and His words:

“Say, ‘He who created them the first time will bring them to life.’”

“Say, ‘He who created you the first time.’”

“It is He who originates creation, then brings it back, and that is easier for Him.”

At other times, He demonstrates this through the creation of the heavens and the earth, for creating them is greater than bringing the human being back to life, as in His words:

“Do they not see that Allah, who created the heavens and the earth without growing weary in creating them, is able to give life to the dead?”

At other times, He demonstrates its possibility through the creation of vegetation, as in His words:

“It is He who sends the winds bearing good tidings,”

through to His words:

“Thus do We bring forth the dead.”

It has thus become clear that whatever truth is contained in the rational proofs advanced by the leading speculative theologians and philosophers concerning divine matters is presented in the Noble Quran, together with proofs more compelling and complete, in the finest manner. Moreover, the Quran is free of the many fallacies found in their arguments. Their errors in these matters are exceedingly numerous; indeed, their misguidance may well exceed their guidance, and their ignorance exceed their knowledge. Hence Abū ‘Abd Allāh al-Rāzī said toward the end of his life in his book Aqsām al-Dhāt:

“I have reflected on the methods of speculative theology and the approaches of philosophy, but I have not found them to heal the ailing or quench the thirsty. I have found the most direct path to be the way of the Quran. Read, concerning affirmation:

‘The Most Merciful rose over the Throne.’

‘To Him ascends good speech.’

And read, concerning negation:

‘There is nothing like Him.’

‘They cannot encompass Him in knowledge.’

Whoever has experienced what I have experienced will know what I have come to know.”