of nonexistence. Thus, aggregating possible things that are nonexistent (* does not make them existent. Rather, their dependence upon an agent when aggregated *) (1), (2) is greater than when they are separate (3). This has been discussed at length elsewhere.

[The Proofs of Those Who Hold an Endless Succession of Temporal Events to Be Impossible, and the Response to Them]

The principal basis of those who hold an endless succession of temporal events to be impossible is the argument from superposition, comparison (4), and alignment, which entails a disparity between the two series. They then say:

(5) “Disparity within that which is endless is (* impossible. For example, they posit the events extending from [the time of] (6) the Hijra endlessly *) (7) into the future or the past, and likewise the events extending from the time of the Flood endlessly [as well] (8). They then compare the two series and say: If they are equal (9), it follows that the greater is equal to the lesser, which is impossible, since one exceeds the other by the events between the Flood and the Hijra. If they differ in magnitude, it follows that there is disparity within that which is endless, and this is impossible.”

Those among the adherents of hadith, dialectical theology, and philosophy who disputed them rejected this premise and said: “We do not concede that the occurrence of such a disparity [therein] is—”