The reasoning and argumentation were also lacking in precision in defining the intended meanings, to the extent that the reader often resorts to guessing the author's intent, or to comparing with other passages where the same issue is discussed.

The style in which the Mahdi presented his views was due to his pedagogical intention. He wanted to teach the common people the correct doctrine of monotheism to correct their theological understanding. He also wanted to connect them directly to the sources of Sharia, the Quran and Hadith, to improve their practical behavior. Therefore, he divided the issues into separate treatises, like educational curricula suitable for the understanding and comprehension of the general public. He did not need to delve into extensive reasoning and argumentation, or into detailed analysis and branching, as that is directed towards a select group of scholars, not the general populace.

Whatever the intention behind Ibn Tumart's style of presenting his views, several drawbacks resulted from it. Among these was the occasional contradiction between his views. When an issue is not precisely defined, analyzed, and argued for, it is easy for it to be contradictory to another view or in conflict with it. Another drawback is that some views lack argumentation in places where they are most in need of it, such as those views that are subjects of dispute and debate among theologians or jurists. This led to the recurring phenomenon of arbitrary assertions and circular reasoning in several parts of his works. Furthermore, the researcher into the Mahdi's views often finds themselves compelled, in order to clarify a specific view, to refer to multiple parts of his writings to gather scattered fragments of a single idea or to understand an intent that was not clear in one of the places where it was presented. We do not exclude from this what is mentioned in several passages regarding the existence of God and the affirmation of His oneness, nor what is mentioned regarding the establishment of principles. The presentation in these instances was reasoned, precise, and supported by evidence, as if the Mahdi was addressing the scholars of the Murabitun, whom he held responsible for the acceptance of anthropomorphism in theological understanding and for focusing on the branches of jurisprudence.

See, for example, his view on human action, where his statement about ability contradicts his statement about divine decree: p. 267 and onwards. See, for example, his view on vision: p. 221 and onwards. See what is mentioned in the argumentation for the invalidity of conjecture: p. 293 and onwards. 3035