denying the Creator. This is, in fact, Jahm’s position, although he contradicts himself on this point, combining assertions that entail the Creator’s existence with others that entail His nonexistence. What concerns us here is his negative doctrine, in which he opposed the Muslims, for its substance is the denial of the Creator, exalted is He. Thus, every subsidiary position arising from this doctrine, when extended by analogy and pursued consistently, entails either the Creator’s nonexistence, a contradiction through affirming and denying the same thing, or the denial of necessity and impossibility in equivalent cases. In any event, everything they affirm carries implications analogous to those they objected to in what they denied.

The third response concerns his statement, “Jealousy is a state of the soul.” He may be told: All attributes, as they exist in us, are states of the soul, such as love, hatred, approval and anger, as well as will. Will too is a state of the soul, prompting restraint at times and pursuit at others. There is absolutely no difference between the two in the observable realm.

The fourth response is that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Are you surprised at Sa‘d’s jealousy?