The second aspect of the reply:

If a man follows the methods of syllogistic reasoning and discipline, and they lead him to knowledge—if indeed they do—he then knows that he has followed a sound path and attained his goal. Before that, however, he does not know. At the very least, the faith-based method—though there is nothing inferior about it—would be in the same position.

For if he accepts faith in Allah and His messengers as a premise, reflects on what it entails, and acts accordingly, he attains, with the slightest effort, the knowledge of Allah that he seeks, together with the knowledge that the path he has followed is sound. Indeed, the very act of believing the Messenger’s reports concerning his Lord and obeying him establishes in him certain knowledge of their truth, far stronger than what was mentioned earlier.

The third aspect:

Acknowledgment of Allah is of two kinds: innate and faith-based.

Innate acknowledgment—recognition of the Creator’s existence—is firmly rooted in human nature, as Allah has affirmed in several places in His Book. I have discussed this at length elsewhere. It requires no proof; rather, it is the most deeply rooted knowledge, the most firmly established understanding, and the foundation of all foundations.

As for acknowledging the Messenger, the slightest reflection on what he brought, his character and conduct, his signs, or other aspects of his life yields knowledge of his prophethood far stronger than that obtained through syllogistic and experiential inquiries into divine matters.

Then, if one examines his circumstances more closely, one gains such compelling certainty, impossible to resist, that it becomes a firmly established foundation. This has been explained at length elsewhere. The purpose here is to show the error of following the path of syllogistic reasoning or discipline without beginning with faith. As for establishing the faith-based method, that is a momentous undertaking, far greater than what I have written here.

The fourth aspect:

We are addressing Muslims who profess faith, whose individual aim is