his Nihāyah that people raise their hands only toward Allah. He disregarded the three answers he mentioned here: that they raise their hands toward the direction from which they receive such benefits as light and sustenance; toward the angels who are there; or because the Throne is the qiblah for supplication. This is because he knew with certainty that, in raising their hands, created beings intend only to raise them toward Allah. However, he challenged the second premise—namely, that this indicates their immediate knowledge that the One from whom they seek the fulfillment of their requests and the easing of difficulties is in that direction—on the grounds mentioned earlier. We shall address his argument.

The nineteenth argument: A gesture accompanying a verbal expression refers to whoever or whatever is mentioned in that expression, whether the sentence makes a statement or expresses a request. This applies whether the indication involves the word “this” or similar demonstrative expressions, or expressions of supplication and calling. When a speaker says, “This man did it,” “This man is setting out,” “Honor this man,” or something similar, the verbal expression—namely, the word “this”—corresponds to what the speaker is pointing to. This is why grammarians call these words demonstratives. These words do not, by themselves, identify the intended referent; the speaker must point to what he intends by them. Thus, someone who hears “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those,” but does not know what the speaker is pointing to, does not understand what is intended. The particular referent is therefore identified through the combination of