erroneous, whereas the approach of the former group is far more misguided. This is one of the two standpoints. It has already been explained, so we shall not repeat it.

The second standpoint is that of someone who concedes to him that He is above the Throne, is spatially located, and has a boundary and a limit, and who also applies the term “direction” to Him. Those who affirm the divine attributes disagree over applying the term “direction”; this disagreement exists among the followers of Imam Ahmad and others. Likewise, they disagree over the term “boundary,” with disagreement on this too among the followers of Imam Ahmad and others.

We say: On this assumption, the argument may be addressed in several ways. First, this author’s statements, and those of others, concerning a spatial locus—whether it is something existent, nonexistent, or relational—are inconsistent and contradictory. Although he has maintained here that it is something existent, elsewhere he has maintained that it is something nonexistent. It suffices to refute his statements with his own statements. We have relied on this repeatedly, for this is found