One of the clearest demonstrations that human reason cannot independently and infallibly determine the complete moral and legal status of every particular act is found in the Qur’ānic account of Mūsā and al-Khiḍr. Abū Manṣūr al-Māturīdī himself establishes an important epistemological principle when discussing the limitations of human intellects: “The fundamental principle is that intellects are finite creations which fall short of comprehending the totality of things, and understandings are deficient in attaining the ultimate reality of matters.… Whoever seeks to comprehend them, or to attain the wisdom of Lordship without an indication from Him, wrongs the intellect and burdens it with that which he knows it is incapable of.” — al-Māturīdī, Taʾwīlāt Ahl al-Sunna, vol. 4, p. 457. This principle becomes particularly evident in the story of Mūsā and al-Khiḍr. When al-Khiḍr killed the boy, Mūsā immediately objected: “Have you killed an innocent soul without [its having killed] anothe...