Third: To demonstrate that sound reason agrees with what the messengers brought and does not contradict it, whether this is known through rational self-evidence or through rational inquiry. This refutes the opponent’s argument more decisively in all cases, whether or not he harbours doubts about believing in the Messenger and about the Messenger’s having conveyed this teaching. For many of these opponents harbour doubts about belief in messengership itself, while others harbour doubts about whether the Messenger conveyed this teaching.

Those whose rule we have discussed, and who give their rational arguments precedence over the words of Allah and His Messenger under that rule, habitually invoke it in questions concerning Allah’s being above His creation and similar matters. The texts in the Quran and Sunnah affirming that Allah is above His creation are numerous and widespread; their abundance and force have overwhelmed them. Yet in support of denying this, they have neither a verse from Allah’s Book, nor a hadith from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor a statement from any of the early generations of the Muslim community—unless they transmit something known to be fabricated, such as the hadith of ‘Awsaja and similar reports. Alternatively, they cite evidence known not to support their claim, such as their argument that He is One, and that the One cannot be above the Throne,