Know that the Lawgiver has indicated the rational proofs for most of the major questions concerning the foundations of religion: acknowledging the Creator’s existence, His oneness, knowledge, power, will, and greatness; acknowledging reward and the messengership of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; and other matters knowable through reason.

These principles, which the speculative theologians call rational matters because they are known through reason, are also known through revelation. I do not mean merely through what the Lawgiver communicates, for that yields knowledge only after the truthfulness of the one communicating it has been established. Knowledge of these matters through this means therefore depends on the rationally established acknowledgment of divine lordship and messengership. Rather, I mean through His indications and guidance, just as students acquire knowledge through teachers’ explanations and authors’ writings because of the evidence they have made clear to their minds.

This is a point that must be carefully understood. Many who fall into error—whether speculative theologians, hadith scholars, jurists, laypeople, or others—suppose that knowledge derived from revelation comes solely from accepting what the Lawgiver communicates as true. That is not so. Rather, through its indications, its drawing attention to evidence, and its guidance, revelation provides all religious knowledge that can be acquired in this way.

The second category of what is known through revelation is that which is known through the Lawgiver’s communication. This must be either something that can also be known through reason or something that cannot. If it cannot, then it is known solely through the Lawgiver’s communication. If it can also be known through reason, does such a case actually exist? That is, could there be something which the Lawgiver has communicated and which can also be known through reason, yet for which He has not indicated any rational proof? This is possible, and there is no deficiency if something like