the speech of Allah and that the Messenger is true, yet he is not a believer. Likewise, the Jews recognize him as they recognize their own sons, yet they are not believers. The same applies to Iblīs, Pharaoh, and others. Such a person, however, has not attained complete knowledge and understanding, for these necessarily entail acting accordingly. This is why someone who does not act upon his knowledge is called ignorant, as explained above.

The same applies to the term “reason.” Although it is originally the verbal noun of “to reason,” and many speculative thinkers have classified it as a kind of knowledge, it must also be understood as knowledge upon which one acts. Thus, only someone who recognizes good and pursues it, and recognizes evil and abandons it, is called “rational.” Hence the inhabitants of the Fire will say:

“If only we had listened or reasoned, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze.”

And He says of the hypocrites:

“You think they are united, but their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people who do not reason.”

Someone who does what he knows will harm him has no reason. Just as fear of Allah entails knowledge of Him, knowledge of Him entails fear of Him, and fear of Him entails obedience to Him. Whoever fears Allah obeys His commands and avoids His prohibitions. This is what we intended to explain at the outset.

This is also indicated by His words, exalted is He:

“So remind, if the reminder should benefit.”
“He who fears will be reminded.”
“But the most wretched will avoid it.”
“He who will enter the great Fire.”

He thus states that whoever fears Him will heed the reminder. Heeding the reminder here necessarily entails worshipping Him. Allah, exalted is He, says:

“It is He who shows you His signs and sends down provision for you from the sky. But none will heed the reminder except those who turn to Him.”

And He says:

“As insight and a reminder for every servant who turns to Him.”

Hence, concerning His words, they said: