How profound is what our Master al-Sadiq (Exalted be His Might) pointed out when he said: "Iblis was only confounded by the Image." And how great a warning this contains for us not to follow in his footsteps! For whoever analyzes all doubts, suspicions, and confusion and contemplates them, will find the cause of it all to be a fallacy of anthropomorphism (Tashbih) that slipped stealthily into the mind, veiling itself from logic under layers and pigments—whose veil cannot be pierced and whose falsehood cannot be exposed except by one whom Allah has guided and who has followed [The] Way.

Out of loyalty to the memory of my brother Ibrahim, I must disclose a second motive for my request of him to compile this work: It is that our experience of being burned by the fires of absurd innovations (Bida’), and our practice in identifying their methods, served as an incentive. This is even more sublime for the sake of the arguments and objections, and what they stirred regarding our Master al-Hasan al-Akhir.

Since the Intellect (al-'Aql) is the instrument of discernment and choice, it necessitates that the field of its operation be a mixture of good and evil, and of truth and falsehood, so that the one who is on the side of Truth may be distinguished from others, and the wisdom of existence may become clear to us as it truly is.