If we examine these four paths, which one leads to guidance (faith)? We find that the last three do not lead to it at all; rather, they lead to misguidance. The explanation is as follows: First: Ignorance. The reality of ignorance is the confusion of truths in the soul. Therefore, it cannot be a basis for guidance, because it is the basis of its opposite, misguidance. This is evidenced by what God informed us of in His Book about people who rejected the truth out of ignorance: "And they persisted in disbelief and misguidance." (Al-A'raf: 146). Ignorance led them to misguidance. So, ignorance is a basis for misguidance.

Second: Doubt. Its reality is confusion and blindness. As such, it cannot be a basis for guidance because it is the basis of its opposite, misguidance. This is evidenced by what God informed us of about disbelievers who rejected the truth with doubt. God Almighty said: "And they said, 'We have disbelieved in what you were sent with, and indeed we are in doubt about what you invite us to, [which is] disturbing.'" (Ibrahim: 9).

Third: Conjecture. Its reality is favoring one of two possibilities without knowledge. Like its predecessors, it cannot be a basis for guidance because it is the basis of its opposite, misguidance. This is evidenced by God's saying: "And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption; they are not but liars." (Al-An'am: 116). Following conjecture led to misguidance and misleading others, so it is a basis for it and a path to it.

Since these three paths lead to misguidance and do not lead to faith, there remains only one path that leads to it, and that is knowledge. Knowledge is the sole basis for faith.

Textual Evidence: Al-Mahdi presented a number of Quranic verses indicating that knowledge is the basis for faith and guidance. (See: A'azz Ma Yutlab, p. 12, and onwards). We note that although this evidence is rational in its premise and formulation, it is textual in its material and essence. The commentator of A'azz Ma Yutlab said: "Knowledge is the basis for faith in the sense that it is the meaning of..." (p. 107, 164).