the less compelling indication and explains it.

The fifteenth argument: His claim that verbal evidence cannot yield certainty has already been refuted in several places. Here we briefly draw attention to its falsity. We say: this claim is among the gravest forms of sophistry in existence. For this reason, it has not been known among any recognized group of humanity, Muslim or otherwise, since its falsity is so evident. It calls into question some of the most obvious, self-evident knowledge shared by all people: human beings address and speak to one another, and understand one another’s intended meaning with an immediate certainty greater than their knowledge of matters established through reasoning.

Speech is among the most evident human characteristics distinguishing human beings from beasts. Because this is so evident, Allah Most High says:

“By the Lord of heaven and earth, it is indeed true, just as surely as you speak.” (23) [al-Dhāriyāt 23]

Hence the description some give of the human being as “the speaking animal.” Moreover, among animals, some understand