—the knowledge sought.

This is like knowing that treatment for the sick is sought from physicians, requests for legal opinions are referred to muftis, and valuations are referred to appraisers. Once someone is known to be a physician, a mufti, or an appraiser, one turns to him in the relevant matter.

This has been discussed at length elsewhere, where it has been explained that there are multiple ways of knowing the truthfulness of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Thus, whoever among the speculative theologians—the Mu‘tazilites, the Jahmites, and those who agree with them—claims that his truthfulness cannot be known without first knowing that bodies originated in time, and that this can only be known through the argument from accidents, makes an erroneous and innovated claim. It is this method that al-Khattābī said none of the early generations had followed.

As for the rational method he mentioned, it is a method to which the Quran points, towards which it guides, and to which it draws attention: reasoning from the traces of workmanship and signs of wisdom that people find within themselves and in all other created things, which testify that they have a Maker who is wise, knowing, and fully aware.

He continues, down to his words:

“Through these considerations, they established the reality and existence of the Maker; then they ascertained His oneness, knowledge, and power from what