for in such a person judgment and reason grow senile just as his outward, sensory powers do. Therefore, mistrust such an individual and beware of him; turn away from him with tactful avoidance (1) and without entering into debate or quarrel.

The procedure for testing the soundness (2) of someone’s perception, intellect, and understanding is this: ask him about a question of spiritual conduct or a scholarly issue. ⦗114⦘ When he replies, present (3) a properly directed objection to his answer. If you see the man wandering (4) to the right and left, drifting from the topic into irrelevant ideas and anecdotes until he makes the owner of the question forget what he had asked—having diverted (5) him with words that bring no benefit—then do not rely on such a person’s criticism or praise. He is defective in natural disposition, overly given to imagination, and unable to remain firm in accurately processing (6) scholarly evidence.

Nor should you be shocked by denunciations of this sort, for it is well known that Dhu al-Khuwayṣirah al-Tamimi once stood before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “Be just, for you have not been just; this is a distribution in which the Face of Allah was not sought.” (7) And there are other similar incidents.