While I was in Egypt, some of its learned men asked me about this matter. They framed their question as follows:

[Digression in response to a question addressed to Ibn Taymiyyah while he was in Egypt. Text of the question]

Digression in response to a question addressed to Ibn Taymiyyah while he was in Egypt.

Text of the question

If someone were to ask:

Is it permissible to discuss the questions concerning the foundations of religion that people have debated, even when no statement concerning them has been transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or is it not?

If it is said to be permissible, on what grounds, given that we have understood him, peace and blessings be upon him, to have forbidden discussion of certain questions? And if it is said to be permissible, is doing so obligatory?

Has anything been transmitted from him, peace and blessings be upon him, that establishes its obligatory nature?

Is a conclusion that a scholar reaches through independent reasoning and considers most probable sufficient in this regard, or must he attain certainty?

If he is unable to attain certainty, is he excused in this regard, or is he still required to attain it?

In such circumstances, would this constitute imposing an obligation beyond one’s capacity, or not?