Is it fair that this person should be bound by divinely-ordained duties while an apostle has not been sent to him, or should he not be bound by these duties? If they say that he should not be bound, we ask them: Why not if it allows him to know what is best for him by empowering the apostle to deliver to him the message? And if he says: He was made duty-bound by Allah, but the prophet is not sent to him. We will ask: How can these duties be imposed on him when the necessary grace has not been bestowed to him [a prophet is not sent to him]?