or inadvertent. Scholars of hadith unanimously agree that the wording is “bayna katifayya” (between my shoulders), with a tāʾ. The Jahmiyyah have many similar instances of distorting the wording of scriptural texts at times and their meanings at others, such as some of them saying, “And Moses spoke to Allah,” or reporting, “Our Lord is made to descend,” and the like.

Second: As for his statement, “What is meant is the familiar expression, ‘I am under so-and-so’s protection and in the shelter of his beneficence,’” he should be asked: Is the Messenger the recipient of Allah’s beneficence, or is Allah the recipient of his? The hadith does not say, “Then He placed me under His protection.” Rather, he said, “He placed His hand between my shoulders.” On your interpretation, this would mean, “He placed His hand among my favors, or in the shelter of my beneficence.” Clearly, this turns reality on its head: the servant receives his Lord’s favors; the Lord does not receive His servant’s favors.

Third: He has interpreted the hand as a favor, so if he takes