the first is miracles, on the premise that acknowledgment of the Creator is innate, or that miracles provide evidence both for the Creator and for the truthfulness of His prophets, as we mentioned regarding Moses’ staff.

The second path is that the Quran draws attention to sound rational proofs, just as the leading practitioners of rational inquiry have acknowledged that the Quran points to the rational path.

He said:

“In addition to this were the signs of workmanship and indications of wisdom that they found in themselves and in all other created things, testifying that these have a wise Maker, knowing and fully aware, perfect in power and consummate in wisdom.

“The Book drew their attention to this, inviting them to reflect upon it, contemplate it, and infer from it the reality of His Lordship. He, Mighty and Majestic, said:

‘And in yourselves—will you not then see?’

“This points to the signs of workmanship and subtle wisdom within them, both indicating the existence of the wise Maker.”

He then discussed the creation of the human being in the passage already cited.

He said:

“Likewise His words:

‘Do they not look at the camels, how they were created; and at the sky, how it was raised; and at the mountains, how they were set firm; and at the earth, how it was spread out?’