Thus, every case that arises is covered by the Lawgiver’s address and encompassed by sound reasoning by analogy. The Lawgiver’s comprehensive, general address indicates its ruling through universal application, which involves establishing that the basis of the ruling is present in the particular case. This is equivalent to demonstrative syllogistic reasoning. Sound reasoning by analogy encompasses it through analogical inference, which entails treating like cases alike and distinguishing between unlike cases.

Similarity and difference are objective realities, and Allah has established evidence by which they may be recognized. Just as syllogistic and analogical reasoning rest on a single foundation and cannot contradict each other unless both, or one of them, are unsound, so too the general address and sound reasoning by analogy rest on a single foundation. They cannot contradict each other unless the inferences drawn from both are unsound, or the evidence supporting one of them is unsound.

This draws attention to the fundamental principles underlying all the reasoning of earlier and later thinkers. Anyone who examines this insightfully, understands it, and recognizes its comprehensive scope is thereby shown that the proofs of Allah Most High do not contradict one another; that what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought is the truth, consistent with the clear conclusions of reason; and that what He has prescribed for His servants is the justice through which their worldly life and their life in the Hereafter are set right.

And if, in addition, he understands the question of judging good and bad by reason, its connection with the question of suitable attributes, and how judgments of good and bad in general concern attaining what is loved and warding off what is disliked—that is, right and wrong—just as declarative statements in general concern existence and nonexistence; and that the former concerns what is true and beneficial, as opposed to falsehood that brings no benefit, whereas the latter concerns what is real