the kind of resemblance and equivalence ruled out by revealed and rational evidence. Rather, that evidence rules out anything entailing that the two share what is exclusive to the Creator—what is uniquely necessary, possible, or impossible for Him. No creature can share any of this with Him, nor does any creature share any of His exclusive characteristics—glorified and exalted is He. What you have denied, however, is established by revelation and reason. Your calling it resemblance and corporealism merely deceives the ignorant, who suppose that any meaning someone labels in this way must be denied.

Were this acceptable, every proponent of falsehood could give the truth names that repel some people, so that people would reject the truth known through revelation and reason. By this method, heretics have corrupted the reason and religion of groups of people, leading them into the gravest unbelief and ignorance and the deepest error and misguidance.”

If those who deny the attributes say, “Affirming knowledge, power, and will entails a multiplicity of attributes, and this is an impossible composition,” they are told:

“When you say, ‘He is existent, necessary, an intellect, a subject of intellection, an object of intellection, a lover, a beloved, pleasurable, one who experiences pleasure, and pleasure itself,’ is not the meaning understood from this the same as the meaning understood from that?

“These are multiple meanings, distinct from one another in the mind. According to you, this is composition, yet you affirm it and call it monotheism.”

If they say, “This is monotheism in reality, not an impossible composition,” they are told: “The essence’s possession of attributes inseparable from it is likewise monotheism in reality, not an impossible composition.”