ʿAql (intellect) is a prerequisite for taklīf (the obligation to observe the precepts of religion), and Man can recognize Allāh and the truthfulness of Prophethood through his divinely endowed intellect. How, then, can we underestimate the value of human intellect?

Obviously, there is a distinction between axioms and mental capacities. Axioms are fundamental truths—also known as first principles—that are indemonstrable yet self-evident, whereas mental capacities, or cognitive functions, refer to all that individuals can accomplish with their minds, primarily information processing, symbol manipulation, and knowledge construction. Axioms such as non-contradiction and causation are innate ideas, inborn in the human mind and not derived from experience. In other words, they arise from fiṭrah (innate human disposition), much like moral principles, and serve as the foundation of the a priori ontological argument for the existence of the Creator and the truth of religion.¹ Contrarily, mental processes such as perception, problem-solving, and abstract thinking are inherently limited and prone to error. Indeed, the knowledge acquired through these processes can contribute to the formation and acceptance of superstitions, myths, illusions, and hallucinations. Even more concerning is that these mental processes have been used to justify abortion today, just as they were used to rationalize Nazism seventy years ago. In short, the human mind is deficient due to the limitations of human nature. Consequently, the human soul can attain salvation only through submission to Allāh and His revealed Law. Conversely, when humans ignore the call of their innate disposition and rebel against divine revelation, they transgress all the boundaries of servitude to Allāh. That is, when humans consider themselves self-sufficient and dispense with religion, they can justify any crime or wrongdoing. Allāh says: {Nay, most certainly, one exceeds all bounds (6) once they think they are self-sufficient (7)} (Qurʾān 96:6–7).