people lacks as a means of assenting to what he is required to know—namely, rhetorical, dialectical, and demonstrative arguments.

Anyone who denies such things, when they constitute a foundational principle of religious law, is an unbeliever—either obstinately denying with his tongue, though not in his heart, or heedlessly failing to seek knowledge of the evidence for them. For if he is capable of demonstrative reasoning, a way has been provided for him to assent to them through demonstration; if he is capable of dialectical reasoning, then through dialectic; and if he responds to exhortation, then through exhortation.

This is why the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

“I have been commanded to fight the people until they say, ‘There is no god but Allah,’ and believe in me.”

He means by whichever means