then he has disbelieved, for he claims that He created the jinn and devils within Himself. If he says that He created them outside Himself and then entered them, this too is disbelief, for he claims that He entered every foul, filthy, vile place. If he says that He created them outside Himself and did not then enter them, he has abandoned his entire position; this is the position of Ahl al-Sunnah.”

He likewise said: “The Jahmiyyah claimed that ‘Allah’ in the Quran is merely a created name. We said, ‘Before He created this name, what was His name?’ They said, ‘He had no name.’ We said, ‘By the same reasoning, before He created knowledge, He was ignorant, knowing nothing until He created knowledge for Himself. He had no light until He created light for Himself, and He had no power until He created power for Himself.’ Then the vile man realized that Allah had exposed him and laid bare his shame when he claimed that ‘Allah’—exalted be