The meaning of these two (names) is “the possessor of power’ but Al-Muqtadir does (this) to a greater extent (than Al-Qādir). Power is tantamount to the “abstract principle” (maʿnā) by means of which a thing comes into being according to the determination and in agreement with the will and knowledge. Al-Qādir is the one who does what he wishes (to do); and if he so wishes, he does not do it. It is not a part of the condition that he should inevitably wish (to do something and therewith exercise his power). Thus God Most High is qādir of effecting the resurrection now, because He would effect it if He wished to do so. But if He does not effect it because He does not wish it, and He does not wish it because of His knowledge of the fixing of its appointed time and span, that does not detract from (His) power (to do so). The absolute Al-Qādir is the One who created every existent by himself, independent of the assistance of another, and He is God Most High.

As far as man is concerned, (certainly) he does have power in a general sense, but it is deficient. For he is able to deal with only some of the things that are possible, and he is not capable of creation. Rather does God Most High create the objects of man’s power by means of his (own) power whenever there are present all the causes of (man’s) object-of-power. Beneath this there is an abyss which is impossible for a book of this nature to uncover.