The second kind is a term for which no scriptural evidence has been given, such as these terms disputed by the practitioners of speculative theology and philosophy. One says, “He occupies space,” while another says, “He does not occupy space.” One says, “He is in a direction,” while another says, “He is not in a direction.” One says, “He is a body or a substance,” while another says, “He is neither a body nor a substance.”

No one is obliged to affirm or deny anything using these terms until the person using them is asked to clarify his meaning. If he makes clear that he is affirming something true, one affirms it; if he affirms something false, one rejects it. If he denies something false, one denies it; if he denies something true, one does not deny it. Many of these people combine truth and falsehood in these terms, both in affirmation and in negation.

If someone says that He is in a direction, meaning that He is contained and confined within some created thing—whatever it may be—this affirmation is not accepted. This is the position of those who uphold divine indwelling. But if he says that He is separate from created things and above them, this affirmation is not disputed. Indeed, it is the opposite of the position of those who uphold divine indwelling.

If someone says that He is not in a direction, meaning that He is neither separate from the world nor above it, this negation is not accepted.

Likewise, the term “occupying space” may mean that something existent surrounds the thing described, as in the words of the Most High:

“Or joining another group.”

It may also mean that something has withdrawn from and become separate from something else. Thus, if someone says that Allah occupies space