closed its door and left it, he, a human being, would still know how many rooms his house contained and how spacious each room was, without being inside the house. Likewise, Allah, glorified be He—and His is the highest description—encompasses everything He has created and knows its nature and condition, without being in anything He has created.’

Ahmad, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“Among the words of Allah, glorified be He, that the Jahmiyyah have interpreted are:

‘No private conversation takes place between three but He is their fourth, nor between five but He is their sixth.’
[al-Mujādilah: 7]

They said: ‘Allah is with us and within us.’

We replied: ‘Why did you omit the beginning of the statement? Allah says:

“Do you not see that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth?”
[al-Mujādilah: 7]

Then He says:

“No private conversation takes place between three but He is their fourth.”
[al-Mujādilah: 7]

This means that Allah is their fourth through His knowledge.

“Nor between five but He is their sixth, nor between fewer than that or more but He is with them”

[meaning] He is among them through His knowledge,

“wherever they may be. Then He will inform them of what they did on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, Allah knows all things (7).”
[al-Mujādilah: 7]

He begins the statement with His knowledge and ends it with His knowledge.