Yet when a thoughtful person reflects on that claim, he finds it to be the very pinnacle of ignorance—indeed, the epitome of error. How could these late-comers—especially since the term “later generations” here points to a group of speculative theologians—whose confusion in matters of religion has multiplied and whose veil from truly knowing Allah has only grown thicker, possibly outstrip the early Muslims? One who reached the furthest limits of their intellectual quest himself confessed the outcome of their efforts when he said:

By my life, I have roamed through every institute
and let my gaze traverse all those landmarks;
I never saw aught but a bewildered soul
resting his palm upon his chin,
or a penitent beating the tooth of regret.