whereas, according to the opposing Jahmiyyah and their offshoots, there is no difference between this world and the Hereafter. They are not brought near to Allah Himself, either in this world or in the Hereafter, nor do they stand before Him or return to Him. Rather, all this means that they all proceed to some of His created things and effects of His power, and this holds true in both this world and the Hereafter.

Likewise, according to the Jahmiyyah proper, His addressing them means that He creates speech in some of His creatures through which He speaks to them. According to their offshoots, He creates in His servants a perception by which they understand the meaning subsisting in His essence—not that He addresses them with speech they hear at that time. It is well known that the creation of understanding and perception does not differ between this world and the Hereafter.

Thus, in their view, what is described in this and other hadiths occurs in this world just as it does in the Hereafter: the believing servant draws near to Allah Most High in this world, and He places His covering over him, has him acknowledge his sins, and says, “I concealed them for you in this world, and I forgive them for you today.” According to them, this is either hearing a voice in some created thing or an inspiration arising within the soul. Everyone who reflects on the Quran and hadith knows beyond doubt that what they say is not what