Likening is like comparing, and a distinction may be made between them by saying that comparing is equating in all attributes, while likening is equating in most attributes.

The Shaykh :"Liking is like comparing, and a distinction may be made between them by saying that comparing is equating in all attributes, while likening is equating in most attributes" means that if you examine the scholars' words, you will find some saying "without likening" and others saying "without comparing." But upon reflection on the meaning of the two words, you will find that comparing is more emphatic in similarity. If you say "this book is like this book," it means it equals it in every respect. If you say "it resembles," it means it is similar in most descriptions. We also say that the expression negating comparing is preferable, meaning it is better to say "without comparing" than "without likening." He mentioned one aspect of the preference, saying: "because it aligns with the Qur'an. So Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:

There is nothing like unto Him

ليس كمثله شيء

[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]

" and He did not say "He is not like a thing." That is the wording found in the Qur'an.
Also, likening, according to some people, is affirming the attributes. Therefore, the people of denial of the divine attributes say: "Every one who affirms is one who likens". So if we say "without likening," it may mislead one to think that the meaning is "without affirming the attributes," because it is established among these deniers that affirming the attributes is likening. Thus, affirming the attributes is called likening by some people. So if you say "without likening," the meaning becomes "without affirming attributes."
Thirdly: We say that negating likening, if it means absolute likening, is something no one has said, so there is no need to negate it. Negating it is futile because no one has said it. By absolute likening, we mean equality in every respect. No one has said this for us to negate it. It is clear, my brothers. So if someone said to you: "I will give you a gift and teach you a science, and it is a science consisting of a sentence with a subject and a predicate, and he stands praising you," what would your state be? You would stretch out and look for this science. He says, "The sky is above us and the earth is below us." Yes. What is the benefit of this? There is no benefit.
So, if one intends to negate absolute likening, there is no benefit in it because no one holds it. And if one intends to negate likening in general, which is similarity in the essence of the attribute, this is also prohibited. It is necessary that the Creator and the created share in the essence of the attribute; this is necessary. Otherwise, we would not know anything of the attributes of Allah. For example, "The Living" is among the names of Allah, and His attribute is life. Is the human described as living and possessing life? Yes. Allah the Exalted said: . Good. "The All-Hearing" and the attribute is hearing. Is Allah described with hearing or not? And is the created described with hearing? Yes. So the Creator and the created share in what? In the essence of the attribute. But they differ in its modality and reality. Existence is shared by the Creator and the created, but they differ. The created's existence is the opposite of that; it is not eternal and not everlasting. So it is now clear that saying "with the negation of similarity" is preferable to saying "with the negation of resemblance." Yes.