is to make this claim. We have presented the matter through an exhaustive rational classification, leaving no category out, to show that whoever opposes the hadith scholars in knowledge and practice is either ignorant or a hypocrite. A hypocrite is ignorant and worse besides, as we shall explain, if Allah wills. The ignorant person in question has an element of hypocrisy, even if he is unaware of it. Thus, whoever denies this is both ignorant and a hypocrite.

We therefore said: Whoever claims that he and the leading figures of his group know realities better than the messengers and explain them more clearly is a heretic and a hypocrite if he outwardly professes faith in them, by the agreement of the believers. We shall address him later.

If, however, he says, “The messengers possessed greater knowledge and clarity of exposition, but these realities cannot be known, or cannot be explained at all, or both are possible only for the elite,” we reply: “Then you cannot attain the knowledge and clarity of exposition that the messengers were unable to attain.”

If you say, “These realities cannot be known,” we reply: “Then you and your leading figures are all the more incapable of knowing them.”

If you say, “The messengers cannot explain them,” we reply: “Then neither you nor your leading figures can explain them.”

If you say, “That is possible for the elite, but not for the general public,” we reply: “Then it is possible for the messengers to convey that to the elite, though not to the general public.”