nor any statement of a Companion.

The true definition of knowledge is simply to believe something to be as it actually is. Whoever believes something to be as it actually is, without any doubt troubling him, has knowledge of it—whether this comes through sensory necessity, an immediate rational intuition, inferential proof, or Allah Almighty making it easy for him and creating that belief in his heart. Nothing further is required. It is utterly impossible for someone to be certain in his belief about something, with that belief corresponding to its reality, yet not have knowledge of it. This is contradictory, unsound, and inconsistent.’

He said:

The Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning the angel’s questioning are evidence against them, for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said only:

“As for the believer, or the one who has certainty, he says: ‘He is the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’”

He did not say: “As for the one who reasons inferentially.” The light of the believer who has certainty suffices us, however his faith and certainty came about.

He also said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “As for the hypocrite or the doubter”—he did not say “the one who does not reason inferentially”—he says:

“I heard people saying something, so I said it too.”

Indeed, this is precisely what we say, because