to one people rather than another, nor to one place rather than another. Rather, according to this view, He is in latrines just as He is above the Throne] (1).

The Quran indicates that His being with others is sometimes particular and sometimes general. Thus, it is clear that “being with” does not mean His intermingling with them.

This also refutes those who claim that the apparent meaning of the Quran is indwelling, but that it must be interpreted contrary to its apparent meaning, and who make this a principle upon which they base their reinterpretation of other texts.

Such a person is told: Your claim that the Quran indicates this is mistaken, just as the claim of your counterpart, who actually believes in this meaning, is mistaken. This is so for several reasons.

First, the Arabic word maʿa (“with”) denotes only accompaniment, agreement, and association. In its general usage, it does not indicate that the first is intermingled with the second.

For example, Allah, Most High, says:

“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him” [Surah al-Fath: 29].

He did not mean that their persons were intermingled with his person.

And He says:

“Fear Allah and be with the truthful.” [Surah al-Tawbah: 119]

Likewise, He says:

“And those who believed afterwards, emigrated, and strove alongside you—they are of you.” [Surah al-Anfāl: 75]

Likewise, He says concerning Noah:

“And none believed with him except a few.” [Surah Hūd: 40]