the analogies they draw between legal cases in their books. This is sound in principle, even though some disagree. For the Book, the Sunnah, and consensus are the foundations of legal rulings, just as immediate knowledge is the foundation of rational knowledge. Rational knowledge rests either on immediate knowledge or on knowledge itself founded upon it, and so on, without any numerical limit, in an orderly sequence, each step resting on the one nearest to it. The nearer cannot validly be based on the more remote. Likewise, knowledge derived from revelation rests on the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the community, or on what is soundly founded upon them, or on what is founded upon that, and so on without end, in an orderly sequence, each step resting on the one nearest to it. The nearer cannot validly be based on the more remote.

An example will illustrate what we have said. I have immediate knowledge of my own existence. Once I have this knowledge, I consider whether I was brought into existence or am eternal, and through reasoning I come to know that I was brought into existence. I cannot validly undertake this reasoning before knowing that I exist. Thus, my knowledge that I was brought into existence is inferential knowledge founded on immediate knowledge. Once I know that I was brought into existence, I consider whether I have an originator, and through reasoning I come to know that I do. My knowledge that I have an originator is therefore inferential knowledge founded on inferential knowledge, which in turn rests on immediate knowledge. Once I know that I have an originator, I consider whether my originator is eternal or was himself brought into existence. Through reasoning, I come to know that He is eternal, and He is Allah, Lord of all worlds. Thus, my knowledge that He is eternal is inferential knowledge founded on another piece of inferential knowledge: that I have an originator. My knowledge that I have an originator rests on inferential knowledge that I was brought into existence; and my knowledge that I was brought into existence rests on immediate knowledge—namely, my knowledge of my own existence.

Section

An effective cause in Sacred Law does not, by itself, necessitate the ruling in the original case. It does so only because the Lawgiver has designated it as an effective cause. For example, intoxication was already present in wine, yet it did not indicate