affirming the divine attributes; they enter into fanāʾ (annihilation) within the oneness of lordship while still upholding that the Creator of the universe is distinct from His creation. Others add to this a denial of the attributes, thereby falling into taʿṭīl (nullification), and this is worse than the condition of many idolaters.
[Remarks about the positions of certain individuals and sects and their nearness to, or distance from, the truth]
Jahm used to deny the attributes and champion jabr (absolute compulsion). Such is, in fact, the essence of Jahm’s doctrine; yet when he affirms command and prohibition, and reward and punishment, he diverges from