(He) is not anyone’s child and there is no one similar to Him.

(He) is not anyone’s child and there is no one similar to Him. Had Allah been as those believing in similitude (al-Mushabbihah) say He is, no distinction would exist between the Creator and the created, the Inventor and the invented. In reality He is the Inventor. He has made a distinction between the owner of the body and its creator, the owner of the form and its designer and the one being invented and the inventor. Nothing is similar to Him and He is not similar to anything.’ I then said.

‘Yes, may Allah keep my soul in your service, but you just said, the One the Self-sufficient, that no one is similar to Him. Allah is One and a man is one. Are the two not similar in oneness?’ The Imam replied, ‘O Fath, you said something impossible. May Allah grant you stead fastness. Similarity is in meanings. In the case of names they are all the same. The names refer to the named and designated one.

When it is said a ‘Man’, although (commonly) he is considered one individual, he is found in the form of one individual and not two individuals. However, in fact, man is not one thing. His parts, colours and the colour of his colours that consist of distinct parts are not equal. His blood is different from his flesh. His nerves are different from his veins; his hairs are different from his skin. The black things in him are different from the white things therein.

The same is true of all other creatures, Human beings are one in name but not in meaning Allah, Whose Majesty is Great, is only One and no one other than Him is one. There is no difference, imbalance, increase or decrease in Him. Human beings are created, designed, compounded of different parts and various substances.

Only when his parts are combined man becomes one individual.’ ‘I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, and grant you happiness, please enlighten me about the meaning of your words ( جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ ) ‘Subtle and All-Aware’ Explain it as you just did with the ‘One’?

I know that His subtlety or kindness is different from that of His creatures but I like more clarity.’ The Imam said: ‘O Fath, we said, ‘He is Subtle’ is because of His knowledge of the delicate creatures, may Allah give you success and steadfastness, so you would think about His creation. Consider His design in delicate and not so delicate plants and other creatures like animals, small and large such as flies and crickets and smaller ones that even the eyes cannot see.