[that subsists in itself; and this is impossible for them (1) in every case. Thus, Allah’s attributes cannot subsist by themselves; rather, they must subsist in a subject] (2). Likewise, the servants’ attributes cannot subsist by themselves; rather, they must subsist in a subject.

[A Return to the Discussion of the Terms Mushabbiha (those who liken Allah to creation) and Hashwiyya]

Once this is clear, when this author and others like him speak of “the position of the Mushabbiha,” if by Mushabbiha he means those who affirm names by which both the Lord and the servant are called, then his own faction (3), as well as all people, are Mushabbiha.

If, however, he means those who make the Lord’s attributes like the servant’s attributes, then such people uphold falsehood and are astray. They are more numerous among the Shiites (4) than among others, and they do not constitute any particular group among the people of the Sunnah and the Community.

If he says, “I mean those who affirm the textually revealed attributes (5), such as the Face, the two Hands, establishment over the Throne, and the like,”

he is told, first: These people (6) engage in no form of likening Allah to creation that distinguishes them from others. They explicitly state that Allah’s attributes are unlike the attributes of created beings and that He is exalted above what is peculiar to created beings, such as being originated, imperfection, and the like. If [this] counts as likening Allah to creation (7) because servants possess attributes designated by these names, then all who affirm the divine attributes would be