that are not in this world's constitution, concerning which no intellect here can rule. They are attained only by tasting, by one in whom God brings them into being, and some people obtain them here. ﴿No soul knows what has been hidden for them﴾ therein ﴿of delight for the eyes﴾ [al-Sajda 32:17]. In the Garden is ‘what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has never occurred to a human heart.’
This passes beyond the stage of intellect through the specification of a particular affair; it does not pass beyond the stage of intellect in respect of possibility. Intellect has no ruling concerning the affairs God specifies except possibility, or something concerning which it is bewildered. For this reason the word ‘perhaps’ has come. It is a word of hope, and every divine hope takes effect and is inevitable. This is the affair He brings about within the constitution[30].
(Independent Reasoning and the Arising of a Ruling)
As for rulings, this is known within formal scholarship until the Day of Resurrection. Since the Messenger, God's blessings and peace be upon him, confirmed the ruling of the independent reasoner, the ruling of the Revealed Law continues to descend from God upon the hearts of independent reasoners until this world ends.
An independent reasoner may judge an affair today with a ruling that had not previously applied to it, required for him by this independent reasoner's evidence from a Book, a Sunna, a consensus, or an evident analogy. This is an affair that has arisen within ruling. If the independent reasoner or one following his authority transgresses it, ﴿he has wronged himself﴾ [al-Ṭalāq 65:1].
This and its like are among what this invocation gives. This much allusion concerning this invocation suffices, God willing. What it gives admits much detail and illustration; we have alerted you to the approach to it. ﴿God speaks the truth,
Notes
[30]
‘يحديه’ was corrected to ‘يحدثه,’ ‘He brings it about,’ as in the new edition. (New edition, vol. 11, p. 107.)
