What further clarifies the confusion that has arisen here is that Ahl al-Sunnah agree on rejecting the reinterpretations of the Jahmiyyah and other deviant groups who depart from the truth. “Rejected interpretation” means diverting speech from its apparent meaning to a meaning contrary to it. If it were said that this is the interpretation mentioned in the verse, and that none but Allah knows it, this would concede to the Jahmiyyah that the verse has an interpretation contrary to what it indicates, but that none but Allah knows it. This is not the position of the early generations and the imams. Rather, their position is to deny and reject these reinterpretations, not to suspend judgment about them. In their view, reading the verse or hadith is itself its explanation. Such texts are to be left as transmitted, conveying their meanings, without distortion or deviation.

The evidence that this is not ambiguous speech whose meaning cannot be known is as follows:

There is no doubt that Allah has named Himself in the Quran with names such as the Most Merciful, the Most Loving, the Almighty, the Compeller, the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful, the Most Compassionate, and others like these. He has described Himself with attributes such as those set forth in Surah al-Ikhlās, the Verse of the Throne, the opening of Surah al-Hadīd, and the closing of Surah al-Hashr, and in His words:

“Indeed, Allah knows all things,”

and is

“Powerful over all things.”

He says that He

“loves those who are mindful of Him,”

“those who act justly,”

and “those who do good,”

and that He is pleased with those who believe and do righteous deeds.

“So when they angered Us, We took vengeance upon them.”

“That is because they followed what angered Allah.”

“But Allah disliked their going forth.”

“The Most Merciful rose over the Throne.”

“Then He rose over the Throne. He knows what enters the earth and what emerges from it, what descends from heaven and what ascends into it. And He is with you wherever you are.”

“And He is the One who