would not, if removed, result in the splendors of His Face burning whatever His sight encompasses of His creation. Rather, in their view, removing it would bring mercy and beneficence to those who had been veiled—that is, prevented from receiving beneficence.

The twenty-sixth argument: Nothing whatsoever can prevent Allah, Mighty and Majestic, from bestowing beneficence upon His servants. As He, Most High, says:

“Whatever mercy Allah grants to people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release thereafter.” [Fātir 2]

And He, Most High, says:

“If Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He; and if He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty.” [Yūnus 107]

For if He bestows beneficence upon a servant, that beneficence cannot be prevented; and if He does not bestow it, there is nothing there to be prevented. Thus, one of two possibilities must hold: either His beneficence and blessing are bestowed, in which case nothing can prevent them—as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah, none can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold”—or they are not bestowed, because He has not willed them, not because an impediment exists.

The twenty-seventh argument: He, Mighty and Majestic, says:

“No indeed! They, from