this.”

These deniers call those who affirm the vision of Allah corporealists, and they mix truth with falsehood when reporting their views. Such is the case with what al-Ashʿarī reported about them from the books of the Muʿtazilah. He said:

“They differed over seeing Allah with the eyes. Some said, ‘It is possible for us to see Allah with our eyes in this world, and we do not rule out that He might be one of those whom we meet in the streets.’ Some of them also allowed that He could dwell within bodies. When adherents of indwelling see a person whom they find attractive, they do not know whether their god might be within him. Many of those who allowed that He could be seen in this world also allowed shaking hands with Him, touching Him, and His visiting them. They said that the sincere embrace Him in this world and the Hereafter whenever they wish. This was reported of some of the followers of Muʿtamir and Kahmas.”