The purpose here is to show that they acknowledge the consequences we have shown their position entails.

That being so, we say: We know with necessary certainty from the Messenger’s religion that, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, informed his community of unseen matters—Allah’s names and attributes, and other matters—he did not intend them to withhold assent to anything he reported unless they had independent evidence apart from his report. If, therefore, this position entails that the Messenger intended nothing to be established by his report alone—and we know with necessary certainty that this is a false allegation against the Messenger—then its invalidity is known with necessary certainty from the religion of Islam.

Those whom he calls “rigorous investigators” are such in his own estimation. He calls them this on the basis of his own supposition, just as adherents of divine union and divine indwelling call themselves “rigorous investigators,” and everyone calls his own group “the people of truth” on the basis of his own supposition and belief.

In cases such as this, their praise confers no honor, and their blame counts for nothing, unless what they say is true. It is Allah and His Messenger whose praise confers honor and whose blame brings disgrace. Those whom He has designated as the people of truth are those mentioned in His words, Most High:

“The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord; * those who establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them. * These are the true believers.”

[al-Anfāl: 2–4]

Thus, He describes the true believers as those whose faith increases when His verses are recited to them. Yet when His verses are recited to these people who oppose them, they increase not in faith, but in doubt and hypocrisy.