The issue of a perceived contradiction between a statement by Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab and Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on them both)

The questioner:
Peace be upon you. And upon you be peace. May Allah keep you in good, O Shaykh. I have three questions, O Shaykh. Yes. The first question, O Shaykh. Yes. When Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him) says in *Al-Usool ath-Thalathah* (The Three Fundamentals), "If it is said to you, 'By what do you know your Lord?' say, 'By His signs and His creations,'" are you with me, O Shaykh? Yes. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in the *Fatawa*, O Shaykh. Yes. In the *Fatawa*, Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Qasim quoted him as saying, "We do not say that Allah is known through the creations, but rather all the creations are known through Allah, though knowledge of Him increases by looking at the creations of Allah." So I do not know, O Shaykh, what is your view: is there a contradiction between the words of the two Shaykhs?

The Shaykh:
No, it is consistent regarding shirk (associating partners with Allah).

The questioner:
Because Shaykh al-Islam says that Allah is known by fitrah (the innate natural disposition), and also that the creations increase [this knowledge].

The Shaykh:
It leads to a spring of indication from the combustibles.

The questioner:
How, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh:
He sees [Allah] through many proofs, including the creations from His power.

The presenter:
The point is that Shaykh Muhammad [ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab] meant that these are among the means of knowing Allah. These three questions were directed to the Honorable Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him and grant him scrupulousness) on the evening of Monday, the first of the month of Sha'ban of the year 1415 of the Hijrah, in the city of Riyadh, may the best of prayers and peace be upon the Prophet.