There is No Thing Like Him?

S 42:11 The splitter of the skies and the Earth. He has made for you from yourselves husbands and from the cattle husbands; he multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like him and he is the hearer, the seer.

Wife or Husband?

"There is nothing like him" might be rendered 'There is no thing like him'. Why does the author say thing? Why does he not say 'no ONE'? The verse doesn't exclude man's being like it. Is it saying that no thing is like Allah, which is also a 'thing'? Now, a beast or an idol may be referred to as a 'thing'. Is 'Allah' comparing itself with those? One or two scholars have actually called Allah a 'thing'. From an article:

Say (O Muhammad): "What thing (shay-in) is the most great in witness?" Say: "Allah (the Most Great!) is Witness between me and you; this Qur'an has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach. Can you verily bear witness that besides Allah there are other aliha (gods)?" Say "I bear no (such) witness!" Say: "But in truth He (Allah) is the only one Ilah (God). And truly I am innocent of what you join in worship with Him." S. 6:19 Hilali-Khan

And call not upon another god with God; there is no god but He. All things (shay-in) perish, except His Face. His is the Judgment, and unto Him you shall be returned. S. 28:88 Arberry

Does he think that no one (ahadun) has power over him? … Does he think that no one (ahadun) sees him? S. 90:5, 7 Shakir

Say: 'He is God, One (ahadun), S. 112:1 Arberry

In fact, in one of the headings for Sahih al-Bukhari we find the following admission:

XXI. "Say: 'What thing is greatest as a witness?' Say: 'Allah. '" (6:19)

Allah Almighty called Himself a thing, and the Prophet called the Qur'an a thing, and it is one of the attributes of Allah. He says, "All things are passing except His Face." (28:88) (Aish Bewley, 100. Book of Tawhid (the belief that Allah is One in His Essence, Attributes and Actions): *; bold emphasis ourss) Dr. Badawi Proves That Allah Exists As A Limited Physical Being

Regarding S 28:88, see: Rest In Pieces

Further reading: Nothing Like Allah?