the universe. Accordingly, when someone says, “He is not mutahayyiz,” what he really means is that He is neither inside the universe nor outside it.

They have merely altered the wording so as to mislead those who do not grasp the essence of their claim into thinking that it conveys something else, whereas it is precisely the notion whose falsity is self-evident to sound reason—just like those who declare, “He is neither living nor dead, neither existent nor non-existent, neither knowing nor ignorant.”

Second Principle – Expressions are of two kinds

1. A term for which there is scriptural evidence: its ruling
   The second principle is that whatever the Messenger has reported about his Lord—exalted is He—must be believed, whether we understand its import or not, for he is the truthful, the one believed. Therefore, everything found in the Quran and the Sunnah must be affirmed by every believer even if he does not comprehend its meaning. The same applies to whatever has been established by the unanimous agreement of the early generations of the ummah and their leading imams. Indeed, the bulk of this subject is explicitly set forth in the Quran and the Sunnah and is unanimously acknowledged by the early Muslims.

2. A term for which no scriptural evidence exists: its ruling
   As for the expressions over which later scholars have differed, whether in affirming or denying them, no one is obliged—indeed, no one is even permitted—to agree with anyone else in affirming or negating a term until he understands what is meant by it. If it is intended to convey truth, it is accepted; if it conveys falsehood, it is rejected; and if his words contain both truth