and a back and a front, a top and a bottom. The smallest body consists of six particles: one is its right side, another its left; one its back, another its front; and one its top, another its bottom. He also held that a single indivisible particle comes into contact with six others of its kind; that it can move, remain at rest, and join with another; and that it can occupy a location and make contact. It cannot bear colour, taste, odour, or any accidents other than those we have mentioned until these six particles come together. Once they come together, they constitute a body, which can then bear the qualities we have described.

He said: Some speculative theologians maintained that composition inheres in both indivisible particles, so that one and the same composition exists in two places. This is the view of al-Jubbāʾī.

He said: Muʿammar held that a body is that which has length, breadth, and depth. The smallest body consists of eight particles. When the particles come together, accidents necessarily arise