agrees with these foundations. Indeed, revelation sets out rational proofs of the Creator’s existence, the evidence of His lordship and power, and the Messenger’s signs and proofs of his truthfulness in far greater abundance than the writings of speculative thinkers. Thus, praise be to Allah, it contains nothing that contradicts the rational proofs by which the Messenger’s truthfulness is known.

Most of those who regard knowledge of the Creator as inferential acknowledge that some of the inferential methods by which the Messenger’s truthfulness is known do not contradict anything taught by revelation.

Al-Rāzī is among those who acknowledge this. He states in Nihāyat al-uqūl (The Ultimate Reach of Reason), in the discussion of reflection:

“Third issue: Is someone who departs from the truth among those who pray to be declared an unbeliever or not?

Shaykh Abū al-Hasan al-Asharī said at the beginning of his book Maqālāt al-Islāmiyyīn (The Doctrines of the Muslims):

‘After their Prophet, the Muslims differed over matters concerning which they declared one another misguided and disavowed one another. They thus became distinct sects; nevertheless, Islam unites and encompasses them all.’

This is his position, and most of his associates share it. Some of his associates, however, have declared those who disagree to be unbelievers.