to him is what you suffer; he is deeply concerned for you, and compassionate and merciful toward the believers.”

Yet the Compassionate is not like the compassionate servant, nor the Merciful like the merciful servant.

He has called Himself the Sovereign, saying:

“The Sovereign, the Holy.”

He has also called some of His servants kings, saying:

“And behind them was a king who seized every ship by force.”

“And the king said, ‘Bring him to me.’”

Yet the Sovereign is not like the human king.

He has called Himself al-Mu’min and the Guardian, and He has called some of His servants believers, saying:

“Is one who is a believer like one who is defiantly disobedient? They are not equal.”

Yet al-Mu’min is not like the human believer.

He has called Himself the All-Mighty, saying:

“The All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme.”

He has also called some of His servants al-‘Azīz, saying:

“The wife of al-‘Azīz said.”

Yet the All-Mighty is not like the human dignitary.

He has called Himself the Compeller and the Supreme, and He has described some of His creatures as domineering and arrogant, saying:

“Thus does Allah seal every heart that is arrogant and domineering.”

Yet the Compeller is not like the domineering creature, nor the Supreme like the arrogant creature. There are numerous other examples of this.

Likewise, He has given names to His attributes and used corresponding names for the attributes of His servants, saying:

“And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills.”

“He has sent it down with His knowledge.”

He also says:

“Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Possessor of Strength, the Firm.”

And:

“Did they not see that Allah, who created them, was greater than them in strength?”

He has also called the attributes of created beings knowledge and strength, saying:

“And you have been given only a little knowledge.”

And:

“Above every possessor of knowledge is one more knowledgeable.”

And:

“They rejoiced in the knowledge they possessed.”

And:

“Allah is the One who