an affirmation. Pure negation, however, contains no praise. This exposes the error of those who assign one of the two to negation and the other to affirmation, especially those among the Jahmiyyah who deny love of Him and affirm no attributes of His that call for love and praise. Rather, they affirm only what entails subjugation, such as power. Thus, they have believed in part and disbelieved in part, and have deviated concerning His names and signs to the extent that they have rejected the truth. This has been discussed at length elsewhere.

Section

In the first revelation, Allah Most High says:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created.”

And He says:

“Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous.”

In both places, He refers to Himself through a possessive construction that makes the expression definite and indicates that He is known to those addressed. For the Lord Most High is known to the servant without inferring His existence from the fact that He created. Although created things constitute evidence and point to the Creator, He is known through the natural disposition before this inference is made. Knowledge of Him is innate, implanted in the natural disposition—necessary, self-evident, and primary. And His command, “Read,” although addressed first to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is