in terms of denying this specific meaning affirmed by the scriptural texts. Instead, he resorted to a broad, ambiguous meaning that entails denying that truth and may also entail denying a falsehood. He thus denied both—truth and falsehood alike.

For the statement, “He is neither in a direction nor in a spatial location,” entails that He is not within the world, inside the bodies of animals, or in filthy privies. All this is true. But it also entails that He is neither over the Throne nor above the world, and this is false. His negation thus denied both truth and falsehood.

For this reason, those who affirm the divine attributes fall into two groups. Some say, “Rather, He is in a direction and a spatial location, because He is above the Throne.” This falls within the scope of the denier’s general statement, and a universal negative proposition is refuted by affirming a particular instance, as in the words of Allah Most High:

“They did not accord Allah His proper reverence when they said, ‘Allah has revealed nothing to any human being.’ Say, ‘Who revealed the Book that Moses brought?’” [al-Anʿām 91]

The one making this affirmation means a particular direction and a particular spatial location: that which is above the Throne. Others do not state without qualification that He is in a direction or in a spatial location, either because