Ninth Consideration:
It is well-known that the sword—especially the sword of Muslims and of the People of the Scripture—moves only in obedience to knowledge and decisive proof. Even the sword of the polytheists follows their own opinions and convictions, for the sword is a form of action, and action is forever subordinate to knowledge and judgment.
Accordingly, presenting the religion of Islam on the basis of knowledge, and showing that whatever contradicts it is nothing but misguidance and ignorance, both affirms the very foundation of Islam and repudiates, at its root, the alternative religions on account of which their followers are fought.
Once its truth is manifest and the falsity of every other creed exposed, people become one of two types:
- A person to whom the truth becomes clear and who then follows it; this is the foremost purpose for which the messengers were sent.
- A person who does not follow it; in his case the proof has been established—either because he never considered the signs of Islam, or because he did examine them, understood, yet followed his desire or was negligent.
When the proof is established against such a person, that is more pleasing to Allah and His Messenger, gives greater support to the sword of Islam, and brings deeper humiliation to the sword of the unbelievers.
If it is supposed that among them are those who are unable to comprehend the argument, then if such a one would not be excused in the absence of proof, he is even less entitled to excuse once the proof has been set forth; but if he would be excused despite the proof’s establishment, he is all the more excusable when it has not been presented—so it is incumbent