all of whom (1) say: (2)

“It is impossible for Him to be described as having the power to lie (3), commit injustice, or do any other forms (4) of evil; nor can He validly be described by any such thing.”

They said:

“The proof that it is impossible for injustice and evil (5) to proceed from Him is [that injustice and evil] (6) are those acts whose perpetrator Allah has prescribed must be censured. A person is censured for doing what he has no right to do, and this can only be the case when he disposes of something over which another has a greater right of ownership and disposal than he does. It therefore follows that this must be impossible with respect to Him, since [He] (7) did not command us (8) to censure Him; nor is He one whose acts may fall under an obligation imposed by Himself upon Himself (9); and His action cannot constitute disposal of something over which another has a greater right (10). [Thereby] (11), it is established that such a thing cannot even be conceived with respect to Him.”

The substance of their position is that censure applies only to one who disposes of another’s property and to one who disobeys the commander (12) [who is above him] (13). Yet it is impossible that anyone should command Allah—glorified and exalted—or that He should dispose of another’s property, for all things belong to Him.