'aql wa naql (or: Reason v. Revelation)

With the reality of competing theological claims to the Absolute,
     we must rely ourselves not upon the supposed advancements of spirits,
     and we must not adjudicate belief by our emotions–
     only by theological reasoning may the truth be exalted & confirmed,
     with falsehood effaced and made to perish.

While the innate emotional belief in the Creator is natural in every human being,
     the emotions are a path which neither leads to trustworthy results, nor to stability, if left alone.
We are compelled, then, not to leave emotions as the only way to belief.
We must rely ourselves upon demonstration by the mind with the emotions.

Reason leads to understanding revelation, though it can never take its place;
     both are together, performing different roles.

It is necessary to ascertain belief and the fullness of faith by thinking, study, and contemplation –
     to ponder, and use the rational mind as the governance of belief –
     excellence which must, by God's Mercy and Guidance, lead to assured conviction and pure faith.
Sincerity in adopting belief – be it or be it not belief from our forefathers –
     is fully acquired through investigation & scrutiny, not blind imitation.
This directing of the intellectual faculties as the arbitrator of the emotions is the certain way to personal confidence in belief.

We confirm that revelation is true because of our faculties (including our reasoning);
     indeed, revelation commands the utilisation of reason.

Consider that belief is an individual's affirmation of an existence,
     which is either true or false, and corroborated through some justification;
     credulity is believing without evidence;
     delusion is affirmation in light of overwhelming evidence to the contrary;
     and knowledge is a true, justified & certain belief that matches reality.

If one is certain in a belief, and this belief is true in reality, then this belief is knowledge.

Consider that a proposition – which is initial justification to belief –
     is expressing measurement of a statement's relationships with truth.
Reliable affirmation of a proposition is by rational validation of shared knowledge through the sources of knowing
     (sound sense perception, reliable reports, intellect/reasoning).

If shared knowledge is fully corroborated by the sources of knowing, then it is distinguished from possible knowledge as certain knowledge.

If one is shared a proposition,
     and in validation of information distinguishes certain knowledge in relation to possible knowledge,
     then this proposition results in knowledge.
If one is shared a proposition,
     and fails in validation of information to distinguish certain knowledge in relation to possible knowledge,
     then this proposition results in belief.

Conclusively, the true faith perfected by the Creator
     —this faith of complete submission to God Almighty (known in Arabic as "Islam")—
     is an expression of the entire individual.
Faith, in Islam, is not a blind belief without rationality;
     rather, its reality entails sincere affirmation of that rationality and basis from which belief springs forth.

As an ideal of revelation,
     certainty of faith does not arise as an expression of the whole individual except with voluntary submission,
     and the necessity of its reasoning & intellect in the attaining of understanding.
Such faith is without doubt, and with no intellectual justification in abandoning;
     we are faced with the choice of surrendering to the Truth, or being in denial of the empirically evident.

Truly, God Almighty says:
     “Can those ˹believers˺ who stand on clear proof from their Lord be like those
      whose evil deeds are made appealing to them and ˹only˺ follow their desires?” (Qur’ān 47:14)

We ask God to turn our hearts favourably to Him and to His religion.
Indeed, He is the Turner of Hearts.

And God Almighty certainly knows best.