understands them. For it is self-evidently impossible to reason that something subsisting in itself should be neither in contact with nor separate from anything else. Since the Jahmī claims that this is possible in the case of Allah Most High, he must also allow all analogous impossibilities.

Imam Ahmad likewise mentioned this in the course of his refutation of the Jahmiyyah, when discussing the meaning of “with” in the Quran. He said:

“When the proof was established against the Jahmī concerning his claim about Allah, Almighty and Majestic—that He is with His creation in everything—he said, ‘He is neither in contact with anything nor separate from it.’

“We said to the Jahmī, ‘If He is not separate, is He not in contact?’

“He said, ‘No.’

“We said, ‘Then how can He be in everything without being in contact with it?’ He could not give a satisfactory answer, so he said, ‘Without asking how.’ With this expression he deceived the ignorant and confused them.

“We said to him, ‘On the Day of Resurrection, will there not be only Paradise, Hell, the Throne, the Footstool, and the air?’

“He said, ‘Yes.’

“We said, ‘And where will our Lord be?’

“He said, ‘He will be in everything, just as He was, since He was in everything in this world.’

“We said, ‘Then, according to your doctrine, whatever of Allah is on the Throne is on the Throne; whatever of Allah is in Paradise is in Paradise; whatever of Allah is in Hell is in Hell; and whatever of Allah is in the air is in the air.’ At that point, their lies about Allah became clear to the people