Thus, whoever denies a known truth and masks that denial with falsehood is engaging in sophistry in that instance, even if he acknowledges other things. If he knows the truth of what he denies, he is an obstinate sophist. Allah, exalted and holy is He, says:

“They denied them, though their souls were convinced of them, out of injustice and arrogance.” [al-Naml 14]

Such people are sophists in this denial, even if they acknowledge other things. Allah, exalted and holy is He, also says:

“It is not you they accuse of falsehood; rather, the wrongdoers deny Allah’s signs.” {33} [al-An‘ām 33]

Hence, most of those possessed of discernment who reject the truth with which Allah sent His messengers are willful, obstinate deniers, and they are among the worst sophists.

Likewise, regarding what they related about the Sumaniyyah, the fundamental principle of their position was only that whatever exists must be capable of being perceived by one of the senses—not that whoever acknowledges its existence must himself perceive it. This principle they stated is upheld by the proponents of affirmation. For Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamā‘ah, who acknowledge that Allah Most High can be seen, agree that whatever cannot possibly be known through any of the senses is nonexistent, not existent.