and the very act of ascribing it to Ahl al-Sunnah (1) is itself mistaken, for the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah is that gratitude is expressed through conviction, speech, and action. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Work, O family of David, in gratitude” (Q 34:13). The Prophet ﷺ would stand in night prayer until his feet became swollen; when it was said to him, “Do you do this even though Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins?” he replied, “Should I not, then, be a grateful servant?” (3)
Ibn al-Murahḥal said, “I am not discussing the proofs; I concede that this opinion is weak. I am only reporting that it has been attributed to Ahl al-Sunnah.”
Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn replied, “To relate this view to Ahl al-Sunnah is an error. Once a position has been shown weak, how can it be linked to the people⦗39⦘ of truth?”
Moreover, many scholars whom Allah has distinguished for their adherence to the Sunnah have stated plainly that gratitude comprises conviction, speech (4), and action, and this is established by the Quran and the Sunnah.
I add: the chapter on the prostration of gratitude in the works of fiqh (5) is too well known to require mention. The Prophet ﷺ said about the prostration in Sūrah Ṣād: “David performed it as repentance, and we perform it as gratitude” (6). Then whoever