the matters of religion—its principles, foundations, laws, and details—without explaining and conveying it fully and completely. Nor did he delay explaining anything beyond the time when it was needed, for all the groups of the Muslim community agree that delaying clarification beyond the time of need is impermissible under any circumstances.

It is well known that the need to affirm Allah’s oneness and establish the Creator’s existence is constant, at every time and in every age. Had he delayed explaining these matters, he would have charged them with something they had no means of attaining. Since matters are as we have stated, and we know that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not call them, in these matters, to reason from accidents, their inherence in substances, and their transformations—for no one can transmit from him or any one of his Companions a single word of this kind, let alone more, whether through mass transmission or solitary reports—it is clear that they followed a course contrary to