the Qarmatians, the esotericists, and those who shared in some of this went astray. This is a subject that would take a long time to explain, and discussing it is not our purpose here. The point is simply that their teacher devised their logic to weigh their statements concerning these subjects into which they delve, and which are of little benefit.
Most of their benefit lies in worldly affairs, and even in worldly affairs they may be dispensed with.
As for using this discipline to weigh matters outside their fields of knowledge and beyond their capacity, or to weigh that which brings happiness, bliss, and deliverance from painful punishment—this lies outside its scope. Allah has set a measure for everything. Although these people possess intelligence and discernment, and some among them possess asceticism and moral virtues, these qualities alone do not bring happiness and deliverance from punishment without the foundations already mentioned: faith in Allah, affirming His oneness and worshipping Him alone with sincerity; faith in His messengers and the Last Day; and righteous deeds.
Strength of intellect is merely like bodily strength and strength of will. Someone endowed with virtues of intellect and will without these foundations is like someone endowed with physical strength without these foundations. Those possessed of judgment and knowledge are like those possessed of kingship and authority, and each of these