some interpretations as not entailing denial of his truthfulness, and others as entailing it. In that case, we cannot know what constitutes such denial until we know the criterion by which an interpretation becomes a denial. Unless they state that criterion, interpretation is of no use.”

He said in response to this: “We know as a matter of necessity that the Muslim community unanimously agrees that the religion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, teaches that the world came into existence, affirms Allah’s knowledge of particulars, and affirms the gathering and resurrection; and that denying these things contradicts his religion. Furthermore, we know as a matter of necessity that he, peace be upon him, ruled that whatever contradicts his religion is disbelief. From these two premises, we therefore know that he, peace be upon him, judged these positions to constitute disbelief. Whoever holds them denies the truthfulness of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and is therefore an unbeliever. No such line of reasoning has been established concerning anthropomorphism and Qadarism, because the Muslim community has not unanimously agreed that affirming them