and innovated interpretations. My discussion here concerns the beliefs required by the revealed Law, without which faith is incomplete. Throughout, I shall seek to identify the intent of the Lawgiver, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, rather than what has been made a foundational principle of the revealed Law and one of its doctrines through unsound interpretation.

I shall begin by explaining what the Lawgiver intended the general public to believe concerning Allah, blessed and exalted is He, and the paths by which he guided them to this, as set out in the Noble Book. We shall begin with knowledge of the path leading to recognition of the Maker’s existence, since this is the first thing that a person accountable under the revealed Law must know.

Before that, however, we should mention the views of that well-known group on this matter. We say: As for the group called the Hashwiyyah, they maintain that the way to know Allah’s existence is through transmitted teaching, not reason. I mean that, regarding the belief in His existence which people are required to affirm, it is sufficient that it be received