for whoever follows sound reasoning knows that He exists as a particular, distinct being, even if his proof does not disclose His particular identity. This is unlike someone who denies His particular identity and makes Him something absolute and universal, or says something that entails this: such a person is, in reality, denying His existence.
An example is someone who knows through proof that there exists a prophet whom Allah has sent to His creation, but does not know his particular identity. Such a person knows him in general terms. But someone who says that this prophet exists only as something absolute, not as a particular individual, has denied his existence in concrete reality.
Once it is clear that rational demonstrative syllogisms yield only absolute, universal knowledge, it is evident that His names can be known only through revelation. It is through revelation, then, that Allah’s names and the attributes by which He is described in speech are known. Were it not for revelation, He would not be named, mentioned, praised, commended, characterized, or described.
If this is what he means by knowing His particular identity and who He is, there is no doubt that it can be attained only through revelation. If he means some other knowledge, such as knowledge of all His other attributes reported by the messengers, this too is known through revelation. Some of these attributes cannot be known through rational syllogisms alone, while others are disputed: can they be known through reason or not?
As for identifying the particular entity bearing the name and description, whose existence is already known, this, in the case of created things, is known through outward or inward sense perception: either by perceiving the thing itself or by perceiving its distinctive properties.
Thus, someone who knows a person’s name and attributes, or a land’s name and boundaries, can identify that particular person or land by sight: either someone informs him that this is what the name and description refer to, or he sees that those names and attributes apply uniquely to that particular entity.
Allah Most High says:
“Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize him as they recognize their own sons.”
Thus, whoever knows the attributes of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, by which he was described