that sound, unequivocal reason accords with what the Messenger brought, neither contradicting nor opposing it, and that through it the arguments of the heretics are invalidated and the unbelievers are left with no answer. Thus, reason and revelation are shown to agree, and the people of knowledge and faith prevail over the people of misguidance and heresy. This brings about belief in everything the Messenger brought, adherence to sound, unequivocal reason, and the ability to distinguish clear proofs from specious arguments.
[Everything the proponents of negation cite as evidence supports the opposite of their position]
Long ago, I mentioned in some of my writings that I had examined most of the scriptural texts cited by the proponents of negation and found that they supported the opposite of their position more strongly than they supported their position. For example, they argue against seeing Allah on the basis of His saying, Most High:
“No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision.” [Al-An‘ām: 103]
I explained that encompassing, rather than merely seeing, is what is meant here, and that this verse supports affirming the vision of Allah more strongly than it supports denying it.
Likewise, they argue that the Quran, or the verbal expression of the Quran, is created on the basis of His saying, Most High:
“No new reminder comes to them from their Lord except that they listen to it.” [Al-Anbiyā’: 2]
I explained that this verse supports the opposite of their position more strongly, for it indicates that some of the reminder is new and some is not new, which is contrary to their position.
Hudūth (newness) in ordinary Arabic does not have the same meaning as it does in the technical terminology of speculative theologians. The Arabs call whatever occurs anew “new,” and whatever precedes something else “old,” even if it came into existence after not having existed. Examples include His saying, Most High:
“Like an old date stalk.” [Yā Sīn: 39]
His saying, Most High, concerning Joseph’s brothers:
“By Allah, you are indeed still in your old error.” [Yūsuf: 95]
And His saying, Most High:
“And when they are not guided by it, they will say, ‘This is an ancient falsehood.’” [Al-Ahqāf: 11]