clear rational truths, is the affirmation of His volitional attributes: for example, that He speaks by His will and power, with speech that subsists in His essence, and that His action, which He performs by His will, likewise subsists in His essence. Affirming this principle counters the misguided sectarians who deny it. The Quran and hadith, as well as the statements of the early generations and the imams, abound in affirmations of it. The unalloyed truth is what the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—conveyed; the truth cannot lie in anything contrary to it.

Yet complete guidance is attained through knowing this and understanding it clearly. Disagreement sometimes arises from misunderstanding and insufficient knowledge, and sometimes from ill intent. People disagree concerning knowledge and will, regarding their multiplicity and their being brought into existence. It is well known that, with regard to the willing of things that subsists in the soul, one cannot say, “Knowing this is knowing that,” or, “Willing this is willing that.” Such a claim is obstinate denial of the obvious. Distinguishing one instance of knowledge from another, or one act of willing from another, does not mean that one is separate from the other. Rather, even attributes of different kinds, such as knowledge