and the Jahmites and the disciples of the atheists would be more eloquent than he, and more skilled in presenting and expressing the truth. Both his supporters and his enemies, those who agree with him and those who oppose him, know by sheer necessity that such a notion is false, for even his opponents never doubted that he was the most eloquent of mankind and the most capable of conveying meaning in a way that dispels ambiguity and confusion.

Now, if he was able to speak in that manner yet never did so, always saying the very opposite and contradicting it, that would cast doubt on his sincerity. But Allah has described His messengers as possessing perfect sincerity and clarity, saying, “We did not send any messenger except in the language of his people, so that he might make things clear to them” [Ibrahim: 5]. He has also informed us that His messengers were the most sincere of people toward their nations. Given such sincerity, clarity, and complete knowledge, how could the creed of the negating disablers—the people of distortion—be the correct position, while the statement of the affirmers, the followers of the Quran and the Sunnah, be false? This, in essence, is the content of the debate.

The Jahmite then said to him, “Come down with us to level ground (1).”

I asked him, “What did he mean by that?”

He replied, “He meant that you addressed me from a lofty height and overawed me with a prestige I cannot withstand; so come down with us to the discussions of the learned and the principles of the dialecticians,” or words to that effect.

So let the person who wishes well for his own soul—certain that Allah (3) will inevitably question him about the answer he gives—reflect