opponent and offer excuses so tarnishing the dominical faculty they call the heart, nor ascribe them to their origin, nor seek the whole's result from each of the parts. For to do so is weakness and causes inability and rejection of the result. [^6]

[^6]:This should be noted. (Author)

Also, cleanse the mirror of the heart of the childish or inimical propensity to offer pretexts and of such traits as seeing only faults like a customer, and polish it up. Respond to and balance up the truths. Deduce from the burning brand of the truth which appears from the combining of the allusions of the greater part, an illumined conjecture, so that the dark delusions of the lesser may be lit up and repulsed. Listen fairly and attentively, and don't object until what I have to say is finished. My words form an entirety, a whole statement. If any delusive ideas remain in your mind when they are completed, state them!

Note

The minor premise is prophethood generally, the major premise is the prophethood of Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace). We begin:

Indication

The Maker's wisdom and the absence of futility in His actions, and the observance of order in even the lowliest and least thing in the universe and its never being neglected, and the ineluctable need which is humankind's teacher, most certainly necessitate the existence of prophethood in humankind.

If you say: I don't understand so brief a statement. Explain it further.

I say: Listen! The proof of prophethood generally is humanity's advancing from animality in respect of three points. For prophethood resembles the centre and mine of the material and spiritual order of humankind and of the order given to the disposition of the numerous species which have been placed under its disposal owing to the power of the human faculty of reason.