Allah The Exalted — Page 20
isted and even that is not essential for the operation of His attribute of creation, for though creation is one of His attributes, the manifestation of His Unity and Singleness at certain times is also a part of His attributes. None of His attributes falls into permanent disuse, but a tempo- rary cessation of its operation is permissible. Thus God manifested His attributes of resemblance to man. For instance, God is Creator, but to some degree, man also creates or fashions; and man can be called no- ble for, up to a point, he possesses the quality of nobility; and man can be called merciful for, up to a point, he pos- sesses the quality of mercy. He also has the quality of anger; and he has eyes and ears, etc. This could create a suspicion in one's mind that man resembles God in re- spect of these attributes, and God resembles man. Therefore, God, by contrast, has also mentioned in the Holy Qur’ a n His attributes of transcendence, i. e. , such attributes of which man does not partake at all in his be- ing or in his qualities. God's creation is not like man's creation, nor is God's mercy like man's mercy, nor is His wrath like man's anger, nor is His love like man's love, nor is He in need of space like man. The Holy Qur’ a n sets out clearly that in His attributes God is quite distinct from man. For instance, it is said: 20 Nothing in essence shares its substance or attributes with God. He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. At another place it is said: 20 al-Sh u r a , 42:12 [Publisher]