all knowledge follows its object by corresponding and conforming to it, even though some knowledge does not follow its object in the sense of coming after it, being affected by it, depending on it, or being caused by it. This is a comprehensive principle of great benefit in many matters.
Once this is clear concerning knowledge in general, the same becomes evident concerning belief, opinion, conjecture, and the like. These may or may not constitute knowledge; rather, they may be correct or incorrect beliefs, correct or incorrect conjectures, or other forms of awareness, sensation, and perception. This general category is the foundation of spiritual and bodily movements and acts, whether love, hatred, and the like, or standing, sitting, and the like. All of these follow awareness, depend upon it, and are preceded by it. Knowledge is invariably the foundation of action, although it may itself derive from knowledge of matters other than action, as explained above.
Belief, then, sometimes derives from its object and follows it, as with beliefs concerning matters beyond a person’s agency—for example, the beliefs of believers and disbelievers concerning Allah Most High and the Last Day. At other times, belief is the basis for its object, which follows it. Such is a person’s belief or conjecture that a particular action will bring him some benefit or ward off some harm, either in this world or in the Hereafter. Examples include his belief that eating this food will satisfy his hunger, that taking this poison will kill him, that this shot will hit this target, that this blow will sever this neck, that this sale and trade will bring him profit or loss, and that