for the avenues by which one may know the Messenger’s truthfulness are many, as has been set out in detail elsewhere.

• They also imagine that the particular route they have chosen is necessarily sound, though it may in fact be unsound.

• They further suppose that the objections they raise against the transmitted texts are certain rational truths, when in reality they are mistaken. Once those objections are weighed on a just balance, whatever conflicts with the Qur’an and the Sunnah proves to be mere unknowns, not true rational certainties. A full discussion of this appears in another place.

Attributes of God That Can Be Known by Reason

The point at hand is that some of God’s attributes can indeed be established rationally. One may know, for instance, that He is knowing, powerful and living, as indicated by His words: “Does He who created not know?” (Q 67:14).

The dialecticians who affirm the attributes are unanimously agreed—at least the rigorous among them—that reason attests that He is living, all-knowing, all-powerful and willing. According to those same scholars, hearing, sight and speech are likewise proven by reason.

Indeed, even love, pleasure and anger can be affirmed rationally.

In the same way, His exaltedness above the creation and His utter distinction from it are matters that can be known by reason, as