and decrease, and is therefore finite.

The souls that existed at the time of the Flood were undoubtedly fewer in number than those that have existed up to our time. Every number that admits of increase and decrease is finite; therefore, existing human souls are finite in number. Their finitude is then used to infer the finitude of bodies, and the finitude of bodies to infer the finitude of motions, moving things, and the entire universe.

He said:

As for establishing that every number that admits of increase and decrease is finite, they have claimed that this is self-evident.

He said:

The second argument: If past events were infinite in number, the occurrence of an event today would depend on an infinite succession having elapsed. Whatever depends on an infinite succession having elapsed cannot come into existence. It would therefore follow that an event today could not occur. Since it has occurred, we know that past events are finite in number.

I say:

This is the argument cited by some of the leading scholars of the Mu'tazilah and the Shi'ah. It was also cited by Abū al-Ma'ālī and other leading scholars of speculative theology.