Supposition’s rank is barzakhic, with a face toward knowledge and toward its opposite. When circumstantial indicators show the aspect of knowledge within it, we give it knowledge’s ruling and place it at certainty’s rank. The name supposition remains, but not its ruling. Supposition always involves a kind of preponderance distinguishing it from doubt. Doubt contains no preponderance, while supposition contains a preponderance toward knowledge.
Likewise He said, “I am as My servant thinks of Me, so let him think well of Me.” He made clear that supposition necessarily contains preponderance, either toward good or toward evil. God is as His servant thinks of Him. But He did not stop here, for His mercy precedes His wrath. He said, by way of teaching and command, “Let him think well of Me.” Whoever does not think well of Him has disobeyed God’s command and is ignorant of what divine generosity requires.
Had there been equality without preponderance, as in doubt, one would belong to those saying His justice does not affect His bounty, nor His bounty His justice. Since supposition admits preponderance, the Real commanded us to favor good in our own regard, so that He would be as we think of Him, for He is merciful. Whoever thinks ill concerning a matter receives only his ill thought in return. May God make us people of knowledge; if He decrees supposition for us, may we think well of God. Praise be to God, He has done so. “God speaks the right and guides the way” [al-Ahzab 33:4].
