beside theirs. They recite the Quran, but it does not pass beyond their throats. They pass out of Islam as an arrow passes through its quarry. Wherever you encounter them, kill them, for whoever kills them will have a reward with Allah on the Day of Resurrection.”

When this ignorant innovator supposed that what the Messenger had done was unjust, his supposition was false, and his objection was unjust. Such is the case with every innovator who denies what Allah Most High has affirmed, affirms what Allah has denied, considers good what Allah has not deemed good, or considers evil what Allah has not disapproved of. Their beliefs are erroneous, their speech is false, and their intentions are driven by desire. Their opinions are marked by specious doubts, and their intentions by whims.

Thus, the early generations condemned those practitioners of speculative theology whose discourse was marked by specious doubts and desires. They did not condemn those whose theological discourse was truthful and contained evidence leading to knowledge of Allah Most High and an explanation of what is fitting for Him and what is impossible for Him. Nevertheless, such discourse may give rise to doubt and desire.

Abū Hāmid himself acknowledged that the speculative theology and philosophy he discussed neither disclose realities nor provide knowledge of them.