contradiction, conflict with innate human nature, and violation of necessary rational truths, is greater than what he fled, quite apart from its opposition to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations of the Muslim community. Even if the first position may force him into some falsehood, he is like someone standing on scorching ground who says, “I feel its heat and pain.” He is told, “The fire to which you have fled is far hotter and more painful, even if you do not feel it while standing on the scorching ground, but only when you come into direct contact with it.”

Thus, he has fled one kind of contradiction and conflict with certain necessary truths, only to fall into many kinds of contradiction and violations of necessary truths. On top of that, there remains what distinguishes the former’s discourse: heresy, irreligion, opposition to the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him, and following a path other than that of the believers.

This is why some of those who affirm the divine attributes enjoy praise and an honourable reputation within the Muslim community that those belonging to the other group do not, even though they may be censured on other grounds. The purpose is not to establish that they are right in every respect, but to show that their approach is less