Is it valid to believe in Allah Almighty based on the preponderance of probability, such as believing in His existence because the probability of His existence is greater than His non-existence?
Belief in the existence of Allah the Almighty is the foundation of matters of creed, and it requires definitive and absolute certainty, devoid of doubt, unlike matters of (independent reasoning) where غالب ظن (preponderant conjecture) suffices.
The Ahl al- (Sunnis) have agreed that the believer who will not abide eternally in Hellfire is one who has believed in the religion of Islam with their heart, a definitive belief free from doubts, and has pronounced the two Shahadas (declarations of faith).
The zann (conjecture/assumption) required in matters of creed is in the sense of knowledge and certainty, not merely a preponderant possibility, because mere zann is not sufficient for matters of creed.
A distinction must be made between shakk (doubt), which allows the doubter to entertain the possibility of the opposite, and waswasa (whispers) and fleeting thoughts that cross the mind but do not settle. These do not invalidate the faith of their possessor as long as he repels them and knows their error.
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