Creeds are built upon the proofs of the Book and the Sunnah, and upon contemplating Allah’s cosmic signs, so that faith may take root in the heart and every doubt be dispelled.

By contrast, creeds founded on specious arguments, misgivings, people’s opinions, and blind imitation are fleeting; they cannot endure and are ever vulnerable to refutation and nullification.

Accordingly, neither creed nor any other ruling of the Sacred Law can stand firm except on the evidences of the Book and the Sunnah together with sound, universally accepted rational proofs. For this reason the Shaykh—may Allah have mercy on him—cites extensive proofs for these three fundamentals; he does not mention any one of them without supporting it with definitive, conclusive evidence that drives away doubts and whims and embeds the creed deep in the heart.

Regarding his—may Allah have mercy on him—words: “So when you are asked…,” meaning, when you are asked, “Who is your Lord?”—a question you will face both in this world and the Hereafter—you must know your Lord, Exalted is He, and respond with an answer that is correct, rooted in certainty and proof: say, “My Lord is Allah—this is the answer—He who has nurtured me and all the worlds through His favors.” This is a rational proof.

For the Lord—glorified and exalted—is the One who nurtures all His servants with His favors, sustains them with His provision, and brings them into existence after they had been nothing worth mentioning—