and that Allah enumerated it in him just as the Creator enumerates the knowledge of a thing in His creation. Under this consideration, the Imam, in his view, would be other than Allah.

The answer to that is: Indeed, in the words of the Messenger (exalted be his might), there is a degree of double entendre (tawriyah) and a concealment of the esoteric within the exoteric that does not remain hidden from the astute gnostic (al-'arif al-fatin). This is similar to our saying that Allah has enumerated within His essence the knowledge of all things; and our saying so does not mean that Allah has become other than His essence, just as it is impermissible to say that the Creator enumerated in a created being the knowledge of all things. Yes, it is permissible to say He enumerated in him the knowledge of some things.

And this Messenger (exalted be his might), whom the majority of Muslims consider to be the most perfect of Allah's creations absolutely, it was never stated regarding him that Allah enumerated in him the knowledge of all things. Rather, it came from the Creator (glorified be He) commanding him with His saying: