the Lord, in contrast to his own state. Thus, in prostration he says, “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High,” and in bowing, “Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.”

“The Most High” encompasses all the meanings of highness, and He is the Most High in every such sense. People are agreed that He is above all things in the sense that He subdues them, has power over them, and governs them, as He says:

“Then each god would have taken away what it had created, and some would have prevailed over others.”

They are also agreed that He is exalted above every fault and deficiency: He is above all such things and free of them. As He, the Exalted, says:

“Do not set up another god alongside Allah, lest you be cast into Hell, blameworthy and banished.”

“Has your Lord favoured you with sons and taken daughters for Himself from among the angels? You are indeed making an outrageous claim.”

“We have certainly explained matters in various ways in this Quran so that they may take heed, yet it only increases their aversion.”

“Say: If there were other gods alongside Him, as they claim, they would surely have sought a way to the Lord of the Throne.”

“Glory be to Him! He is far exalted above what they say.”

Thus, He coupled His exaltedness above such things with the declaration of His freedom from all imperfection.

He, the Exalted, also says:

“Allah has never taken any offspring, nor is there any god alongside Him. Otherwise, each god would have taken away what it had created, and some would have prevailed over others. Glory be to Allah, far above what they attribute to Him!”

“Knower of the unseen and the seen! Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.”

And the jinn said:

“Exalted is the majesty of our Lord! He has taken neither a wife nor offspring.”