And denying both of these is among the doctrines of the esotericist Qarmatians, who are the leading authorities of the Jahmiyyah. For Jahm, together with the Qarmatians and the extreme proponents of philosophy, says: “We do not say that He is a thing, nor that He is not a thing.” Likewise, they say: “We do not say that He exists or does not exist, is living or dead, knowing or ignorant, eternal or brought into being,” and other such statements.

The falsity of these doctrines is known by rational necessity, even if many people have agreed upon them. A group that uncritically follows a doctrine passed down among its members may agree to deny self-evident truths, just as people may agree upon a lie through collusion and mutual agreement. Thus, among the adherents of false doctrines—such as Christians, the Rāfidah, and philosophers—there are those who persist in statements whose falsity is self-evident.

What is impossible is only what is impossible for “those whose collective testimony yields certainty”: namely, that a vast multitude should agree upon a lie without collusion or prior agreement. It is therefore impossible for them to deny what is necessarily known to be true or to affirm what is necessarily known to be false, for that would constitute agreement upon a lie. Those whose collective testimony yields certainty cannot conceivably lie. If, however, they are taught a doctrine through specious reasoning and arguments, and believe it to be sound, they may persist in believing it even though it contradicts rational necessity, and even though they constitute a vast multitude.

For this reason, Allah seals the hearts of the disbelievers, so that they do not recognize the truth. Allah Most High says:

“And We turn their hearts and eyes away, just as they did not believe in it the first time.”

And He Most High says:

“So when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate.”

And He Most High says:

“Thus does Allah seal the heart of every arrogant tyrant.”