There Is Nothing Like Him — Complete Exaltation of Allah
tadabbur
Level: intermediate
universe-signs
td-039
لَيۡسَ كَمِثۡلِهِۦ شَيۡءٞۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ
— الشورى 11
Verse: "There is nothing like Him — and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing." (42:11)
"Nothing like Him": The most comprehensive statement of exaltation — negating any resemblance of Creator to creature in His essence, attributes, or actions.
"He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing": After negating resemblance, attributes are affirmed — Allah hears and sees but not like a creature's hearing and sight. Combining exaltation with affirmation is the moderate method.
Lesson: When you imagine Allah — any image that comes to mind is not Allah. The mind can grasp that He exists but is incapable of comprehending the manner of His existence.
Source: Ibn Kathir (7/189); Al-Sadi; Ibn Taymiyya, Al-Wasitiyya
Question: How does "nothing like Him and He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing" combine exaltation with affirmation?
Answer: The first part negates resemblance (exaltation); the second affirms attributes — the method: affirm without anthropomorphism, exalt without negation.