying, “I told him time after time,” meaning repeated occasions generally. Likewise, you may say, “He says such-and-such, and says such-and-such,” even though he has said it many times.

An example is the report of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān—may Allah be pleased with them both—concerning the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“He kept saying between the two prostrations, ‘My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.’”

He did not mean that the Prophet said this only twice, as some people mistakenly suppose. Rather, he meant that he kept reiterating these words, repeating them again and again, just as he would repeat the words glorifying Allah.