is itself the object of knowledge. What, then, is there within that hidden thing other than the thing itself?

This is one of the Jahmiyyah’s longstanding figurative interpretations. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Kinānī mentioned it in Refutation of the Heretics and the Jahmiyyah. In the chapter on questions to be put to the Jahmiyyah, he said:

“He is asked, ‘Do you say that Allah has a Face, a Self, and a Hand?’ He replies, ‘Yes, but by Allah’s Face I mean Allah Himself; by Allah’s Self I mean what is hidden concerning Allah; and by Allah’s Hand I mean