each of the aims will acquire a striking beauty from the style that is appropriate to it. For there are three basic styles or modes of speech:

The First is a sheer or detached style, like the uncomplicated style of the works of Sayyid Sharīf [^14] and Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī. [^15]

[^14]:Sayyid Sharīf al-Jurjānī. See, page 59 fn 24 above.

[^15]:Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī (d. 672/1274) in Baghdad. Preeminent, influential Shi'i scholar in the fields of mathematics, geometry, astronomy, philosophy, and theology. He founded the astronomical observatory at Maragha under Hulagu Khan.

The Second is the embellished style, like the brilliant, shining style of 'Abd al-Qāhir's Dalā'il al-I'jāz and Asrār al-Balāgha. [^16]

[^16]:'Abd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī. See, page 78 fn 42 above.

The Third is the high style, like some of the majestic writing (kelâm) of al-Sakkākī, [^17] al-Zamakhsharī, [^18] and Ibn Sinā. [^19] Or like the Arabic pieces in the Turkish translation of this book, especially the disorderly yet sound pieces in the Third Article. For the loftiness of the subject fashioned this book in the high style; the influence of my own skills has been negligible.

[^17]:al-Sakkākī. See, page 79 fn 43 above.

[^18]:al-Zamakhsharī. See, page 91 fn 51 above.

[^19]:Ibn Sīnā; Abū 'Ali al-Ḥusayn b. 'Abd Allāh be Sīnā (d. 428/1037). The pre-eminent philosopher and physician. He was born near Bukhara and died at Hamadan.

In Short: When speaking of theological matters and the principles of religion and describing them, you should not depart from the high style, which comprises intensity, power, and grandeur.

When engaged in oratory and persuasion, never give up the embellished style if you can, which is ornamented and brilliant and both encourages and alarms. But you should not be pretentious, artificial, or vulgarly ostentatious.

When engaged in business, discussions, or the instrumental sciences, make do with the detached style, which is characterised by its faithfulness, conciseness, correctness, fluency, and naturalness, and displays its innate beauty through its simplicity.

The Conclusion of this Matter: Speech may be self-sufficient,