demonstrated the falsity of the claim made by the Jahmites and Mu‘tazilites that “it is created.” Thus, the benefit (1) in the discourse of each of these groups lay in demonstrating the falsity of the other group’s position, not in establishing the soundness of its own; for all positions contrary to the truth are false.

When Allah sent Muhammad—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—humanity was in profound error, as related in Sahīh Muslim (2) in the hadith of Iyād ibn Himār (3), from the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—that he (4) said:

“Allah looked upon the inhabitants of the earth and abhorred them, Arabs and non-Arabs alike, except for remnants of the People of the Book. My Lord said to me, ‘Rise among Quraysh and warn them.’ I said, ‘My Lord, they will then smash my head until it is broken like a loaf of bread (5).’ He said, ‘I shall test you and test others through you. I shall send down to you a Book that water cannot wash away, which you will recite asleep and awake. Send forth an army; send forth twice as many (6). Fight those who disobey you with those who obey you, and spend, and I shall spend upon you.’

“He also said, ‘I created My servants as upright monotheists, but the devils drew them away. They forbade them what I had made lawful for them, and I commanded them not to associate with Me anything for which I had sent down no authority.’…”—and the hadith continues at length (7).