If you say: How was it said to them, 'Is there any of your partners who begins creation and then returns it?' while they do not acknowledge the return? I say: The return of creation has been placed in the position of a proof whose evidence, if raised by a refuter, would be a denial of the clear and evident truth that has no room for doubt. This indicates that in their denial of it, they are denying a matter that is accepted and acknowledged as true by rational people. And Allah commanded His Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, to say: 'Allah begins creation and then returns it.' So He commanded him to respond on their behalf, meaning that He does not leave them, due to their stubbornness and denial, to utter the word of truth, so he spoke on their behalf. It is said: He guided him to the truth and to the truth, thus combining both meanings. It is also said: He guided by himself, meaning he was guided, just as it is said: He bought, meaning he purchased. From this is His saying: 'Is he who does not guide?' The reading remains with a kasrah (a vowel mark) with emphasis, and it has been indicated by his saying: 'or it was broken.' The reading 'does not guide' is for Hamzah and Al-A'raj. And with a fatha (another vowel mark) with emphasis for the Meccan and Sham. And with a kasrah for Asim. The origin is 'yahtadi.' This is the reading of Abdullah, as indicated by Al-Nasafi. It has been read: except that he is guided by the one who guided him and guided him for emphasis. From this is their saying: 'he is guided.' Its meaning is that Allah alone is the one who guides to the truth, by what He has instilled in the accountable beings of intellects and has granted them the ability to reflect on the evidence He has set for them. And by what He has been gentle with them, guided them, inspired them, and made them aware of the laws. So, is there any of your partners whom you have made equals to Allah, such as the angels, the Messiah, or Ezra, who can guide to the truth like the guidance of Allah? Then He said: 'Is he who guides to the truth, this guidance, more deserving of being followed, or the one who does not guide, meaning does not guide by himself, or does not guide others except that Allah guides him?' It has been said: Its meaning is: 'Or is he who does not guide from the idols to a place to which he can be transferred, except that he is guided?' Or he does not guide, and his guidance is not valid unless Allah transfers him from his state to make him a responsible being, so He guides him. So what is wrong with you? How do you judge with falsehood, while you claim that they are equals to Allah?