they based their case for the temporal origination of bodies. Yet he refuted all these arguments and presented those thinkers’ proofs for the perpetual agency of the Lord, exalted is He, without refuting them.
He also presented their arguments for the perpetual continuity of time at considerable length, but this is not the place to expound them.
The point here is that anyone who seeks out these and similar statements by these thinkers will see that the arguments advanced on this subject by their Asharī imams and the Mutazilī teachers of those imams were among those whose unsoundness had become clear to them. Even so, they cannot undermine the philosophers’ proofs unless they acknowledge what they have denied of the meaning conveyed by the Quran and Sunnah, which accords with sound reason. They can then affirm clear rational truths and recognize that these agree with authentic transmitted texts. Neither Allah nor His Messenger has commanded that strong arguments be met with obstinate denial, nor would any reasonable person approve of this. Rather, speaking truthfully and adhering to justice are obligations recognized by all rational people.
The adherents of Islam and the revealed religions have a greater claim to this than others, for—praise be to Allah—they possess the most complete reason, the fullest understanding, the soundest religion, the noblest scripture, the best prophet, and the finest religious law.
It is well known in the religion of Islam that Jews and Christians are better than philosophers who stand outside the revealed religions, and sounder in both reason and religion. Hence, the best of the Sabians were those affiliated with one of the revealed religions.
The imams of the religion have agreed that Jews and Christians may remain upon payment of the jizya tax, that their slaughtered animals are lawful to eat, and that their women are lawful to marry, although the people of innovation have disagreed.
As for the philosophers, they are either polytheists, Magians, Sabians, or people affiliated with the adherents of the three revealed religions.
As for those who are polytheists, as is reported of the Greek philosophers and their like, or Magians, such as the Persian philosophers and their like, Jews and Christians