A formulation demanding equality “in every respect” can be read as equality in all the relevant respects of the comparison, rather than two distinct things sharing every incidental property.
لأن مراد الأشعري المساواة من جميع الوجوه فيما به المماثلة، كالكيل مثلا
For al-Ashʿarī, equality in every respect means every respect relevant to the likeness, such as the measure in an exchange.
Thus two scholars can count as equal in a specified field without being indistinguishable in life. Examining the scope of the terms can reconcile competing expressions without assuming a deeper theological opposition.