And is assigning one of two things that come into being a particular time rather than another, a particular form rather than another, or a particular attribute rather than another anything but an instance of something coming into being? For attributes and forms themselves come into being, while being earlier or later relates things that come into being to their time. It is thus an attribute of their coming into being, just as such a thing is related to its place. Clear reason and its sound natural disposition recognize that all this must have an originator, a specifying cause, an agent, and a composer distinct from itself.

For this reason, al-Ash'arī did not need to establish a proof for this, as Judge Abū Bakr and his followers did—unless he did as they did elsewhere. If he did, perhaps it was because of his interlocutors’ obstinacy or ignorance: he led them along the roundabout path when they would not take the direct one, not because he himself considered the roundabout path necessary.

This is why this roundabout path is not found in the words of any of the early generations or the leading scholars, nor is it mentioned in the Quran. It amounts to wasting time and wearing out living beings to no purpose.

The Quran does not address every proponent of falsehood through every possible method, nor does it mention every objection that might occur to the mind and its answer. Such an undertaking would have no end and could not be kept within bounds. Rather, it presents the truth and the proofs that lead to it for those whose natural dispositions are sound. Then, if an obstinate or ignorant person should happen to appear, the one who addresses him would be