43- The things that Allah the Exalted has attributed to Himself
The things that Allah the Exalted has attributed to Himself are of three kinds:
① A thing that exists in and of itself; the attribution meant here is the one a creation has to its Creator. Sometimes this attribution is general, such as:
إِنَّ أَرْضِي وَاسِعَةٌ
“Indeed, My earth is vast.”
And sometimes this attribution is specific because of the honour of that thing, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
“And purify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand in prayer, and those who bow and prostrate.”
And He also said:
نَاقَةَ اللَّهِ وَسُقْيَاهَا
“The she-camel of Allah and her turn to drink (so take care of it).”
This kind relates to the creation.
② A thing that exists through something else, such as the saying of Allah the Exalted:
وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ
“A spirit from Him.”
This too is an attribution of honour. What is meant by it is that very spirit which is created, and it is not a portion or part of Allah the Exalted. It is a spirit that entered Isa (peace be upon him), and it is separate from and distinct from the essence of Allah the Exalted; this too relates to the creation.
③ What is meant by this is a specific attribute that is attributed to Allah the Exalted; it does not relate to the creation, because all the attributes of Allah the Exalted are not created, such as “Qudrat Allah”, the power of Allah. Examples of this are found in the Qur’an in large numbers.
