concerning Jahm, the enemy of Allah, was that he was from Khurāsān, specifically from Tirmidh. He was given to disputation and theological discourse, and most of his discourse concerned Allah. He encountered some polytheists known as the Sumaniyyah. They recognized Jahm and said, ‘We will debate you. If our argument prevails over yours, you will embrace our religion; if your argument prevails over ours, we will embrace yours.’

Among the questions they put to Jahm was: ‘Do you not claim that you have a god?’

Jahm replied, ‘Yes.’

They asked, ‘Have you seen your god?’

He replied, ‘No.’

They asked, ‘Have you heard him speak?’

He replied, ‘No.’

They asked, ‘Have you detected any scent from him?’

He replied, ‘No.’

They asked, ‘Have you perceived any sensory sign of him?’

He replied, ‘No.’

They asked, ‘Have you perceived him by touch?’

He replied, ‘No.’

They asked, ‘Then how do you know that he is a god?’

He said: Jahm became bewildered and, for forty days, did not know whom he worshipped. Then he devised an argument resembling that of the heretics among the Christians. These Christian heretics claim that the spirit within Jesus is the spirit of Allah, originating from Allah’s own essence. When He wishes to bring something about, He enters one of His creatures and speaks through that creature’s tongue, commanding whatever He wills and forbidding whatever He wills. He is a spirit hidden from sight.