and this is because it is evident to sound reason that a thing’s possessing knowledge does not mean the same as its possessing power, nor is its very essence identical to its possessing knowledge and power.

Anyone who allows that an attribute may be identical to the entity possessing it is among the greatest sophists. Moreover, he contradicts himself: if he allows this, he must also allow the existence of one thing to be identical to the existence of another. Existence would then be one and the same in numerical identity, not merely in kind. Thus, if the existence of a contingent being were identical to the existence of the Necessary Being, the existence of every creature—which ceases to be when its existence ends and comes into being after having been nonexistent—would be the very existence of the True One, who is beginningless, everlasting, and enduring, and cannot cease to exist. On this supposition, necessary existence would be characterized by every kind of resemblance and corporeality, every deficiency and every flaw. This is precisely what the proponents of the unity of existence openly declare, having carried this corrupt principle through to its conclusions.

The claims of those who deny the attributes are therefore false on every supposition. This is a principle that applies consistently: whenever anyone denies an attribute conveyed by the Messenger in order to escape something objectionable, he has already affirmed something that entails the counterpart of what he sought to escape. Ultimately, he must affirm a necessary, beginningless existent possessing attributes that distinguish Him from all else, without resembling His creation in those attributes. He is therefore told: the same reasoning applies to all the attributes. Every name and attribute you affirm must indicate some meaning shared by the things so designated; otherwise, the discourse could not be understood. Yet we know that what is exclusive to Allah and distinguishes Him from His creation is greater than anything that comes to mind or can be conceived in the imagination.