the absence of that which depends upon it. He also denies having a child on the grounds that He is the Creator of all things: everything other than Him is His creation, and nothing among it is begotten of Him.

As for the second, He rules it out by being, glorified be He, Al-Samad. Whatever is generated from two sources comes from two portions that separate from those sources, as an animal is generated from its father and mother through the seminal fluid that separates from them. Such generation requires another source, as well as something issuing from both sources. All of this is impossible with respect to Allah, Exalted is He. He is One, so He has no equal who could be His consort and counterpart; and He is Al-Samad, from whom nothing issues. Each of these two attributes—His being One and His being Al-Samad—precludes His begetting, and precludes His being begotten with even greater force.

Just as generation among animals requires two sources—whether those sources are of the same kind as the offspring, as with animals born through reproduction, or of a different kind, as with animals generated otherwise—so too does generation among things other than animals. An example is fire generated by two fire-making implements, whether two pieces of wood, a stone and a piece of iron, or something else. Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“And by those that strike sparks.”

He, Exalted, also says:

“Have you considered the fire that you kindle?
Was it you who brought its tree into being, or are We its Maker?
We have made it a reminder and a provision for travelers.”

He, Exalted, also says:

“He puts forth a comparison for Us, forgetting his own creation. He says, ‘Who will give life to bones when they have crumbled away?’
Say, ‘He who brought them into being the first time will give them life. He has full knowledge of every creation—
He who made fire for you from the green tree, from which you then kindle your fires.’”