Thus, the "thing" is in the sense of the established and the existent. If we were to say "no thing," it would be non-existence, because "no thing" (al-la shay) is non-existence. The evidence for that is the famous narration concerning Abu Hanifa when he sent a man with his she-camel to the Master as-Sadiq, glorified is his glory, saying to him: "Its price is no thing, so give me no thing and take it." The man went to the Master as-Sadiq, glorified is his glory, and spoke to him just as Abu Hanifa had instructed him. So the Master, glorified is his glory, took him to where a mirage was and said to him: "Do you see this mirage? This is the 'no thing'; so go and take it as the price for your she-camel." The man returned to Abu Hanifa and informed him of what as-Sadiq, glorified is his glory, had said, so Abu Hanifa said in regret: "The she-camel has gone for nothing." Therefore, the "thing" is the existent, and the "no thing" is non-existence.

This narration is likewise recorded, with the exact same text, concerning Mu'awiyah and the Commander of the Faithful, glorified is his glory, as found in The Book of Virtues (Al-Manaqib) by Ibn Shahrashub, and in the book Ask Me Before You Lose Me.