that is self-evident and acquired through experience. As for the second premise, it is agreed upon.

They argued on this basis and also invoked the argument from impediments: if seeing Him were possible, He would necessarily be seen now, since the impediments to vision are absent and its conditions are fulfilled. These conditions are that the faculty of sight is sound, the object seen is present, it is not exceedingly small or subtle, it faces the observer or the instrument of vision, and no veils intervene. They claimed that whenever these conditions are fulfilled, vision necessarily occurs, whereas if any of them is absent, vision is impossible.

Al-Rāzī said: “These two arguments”—meaning the argument from impediments