that, for He has taught us proper conduct and instructed us how to speak, saying:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,”

thereby affirming our striving and our need for His help, glorified is He.

The first point of contention concerns knowledge. The predominant view among the Mu'tazilah is that all knowledge is necessary.”

I say: It seems to be the reverse, and I suspect that “the Mu'tazilah” is an error in both copies.

“Ibn Kullāb and a group held that all knowledge is acquired. The scholars of hadith hold that some knowledge is necessary and some acquired. The underlying principle is that knowledge encompasses both necessary and acquired knowledge. It seems that necessary knowledge concerns lordship and oneness, while acquired knowledge concerns the one who wills and the like.

Section: Knowledge of Divine Oneness, upon Which the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful Has Naturally Disposed His Creation. His Help We Seek.

Knowledge of divine oneness is knowledge of the eternal Maker, who brings things themselves into existence and perfects their forms without a prior model. Every created being must know the One who has blessed it by bringing it from nonexistence into existence. This knowledge is not acquired, since it encompasses both those capable of acquiring knowledge and those incapable of doing so. It is necessary, involving neither choice nor acquisition, and is not attained through means.