Yet they were not content with this sweeping negation, by which they restricted what was broad and confined knowledge to a narrow path yielding only a result of no value. They went so far as to claim that the knowledge of Allah Most High, and that of His prophets and close servants, is attained only through a syllogism containing a middle term, as Ibn Sīnā and his followers maintain. Still, in affirming such knowledge, they are better than those predecessors of theirs who denied His knowledge and that of His prophets—men among the most ignorant of the Lord of all worlds, His prophets, and His scriptures. Ibn Sīnā, distinguished from those men by greater knowledge and intelligence, followed their logical method in establishing this position.

Although those who follow this path are more knowledgeable and accomplished than their predecessors, they are nevertheless further astray and more ignorant than the Jews and Christians. For the latter attained a measure of faith in the Necessary Existent and His attributes that these misguided men have not attained, owing to the pride and vain imaginings within their hearts. They are followers of Pharaoh and his like. Hence you find them disparaging or hostile toward Moses and those who stand with him among the followers of revealed religions and laws.

Allah Most High says:

“Those who dispute Allah’s signs without any authority having come to them—there is nothing in their hearts but pride, aspiring to a greatness they will never attain.”

He Most High also says:

“Greatly hateful is it in the sight of Allah and those who believe. Thus does Allah seal the heart of every arrogant tyrant.”

And He says:

“When their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they rejoiced in the knowledge they possessed, but the very thing they used to ridicule engulfed them.”

“When they saw Our punishment, they said, ‘We believe in Allah alone, and we reject whatever we used to associate with Him.’”

“But their faith did not benefit them once they had seen Our punishment. Such is Allah’s established way with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost everything.”