وَٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَوٰةً وَلَا نُشُورًا Qur’an Al-Furqan (25:3)Wa i ttakha th oo min doonihi a lihatan l a yakhluqoona shayan wahum yukhlaqoona wal a yamlikoona lianfusihim d arran wal a nafAAan wal a yamlikoona mawtan wal a h ay a tan wal a nushoor a n
I.e., whether they be inanimate "representations" of imaginary deities, or personified forces of nature or deified human beings. or simplv figments of the imagination.
This is the first great distinction taught by the Criterion; to know the attributes of the true God, as against the false fancies of men.