and this is the absolute negation that even the most eloquent of people cannot describe non-existence more than these people have described their Lord. Exalted is Allāh above what they say, a great exaltation! May Allāh have mercy on that wise leader who, upon hearing this from some theologians, said: "These are people who have lost their Lord!" For this reason, some scholars said: "The anthropomorphist worships an idol, and the negator worships nothingness. The anthropomorphist is dim-sighted, and the negator is blind!" It is unfortunate that the scholar Ibn al-Jawzī, in his refutation of the anthropomorphists, fell into such speech. He said in his aforementioned book, after interpreting (istiwāʾ) as domination and citing the well-known line by the Christian poet al-Akhṭal: "Bishr has dominated over Iraq without a sword or spilled blood." He philosophized in rejecting the correct meaning, which is elevation, saying: "Therefore, it should be said: He is neither inside the world nor outside of it!" The one named Ḥasan al-Saqqāf did not comment on this false negation, which no known imam before has stated, and which contains not an ounce of knowledge, as is the case with the deniers. Among his wonders and ignorances is that he imitates Ibn al-Jawzī in his rejection of those who affirm by saying: "He established Himself on the Throne in His essence." Ibn al-Jawzī (p. 127) rejected this phrase "in His essence" by saying: "It is an addition that has not been transmitted." Glory be to Allāh! An addition like this, intended to prevent negation, is rejected because it has not been transmitted, while his previous statement: "He is neither inside..." is not rejected! O Allāh, indeed this is a great calamity!