The Eleventh Premise

The Eleventh Premise

Numerous injunctions may be contained in a single discourse. A single shell may contain numerous pearls. It is accepted by men of understanding that a single premise comprises numerous premises; each emerges from a different source, just as each produces different friuts. The person who does not differentiate between them will remain unaware of the truth. For example, it says in a Hadith: "I and the Last Hour are as [close as] these two [fingers.]" [^19] That is, there will be no Messenger to intervene between us. Or, whatever it means, it is right. Now, this Hadith comprises three propositions:

[^19]:Bukhārī, Riqāq, 39; Tafsir, 79; Sūra, 1; Muslim, Fitan, 39; Musnad, iii, 124, 130, 131, 218, 222, 237, 275, 278, 283, 311, 319; iv, 309; v, 92, 103, 108, 330, 335, 338.

The First: It was spoken by God's Messenger (UWBP). This proposition results from there being a consensus among witnesses of it (tevatür), if there was such a consensus.

The Second: The meaning intended by the statement is true and right. This proposition results from the proof born of miracles. Both these have to be agreed to. And if a person denies the first, he is arrogant, while if he denies the second, he falls into misguidance and darkness.

The Third: This is what is intended by the statement and this is the jewel found in the shell; I am showing it. The proposition is this: it is the result of an independent judgement, not wishful thinking. In any event, someone who makes such judgements is not obliged to follow the judgements of others like himself. This proposition has been the cause of fierce dispute. All the gossip about it testifies to this. If it proceeds from an independent judgement, the person who denies it is neither ignorant, nor does he fall into disbelief. For a general matter is not extinguished when one particular thing is extinguished. In consequence, all houses should be entered by their own doors since each has its own door and each lock has its own key.