and their justification for this: that speculative theology safeguards the Sunnah and shields it, defending it and providing weapons to protect its sacred bounds. I understand what you have said about your distress at their gatherings and your difficulty in leaving their company, since you face a choice between conceding and accepting their claims, or opposing those claims, rejecting and repudiating them.

Both courses are difficult for you. As for acceptance, religion forbids it, and the evidence of the Quran and Sunnah stands in your way. As for refuting and confronting them, they demand rational proofs from you, hold you to the rules of dialectic, and will not be satisfied with what is outwardly evident.

You have asked me to provide whatever knowledge and explanation I can muster in support of the truth, and whatever arguments and proofs I can offer to refute these people’s position. You have also asked me to follow an approach they cannot rebut and cannot legitimately reject or deny on rational grounds. I therefore considered helping you a duty owed to religion and a requirement of sincere counsel to the Muslim community, for religion is sincere counsel.”