to anyone who reflects upon it. Whoever reflects upon the writings of both groups will find that the writings of Muslim theologians are better than those of philosophical theologians and their followers.

This approach is that of Ibn Sīnā and his followers; Aristotle and the early philosophers did not adopt it.

[Ibn Sīnā’s words and Ibn Taymiyya’s commentary]

Ibn Sīnā said in al-Ishārāt:

“Whatever is contingent in itself does not come into existence of itself, for its existence, of itself, has no priority over