by way of entailment, such that their separation is rationally impossible? Or through a customary pattern established by Allah that can be broken? In either case, the servant depends upon Allah to guide him and inspire him to follow the right course.

When he acquires knowledge through a rational proof, he depends upon Allah to bring about in his heart a conception of that proof’s premises, to bring them together in his heart, and then to bring about the knowledge resulting from them.

A man may be among the most intelligent people and the keenest in reasoning, yet Allah blinds him to the most obvious things. Another may be among the dullest people and the weakest in reasoning, yet He guides him, by His permission, to the truth concerning which people differ. There is no power or strength except through Him.

Whoever relies on his own reflection and inference, or his reason and knowledge, will be forsaken.

For this reason, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would often say, as related in authentic hadiths:

“O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”

When swearing an oath, he would say:

“No, by the Turner of hearts!”

He would also say:

“By Him in whose hand is my soul!”

And he would say:

“There is not a single heart among the hearts of the servants except that it is between two fingers of the Most Merciful. If He wills to keep it upright, He keeps it upright; and if He wills to cause it to deviate, He causes it to deviate.”