accidents: any accident Allah creates in a body (1) is an attribute of that body, not of Allah Most High.

As for addressing someone who does not yet exist (2), on condition that he come into existence, a testator may leave instructions concerning certain matters and say: “I direct the executor, after my death, to do such-and-such. When my son so-and-so (3) reaches maturity, he shall become the executor, and I direct him to do such-and-such.” Indeed, he may establish an endowment that will endure for years and give instructions concerning certain matters to the administrator who will later succeed him (4).

As for someone who says, “O Sālim! O Ghānim!” if he intends thereby to address as present someone who does not exist, this is objectionable by consensus (5). But if (6) he intends thereby to address someone who will come into existence—as when he says: “A truthful person has informed me that my bondwoman will give birth to a boy who will be named Ghānim. When she gives birth to him, he shall be free. I have appointed him guardian over my children, and I direct you, O Ghānim, to do such-and-such” (7)—there is nothing impossible about this.

This is because (8) the addressee here is present in one’s knowledge, even though absent from external reality. A person may address someone whom he calls to mind; he may also remember people whom he has instructed to do certain things (9) and say, “So-and-so, did I not tell you such-and-such?”