Yet the affirmation of Allah’s oneness that they claim amounts only to denying the realities of His names and attributes. It contains unbelief and misguidance that are among the greatest causes of associating partners with Him.

Even if they affirmed His oneness in speech and discourse—that is, by describing Allah as His messengers described Him—they would possess this affirmation without putting it into practice. That is not sufficient for bliss and salvation. Rather, they must worship Allah alone and take Him alone as their God, to the exclusion of all others. This is the meaning of the statement, “None is worthy of worship but Allah.” How much less can their position suffice when, in their speech and discourse, they negate and deny rather than affirming His oneness and devoting worship sincerely to Him!

Since they entirely lack that through which bliss and deliverance from misery are attained, their teachings concerning morals, deeds, and governance fall under the words of the Most High:

“They know only what is apparent of the life of this world, but of the Hereafter they are heedless.”

Allah has appointed a measure for everything. Although these people possess intelligence and discernment, and some of them practise asceticism and display moral virtues, saying this does not establish that they will attain bliss and deliverance from punishment without the foundations already mentioned. Intellectual strength is comparable to physical strength and strength of will. Someone endowed with excellences of knowledge and will without these foundations is like someone endowed with bodily strength without them. People of learning and judgment are comparable to those who wield royal and political authority. None of this benefits anyone in either group at all unless he worships Allah alone, without partner, and believes in His messengers and the Last Day.

And since both those who wield power and those who possess knowledge may oppose the messengers,