If you say: What prevented you from raising it as an alternative? I say: Because 'if' is like 'indeed' in that the speech with it is necessary, and an alternative is only permissible in non-necessary speech, like His saying: 'And let not one of you turn away except your wife.' This is because the most general of the general can be negated but cannot be affirmed. The meaning is: If there were various gods managing them and overseeing their affairs, other than the One who is their Creator, they would have perished. And this indicates two matters, the first of which is: It is necessary that there be only one managing them. The second: That this one must be Him alone, due to His saying: 'Except Allah.' If you say: Why are the two matters necessary? I say: Because we know that the subjects would be corrupted by the management of two kings due to the competition, mutual denial, and disagreement that occurs between them. And from Abdul Malik ibn Marwan when he killed Amr ibn Said al-Ashdaq: 'By Allah, he was more precious to me than the blood of my eyes, but two strong ones cannot gather in one pasture.' This is clear. As for the method of mutual prevention, the theologians have differing opinions on it, and because these actions require that distinct essence characterized by those attributes in order to be established and settled.