and to explain the matters of the Hereafter.

As for knowing that this world needs a Maker capable of sending messengers, this precedes the Messenger’s words. How, then, could it be learned from his words? Knowledge of the One who sent him therefore precedes knowledge of the Messenger and of his truthfulness. How, then, could He be known through the Messenger’s words?”

He said:

“Examples of what can be apprehended through both reason and revelation include seeing Allah Most High and His being the Creator of human actions. These matters can be known through revelation alone and through reason alone.”

He then said:

“Our proof that knowledge can be attained through reason alone is the statement of Allah Most High:

‘Do they not look at the camels—how they are created; and at the sky—how it is raised; and at the mountains—how they are set firm; and at the earth—how it is spread out?’

Elsewhere, He says:

‘And within yourselves—do you not see?’

Allah Most High also says:

‘We will show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.’

All of this is an invitation to consider rational proofs: to reflect upon the signs indicating that the world came into existence and that its Maker has no beginning, without any condition, as we shall establish later.”

He said:

“Moreover, through reason one infers the unseen from the observable, the builder from the building, and those who wrote from their writing, without hearing any spoken communication.”