Hence this party affirms omnipotence, will, and creation, yet it falls short of establishing the realities of mercy, wisdom, and justice. The other party concedes a measure of wisdom and justice, but is likewise deficient there—and, in addition, is lacking with regard to power, will, and creation. Still, neither side openly denies that the Sacred Law both commands and forbids.

The extremists among the second party used their own reason to brush aside many of the Law’s injunctions, protesting, “This contradicts the wisdom grasped by sound intellect,” just as Iblis and those who follow his path once did. The extremists among the first party likewise rejected the divine command and prohibition and said, “If the All-Merciful had willed, we would never have worshipped them,” echoing the words of the idolaters (Q 43:20). Because the disbelief of Iblis is the harsher of the two, the innovation of the will-based camp is correspondingly closer to the Sunnah and the mainstream community.

Now, the things that souls and hearts instinctively love are called ma‘rūf (recognized good), while those they naturally detest are the munkar (recognized evil). For recognition is perception accompanied by affection, whereas rejection is perception accompanied by aversion. Whatever is not perceived at all can be neither acknowledged nor denied, and whatever provokes neither love nor hate can likewise be neither recognized nor repudiated. Thus, when a man is told a report and dismisses it simply out of ignorance