and they claim that hearts and states are set right by it, even though it closely resembles certain practices of the misguided.

The Exalted One says:

“The Jews say, ‘The Christians stand on nothing,’ and the Christians say, ‘The Jews stand on nothing.’” (Qur’an 2:113)

Thus Allah informs us that each of the two communities denies everything the other upholds.

In the same way, you will find many jurists: when they look at the Sufis and devoted worshippers, they deem them worthless—regarding them as nothing but ignorant deviants—and they see no knowledge or guidance at all in their path. Conversely, you will encounter many Sufis and mendicants who regard the Shari‘ah and the sacred sciences as insignificant; indeed, they think that whoever clings to them is cut off from Allah and that those who uphold them possess nothing that benefits one before Allah.

The sound position is that whatever accords with the Qur’an and the Sunnah—whether it comes from this group or that—is true, and whatever opposes the Qur’an and the Sunnah—whether from this group or that—is false.

As for imitating the Persians and the Romans, traces of Roman culture—both in word and deed—and traces of Persian culture—both in word and deed—have undoubtedly entered this community, something no knowledgeable believer can fail to notice.