And when their benefit ceased with their knowledge, his denial was confirmed. They were equal with it, with neither group having anything of what they intended. So how wretched a deal it is, and how poor a trade it is! And since the example of a thing can only be properly drawn by one who knows that thing, and the supporter of something cannot oppose it unless he knows it and knows the extent of his ability and the number of his forces, it follows that this is His affair, glorified and exalted is He, and that their partners are far removed from that. So how can they attach their hopes to His support? And this was further enhanced by his good follow-up to the denial of knowledge from them. He said, indicating their ignorance in denying that anyone could destroy their deities, which are the weakest of things: "Indeed, Allah" meaning: the One who has the attributes of perfection "knows" what He has of those attributes "what" meaning: what "they call upon" meaning: those for whom the example was drawn, or you in the reading of the elevated text, an indication of the style of address signaling anger "besides Him" indicating the low status of them. And He affirmed the generality by saying: "of anything" meaning: whether it is a star or an idol or an angel or a jinn or anything else, and they do not know Him nor do they know anything of what they can reach. So how can they intercede with Him or be supported by Him? The reference is in His saying: "And He is the Exalted" meaning: beyond having His partners know Him or anyone encompassing Him with knowledge, or anything that He desires being withheld from Him; and they permitted that "what" could be a negation, meaning: anything that is taken into account. And since that might imply that He does not know at all, He said: "the Wise" meaning: the one who has complete knowledge, placing everything He desires in the most perfect of places. So He concealed Himself with His greatness and majesty until there is no one concealed besides Him, and He manifested it through His actions and what has been revealed of His beauty until there is no one apparent in reality besides Him. And He overcomes whom He wills with His might, and He gives respite to whom He wills with His wisdom. So let no one be deceived by His respite and think that it is due to His neglect.