2062 — Abū ‘Abd Allāh ibn Makhlad al-‘Attār narrated to us, saying: Abū ⦗2552⦘ Mūsā Hārūn ibn Mas‘ūd al-Dihqān narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Hassān narrated to us, saying: Sufyān al-Thawrī said, “Beware these misguiding doctrines.” He was asked, “Explain them to us—may Allah have mercy on you.”

Sufyān said, “As for the Murji’a, they say that faith consists of words without deeds. Whoever says, ‘I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger,’ is, according to them, a believer whose faith is complete and equal to the faith of Gabriel and the angels—even if he has killed any number of believers, has neglected the ritual bath following major ritual impurity, and has abandoned prayer. Yet they believe in taking up arms against the people of the qibla.

“As for the Shī‘a, they comprise many groups. Among them are the Mansūriyya, who say that whoever kills forty of the people of the qibla will enter Paradise. Among them are the Khannāqūn—the Stranglers—who strangle people and deem their property lawful to take. Among them are the Khiryanayya, who say that Gabriel erred in conveying the message. The best among them are the Zaydiyya, who detract from the standing of ‘Uthmān, Talha, al-Zubayr, and ‘Ā’isha, the Mother of the Believers—may Allah be pleased with them all. They believe in fighting alongside any member of the Prophet’s Household who rises up, until he is either victorious or defeated. Among them are the Rāfida, who disavow all the Companions and declare everyone an unbeliever except four: ‘Alī, ‘Ammār, al-Miqdād, and Salmān.

“As for the Mu‘tazila, they deny the punishment of the grave, the Prophet’s Pool, and intercession. They do not pray behind anyone from among the people of the qibla unless he shares their doctrine. All adherents of deviant doctrines believe in taking up arms against the people of the qibla.

“As for the adherents of the Sunnah, they do not believe in taking up arms against anyone. They hold that prayer and jihad under the rulers remain fully valid and established. They do not declare anyone an unbeliever because of a sin, nor do they testify that he has committed idolatry. They say, ‘Faith consists of words and deeds,’ for fear of declaring themselves pure. There can be no deeds without faith and no faith without deeds.”

Sufyān said, “If you are asked, ‘Who is your authority in this?’ then say, ‘Sufyān al-Thawrī’—may Allah have mercy on him.”