 What then determines the measure of preparedness? This goes back to a thing’s “reality” (haqîqa), its “whatness” or “quiddity” (mâhiyya). This is determined not by our definitions, but by God’s knowledge, because he knows the thing always and forever, whether or not it exists in the cosmos. Ibn ‘Arabî commonly refers to the realities simply as “things” (ashyâ’, pl. of shay’) or “entities” (a‘yân, pl. of ‘ayn). They do not exist in themselves, because nothing truly exists but the Real Being, so they are “the nonexistents” (al-ma‘dûmât). In philosophical terms, they are “possible” (mumkin), so they may or may not come to exist, in contrast to the Real Being, which is necessary (wâjib), so it cannot not exist.