^3 Another difference in regard to the place of reason in...
^3 Another difference in regard to the place of reason in religion is about the relationship between natural cause and effect. The Shi'ah and the Mu'tazilah recognize the relationship between cause and effect. But the Asha'irah deny it.
They say that there is no cause except Allah, and it is just a habit ('adah) of God that whenever, for example, we drink water, He quenches our thirst.' [^4] 'Allamah al‑Hilli says: "The gist of the argument of the Asha'irah … is that according to them things come into being by the Will of [God] and His Power which is the sufficient cause of the existence of things.
So, as the power (of God) is the sufficient cause, therefore, it is not necessary that a thing should come into being when its physical causes come into being; or that it should cease to exist when its physical cause ceases to exist ….
And there is no relationship of any kind between those happenings which happen one after another except that it is the habit (of God) that He creates one thing after another; for example, burning after touching the fire, and quenching of thirst after drinking water; because touching fire and drinking water has nothing to do with burning and quenching of thirst, but all this comes into being by His Power and His Will; and He can create touching without burning and burning without touching, and the same is the case with all actions.
" [^5] As you will see in the discussions of this book, most differences between the Shi'ahs and the Asha'irah Sunnis stem from their diverse outlooks concerning the place of reason in religion and the relationship between natural cause and effect. [^1]: First published in 1969 by Bilal Muslim Mission, and subsequently published more than ten times in Tehran by WOFIS for world wide distribution. Its new edition was published in 1978. [^2]: McCarthy, R.J.
"Two Creeds of al‑Ash'ari" (Maqalatu -l Islamiyyin and al‑Ibanah 'an Usuli 'd‑Diyanah) p. 238‑9; 241. [^4]: ash‑Shahristani, al‑Milal wa 'n‑Nihal, pp.124‑125. [^5]: al‑Hilli, Kashfu 'l‑Haqq Previous…