the man being inside the cup. Allah—to whom belongs the highest description—encompasses all His creation without being in any part of His creation.

Here is another illustration: If a man built a house with all its facilities, then closed its door and left, he would still know how many rooms his house contained and how spacious each room was, without being inside the house. Likewise, Allah, mighty and majestic—to whom belongs the highest description—encompasses everything He has created and knows what it is and how it is, without being in anything He has created.

As for the Jahmiyyah’s interpretation of Allah’s words, mighty and majestic:

“There is no private conversation among three but He is their fourth,”

they said, “Allah, mighty and majestic, is with us and within us.”

We said, “Why have you quoted only part of His statement? Allah says:

‘Do you not see that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth? There is no private conversation among three but He is their fourth, nor among five but He is their sixth, nor among fewer or more than that but He is with them’—meaning, through His knowledge of them—‘wherever they may be. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Indeed, Allah knows all things.’”

Thus, He began the statement with His knowledge and ended it with His knowledge.

The Jahmī is also asked, “If Allah is with us in the majesty of His very Self, does Allah forgive you concerning what is between Him and His creation?” If he says yes, he has thereby maintained that Allah, exalted is He, is distinct from His creation and that His creation is beneath Him. If he says no, he has disbelieved.

He said: “If you wish to know that the Jahmī is lying about Allah when he claims that He is everywhere and is not in one place rather than another, say to him, ‘Did Allah not exist when nothing else existed?’”