in this matter along the path followed by others like him among the speculative theologians and philosophers.

He did draw attention to much of what the Quran teaches, as we shall quote from him. The point, however, is that in his division of the Muslim community, he omitted the group to which the early generations and the imams belonged, and to which the finest members of the community will belong until the Day of Resurrection. Yet he was correct in describing those he mentioned as falling short of the intended purpose of the revealed Law, for the matter is indeed as he said.

He said:
“This is because more than one verse in the Book of Allah Most High clearly shows that He called people to affirm the existence of the Creator Most High through rational proofs explicitly stated therein, such as His words:

‘O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you,’

and His words:

‘Can there be doubt about Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth?’

There are other verses conveying this meaning.”

He said:
“No one may argue: ‘If everyone who believes in Allah had to know these proofs for his faith to be valid,