by what the leading (1) zanādiqa (heretics) before them had stated openly: that the celestial sphere is endlessly revolving, and (2) that the heaven is empty; that their claim that the Exalted One is in every place and in every thing—without (3) exempting the belly of a dog, the entrails of a swine, or even a privy—was nothing but a flight from true affirmation and a retreat from sound inquiry; that their assertion, “He is Hearing without hearing, Seeing without sight, Knowing without knowledge, Powerful (4) without power— a god without soul, personhood, or form,” was followed by their declaration, “He has no life,” and then, “He is nothing at all, for were He something He would resemble other things.”

In doing so they merely hovered around the doctrine (5) of the early arch-heretics who said, “The Creator is neither qualified with attributes nor devoid of attributes.” They feared for the hearts of the weak-minded among the Muslims, the heedless, and those of scant understanding, for outwardly they clung to the Qur’an—seeking in it only refuge from the sword and a shield (6) from them (7)—while all the time subverting (8) tawḥīd (pure monotheism), mixing with the Muslims, and wearing the ṭayālisah (9). Thus they laid bare their own disgraces (10), cried out the wickedness of their hearts, and broadcast the hidden subtleties of their creed. How long they had to endure in their days the swords of the caliphs, the tongues of the scholars, and the abandonment of the common folk (11); indeed, the chronicles have been filled