a polytheist, guilty of the kind of shirk that Allah never forgives—even were he, in addition, chaste in his food and marital relations and possessed of both wisdom and courage.
Hence, the so-called philosophers’ discussion of “practical wisdom” contains none of the deeds by which souls attain happiness and are saved from punishment, just as their “theoretical wisdom” includes no faith in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, or the Last Day. Consequently, they have neither knowledge that can guide souls nor ethics that amount to a true religion. For this reason they are not among the people of felicity in the Hereafter described in His words:
“Indeed, those who believe, those who are Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous deeds, their reward is with their Lord; no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.” ⦗Al-Baqarah: 62⦘
To be sure, the four virtues cited by the philosophers are indispensable for the soul’s perfection, soundness, and purification. Yet the philosophers have not defined what is needed in a way that clarifies the precise measure by which it is obtained