the philosophers. Philosophy must be abandoned, and it must be acknowledged that the world came into existence through will.”

The response is: If this necessarily follows for those who deny will and the world’s coming into existence, then will and its coming into existence must be affirmed. Returning to the truth is better than persisting in falsehood. Abandoning part of the truth does not require one to abandon the rest. Rather, one must acknowledge it all; failing that, acknowledging some of it is better than denying it altogether.

The necessary connection between knowledge and will has already been examined in detail.

Abū Hāmid said:

“It may then be asked: On what grounds would you object to a philosopher who says that this—meaning knowledge—adds no nobility? For a being other than Him needs knowledge only to acquire perfection, since it is inherently deficient. It is therefore ennobled through intelligible objects, either to discern what will ultimately serve its interests in this world and the Hereafter, or to perfect its dark and deficient essence. The same applies to all other created beings.

“As for Allah’s essence, it has no need of being perfected. Indeed, if He were supposed to possess knowledge through which He attained perfection,