other than the one who created what (1) he needs. Thus, the one who created the material from which he was formed—such as his parents’ generative fluid and his mother’s blood—is the one who created him. The one who created the air he breathes and the water he drinks is likewise the one who created him. For [if] (2) the creator of those things were other than his creator, and they were two creators, each independent of the other in his action and product, this would be impossible. A human being needs both the material from which he is formed and the provision that sustains him. If the creator of his material and provision were other than his creator, the product of either could not be independent of the product of the other.

It [thereby] (3) becomes clear that the world cannot have two agents, the product of each being independent of the product of the other, as the Most High says:

{Allah has never had any offspring, nor has there ever been any god alongside Him. Otherwise, each god would have taken away what he had created.}

[Surah The Believers: 91].

It is also impossible (4) for them both to act independently, since that would entail combining two contradictories. Nor can they be mutually assisting partners, as occurs among created beings that cooperate in bringing things into being. For in that case, neither could act except with the other’s assistance. Such assistance is itself an act that can arise only through his power—indeed, through [his knowledge] (5) and will as well. Thus, this one cannot assist that one unless that one assists this one; nor can that one (6) assist this one unless this one assists that one. Consequently, neither would this one assist that one, nor the latter—