His names—has no attributes, and that He has no knowledge, power, life, hearing, sight, might, majesty, greatness or grandeur. They said the same concerning all the other attributes with which Allah describes Himself.”

He said: “They took this position from their brethren among the philosophers, who claim that the world has a maker who has always existed, but who is neither knowing nor powerful, neither living nor hearing, nor eternal. They expressed their position by saying, ‘We say: an entity that has always existed,’ and went no further. However, those Muʿtazilah whose position concerning the attributes we have described could not openly declare what the philosophers openly declared. Instead, they expressed its meaning by denying that the Creator has knowledge, power, life, hearing or sight. Were it not for fear, they would openly declare what the philosophers declared and state it explicitly. Fear of the sword, however, prevents them from doing so.”

He said: “A man known as Ibn al-Ayādī, who subscribed to their position, did state this explicitly. He claimed that the Creator, Most High, is knowing, powerful, hearing and seeing figuratively, not literally. Among them is also a man known as ʿAbbād ibn Sulaymān, who claims that the Creator, Most High, is knowing, powerful, hearing and seeing