intrude into this arena of contest unless he is confident of holding his own against his peers.

Section

The proponents of the muḥallil said: You have charged us with the cavalry and infantry of proofs, and you have brought along with them every kind of supporting argument, whether of the same sort or of a different sort(1). Yet the armies of our own evidence are behind you in hot pursuit, and their driver is saying: “You have been overtaken and outstripped; you have no further need of either vanguard or flank.” So steel yourselves now to face legions of proofs: when they are summoned they overwhelm whoever summons them, and when they pursue they catch(2). Whoever seeks their help is granted victory, and whoever resists them is crushed. The sovereign of these victorious battalions is the Book of Allah, followed by the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ; their commanders are the imams of Islam among the Companions, the Followers, and those who came after them. Here comes the vanguard of the army, and its sovereign has appeared:

Allah the Exalted says: “It is not for any believing man or woman, once Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in that matter.” (Al-Aḥzāb 33:36)

He, Most High, also says: “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it.” (Al-Ḥashr 59:7)

And He says: “But by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you the judge in what has arisen among them, then find within themselves no discomfort concerning your judgment and submit in full submission.” (Al-Nisāʾ 4:65)