it would have elongated [toward it] 1 according to what the eyes witnessed. And if it changed from what the eyes witnessed once, it is plausible that it is entirely contrary to what the eyes witnessed. Likewise, his leg has extended it while he was in Siffin toward Mu‘awiyah—who was seated upon his throne—until he threw him headlong on the crown of his head. This is a well-known report in the Book of Guidance (Kitab al-Hidayah).
Shall we then say as well that his leg elongated and then subsequently shortened? This too is a miracle and an exercise of power demonstrating that He is entirely contrary to what the eyes witnessed. When a rational person reflects upon this, he realizes that He is immense in power, majesty, and grandeur, and he knows that His ultimate essence cannot be perceived, nor can minds describe Him, nor can intellects assign Him a modality (la tukayyifuhu al-afham). One whose miracles are of this nature—how could His Essence be given a modality? [Or how could His Essence possess physical limbs?] 2 Rather,