Know that it is incumbent upon every Muslim that he should know fifty articles of belief (_aqidas_), and for each article that he should know a proof, general (_ijmali_) or detailed (_tafsili_). Some say that it is required that he should know a detailed proof, but the common opinion is that a general proof suffices for each article of the fifty. An example of a detailed proof is when someone says, “What is the proof of the existence (_wujud_) of God?” that the answer should be, “These created things.” That the asker should then say, “Do the created things prove the existence of God on the side of their possibility or on the side of their existence after non-existence (_adam_)?” and that his question should be answered. And if the further question is not answered, but the only answer is, “These created things,” and the answerer does not know whether it is on the side of their possibility or of their existence after non-existence, then the proof is said to be general; but it is sufficient according to the common position. And with regard to _taqlid_ (blind acceptance), which is that fifty articles are known but no proof of them is known, either general or detailed, the learned differ. Some say that it does not suffice, and that the _mukallad_ (blind accepter) is an unbeliever (_kafir_). Ibn al-Arabi [d. 543] held this and as-Sanusi, and the latter gave in his commentary on his _kubra_ a lengthy refutation of those who hold that _taqlid_ is sufficient. Yet there is a report that he retired from this position, and acknowledged the sufficiency of _taqlid_; but I have never seen in his books anything but the opinion that it does not suffice. INTRODUCTION