(27) Once the Shaykh had completed his discussion of the first fundamental—knowing Allah, exalted is He, through proofs—he turned to the second, which is knowing the religion of Islam through proofs. He said: “The second foundation: to know the religion of Islam through proofs,” then he defined the term, clarified its meaning, and outlined its levels. Concerning his words “to know the religion of Islam”: the Arabic word din (religion) can denote obedience; one says dana lahu when a person obeys another by doing what he commands and avoiding what he forbids. Din is also used with the sense of reckoning or judgment, as in the verse: “Maliki yawmi d-din” (Master of the Day of Judgment). Likewise, danahu may mean “he called him to account,” as in Allah’s saying: “Wa ma adraka ma yawmu d-din, thumma ma adraka ma yawmu d-din” (And what will make you know what the Day of Judgment is? Again, what will make you know what the Day of Judgment is?) [al-Infitar 17–18]—that is, the Day of Reckoning—followed by: “Yawma la tamliku nafsun li-nafsin shay’an wal-amru yawma-idhin lillah” (the Day when no soul will have power for another, and the command on that Day belongs entirely to Allah) [al-Infitar 19]. His phrase “through proofs” indicates that knowledge of the religion of Islam must not rest on blind imitation or on conjecture springing from human opinion; the religion requires…