4. Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja`far al-Hamdani said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Harun ibn `Abd al-Malik that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq was asked about Divine Unity; thus, he said:

He, the Mighty and High, is undoubtedly Existent. He is not vain or numerable, nor can He be described on the basis of the attributes of creation. He, the Mighty an High, possesses Qualities [nu`ut] and Attributes [sifat]. There are Attributes which apply to Him which can also be applied to the created such a hearing [sami`], seeing [basir], affectionate [ra`ur], merciful [Rahim], and their likes. Whereas the Qualities are qualities of Essence; they do not befit anyone but Allah, the Blessed and Exalted. Allah is Light as there is no darkness in Him. He is Ever-Living as there is no death for Him. He is All-Knowing as there is no ignorance in Him. He is Needless [Samad] as there is no need in Him. Our Lord is Light by Essence, Ever-Living by Essence, All-Knowing by Essence, and Needless by Essence.