with one hundred camels, while withholding from the Helpers (Ansar). This led some of their youngsters—not their mature elders—to voice resentment, and during that very gathering Dhu al-Khuwayṣirah stood up and uttered his infamous words. (1)

As for his entering the courts of the rulers: had he not done so, how would those rulers ever have caught a whiff of the pure, ancient religion? Were a researcher to look closely, he would discover that whatever trace of religious fragrance and discernment of hypocrites they possess was borrowed from your companion.

With regard to his drawing Zayd and ʿAmr close to him, that was for an unseen benefit; were one to examine the matter impartially, he would find clear proof that this was the very essence of benefit. (2)

And even if we grant that you are correct in this point—for we hold infallibility only for the Prophets, and error besets everyone else—can such a slip be set alongside those towering, weighty achievements?

No one would jot down a booklet cataloguing such matters and then circulate it from person to person (3), as though he had discovered something significant, except a man for whose sanity and for a blessed conclusion to his deeds we ask Allah (4). We pray that He restore him from his deviation to the straight path, so that no stumbling block remains by which people of intellect and prudence might reproach him for his deeds (5) and his writings.

We seek the Almighty Allah’s forgiveness for every error and lapse, in speech and in action, and all praise belongs to Allah.