the position of the Karrāmiyyah contradicted what is self-evident to reason.”

The response is this: either the judgment and testimony of this reason, whose self-evident judgments their position contradicts, are accepted in matters of lordship, or they are rejected. If they are not accepted, then contradicting reason does no harm to these people or anyone else. It is then like an unrighteous witness, concerning whom Allah Most High says:

“If an evildoer brings you news, verify it.” [al-Hujurāt 6]

If, however, its judgment and testimony are accepted, then this opponent and those who agree with him contradict it more seriously than these people do, as has already been explained. If their position contradicts what is self-evident to reason more seriously than the position of these people, then these people are not obliged to abandon the position that contradicts it less. Rather, on this assumption, both groups would be obliged to acknowledge what is self-evident to reason, and thus all acknowledge that He is above