As for his statement, “They took this method from the philosophers,” as al-Ashʿarī mentioned, the response is as follows:

Many philosophers reject this method, including Aristotle and his followers; it has not been found in their teachings. Some philosophers do espouse it, but not all the speculative theologians who espoused it took it from the philosophers. Rather, hearts may resemble one another, as Allah Most High says:

“Likewise, those before them said the same things. Their hearts are alike.”

Allah Most High also says:

“Likewise, no messenger came to those before them without their saying, ‘A magician or a madman!’ Have they passed this down to one another? Rather, they are a transgressing people.”

Most speculative theologians who follow this method contradict the well-known position of the philosophers rather than agree with them. Indeed, they refute Aristotle and his followers in logic, natural philosophy, and metaphysics.

[Continuation of al-Khattābī’s discussion in al-Ghunyah]

Al-Khattābī said:

“The explanation of the approach adopted by the early generations—the imams of the Muslims—in reasoning to establish knowledge of the Maker, His oneness and attributes, and all other matters that speculative theologians claim cannot be attained except through the approach they adopt and the method they follow, asserting that anyone who does not attain