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question of the qiblah where there is doubt and the independently judging
authorities differ?” My opponent will say: “The man must use his own
judgment to decide which is the soundest authority and the most learned in
the proofs of the qiblah, and then he follows his own decision”. Exactly the
same happens in deciding between religious systems and so the principle
of “authoritative instruction” is inadequate.

Prophets and religious leaders of necessity made mankind have
recourse to independent judgment, even though they knew they might fall
into error. Indeed the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him said, “I judge
by externals, but Allah administers the inmost hearts”; that is to say, “I
judge by the more probable opinion, based on the account of the
witnesses, but the witnesses may be mistaken”. The prophets had no way
to prevent error in the case of such matters of independent judgment. So
how can we hope to attain that?

There are two questions which the Ta`limiyah raise at this point. One is
this argument of theirs: “Even if this is the case in matters of independent
judgment, it is not the case with regard to fundamental beliefs. Any mistake